rear lights

Submitted by maverick159 on

Forum: 

hi my friend has just brought a sportrak but the rear lights dont work, indecators works but break and side lights dont. i was wondering if anyone has come across this before or weather anyone can offer any advice on finding the fault. the front lights work fine.

thanks

ben

Wired

Submitted by assassin on

Usually this is one of two problems, either a bad earth connection, or a problem with corrosion in the multiplug or light unit.

Remove the lens and check for corrosion, probe the live with a multimeter to see if there is a live feed, if so make a test lead, run it from the battery negative and touch to the body of the bulb. If the bulb lights it is the earth, make up a new earth wire and fit one to each light unit. Clean the bulbholders and coat with a light smear of petroleum jelly.

If no power is found at the light unit, it is a matter of testing back to the multiplug, check for power at the plug, if there is none it is a broken wire, this assumes you have checked the fuses. Check the wires where they enter the multiplug as these corrode terribly, they will often snap inside the insulation, and not be visible. To test, use a needle and push this through the insulation 12" (300mm) from the multiplug, connect the tester and test each wire by turning the lights on and off. If power is found, it is a broken wire at the plug.

If no power is found, it is a matter of tracing the wiring back, check for impact damage, or any other physical abrasions, psrticularly where it passes through body panels.

NB.

Submitted by Mace on

Older Sporty.There are no lights fitted into the vehicles back panels. Only the bumpers have light units.

Lights

Submitted by oldminiman on

I assume the lights are in the rear bumper?

The units therefore get a lot of water and muck on them from behind and the internal surfaces rust causing the earth supply to be lost and the lights.

Remove the 2 screws, not an easy job as although the bolts are generally stainless the captivated nuts are mild steel and corrode seizing the bolts tight. If you manage to get the lenses off the whole unit will come out of the bumper and should be cleaned up of all corrosion in the bulb sockets. If the bulbs are blackened then that is usually a sign of water intrusion so check the rubber seal.

I have very little doubt that remving the units will prove difficult so take care as replacement are expensive if you can get them. Once the sockets are cleaned up and the bulbs checked and replaced I would smear the inside of the sockets with Copper grease, not loads just a smear. Test them before replacement. If they still dont work then look toward the Multiway jiners at the rear. Again these get drenched and corroded. It may b worth checking these first , separating them and spraying them with WD40. If you van check each connector for power when the appropriate light is switched on povided power is found then you can disiss the wires between the switches and that socket. I use a power indicatin light screwdriver/probe which you connect to the body via a croc clip and then use the probe to establish a cicuit.

Good luck and be patient with those screws.

OLDMINIMAN

M J Young