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Help, Somebody Explain This.

Started by Anarchy , Nov 27 2004 06:38 PM

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#1 Anarchy

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Posted 27 November 2004 - 06:38 PM

Ok my reversing light does not work, should be fairly simple to fix, a blown bulb or fuse maybe? The weird thing is the bulb works, the fuse is OK, there is power getting to the bulb holder and I am sure the bulb touches the contacts in the holder. So why does'nt it light up? Is there more to consider for example the current maybe or bad earth? And why are there 3 wires going to the bulb holder? chinky chinky

#2 Marco

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Posted 27 November 2004 - 06:41 PM

probably a fault with the switch on the gearbox then.. are you outside of warranty?

#3 Anarchy

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Posted 27 November 2004 - 06:44 PM

Just out of warranty. But when I put a voltage tester onto the contacts it shows 12v is there.

#4 Guest_Vermania (Guest)

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Posted 27 November 2004 - 06:46 PM

If what you told us is correct thent he fault most likely lies within the gearbox when your going in to reverse its not sending a signal to turn the lights on.

#5 Steve Crisp

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Posted 27 November 2004 - 09:17 PM

Hi, There are three wires on the reversing light because you have: - Live Ground in Ground out A meter might measure 12v under no load because a meter is high-impedance(doesn't draw any current). You need to measure for 12v with the bulb in place. First thing to do, is to swap the rear fog-light bulb (on the offside of the car) with the bulb in the reversing light position, to see if the fog-light bulb lights up in the reversing-light position, and that the reversing-light bulb lights up in the fog-light position. This shoulds prove out the integrity of the actual bulb. Tell me what happens... Steve

#6 Plipton

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Posted 27 November 2004 - 09:18 PM

But when I put a voltage tester onto the contacts it shows 12v is there.

Voltage on its own won't light a bulb - you need current too.

Try measuring the voltage with a load (i.e with the bulb in place or a resistor across the contacts - about 0.5 ohm will be about right)

Have you tried a new bulb? (swap it with the fog lamp??)

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edited to say Steve Crisp just pipped me to the post with a similar suggestion

Edited by Plipton, 27 November 2004 - 09:20 PM.

#7 Steve Crisp

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Posted 27 November 2004 - 09:20 PM

Good timing Mr. Plimpton, we both wrote the same thing at the same time! :o Steve

#8 Plipton

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Posted 27 November 2004 - 09:23 PM

Good timing Mr. Plimpton,

we both wrote the same thing at the same time! :o


Steve

Is it a case of "great minds think alike" or "fools seldome differ"? :beat:

#9 Anarchy

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Posted 28 November 2004 - 11:51 AM

I had already swapped the bulbs and both bulbs work in the fog light but neither work in the reverse light. I dont know that much about electricity but I suspected the presence of a voltage did not gaurantee the bulb lighting. There is voltage with no bulb in place, today I will try to test for voltage with a bulb fitted. If the volts dissapear with a bulb in where have they gone? how do I get them back? :beat:

#10 Steve Crisp

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Posted 28 November 2004 - 01:22 PM

Hi, The reversing-light is the first bulb in the earth-wire chain. Turn your side-lights on plus your emergency flashers, and ensure that nothing strange goes on - such as the side-lights going out when the hazard-lights are on. If things work as they should, then your earthing is ok. Look down inside the reversing-light bulb-holder. You'll see a spring-contact that connects to the side of the bulb. Make sure this is making good contact with the side of the bulb. Disconnect the plug and socket that attaches the rear-light wiring harness to the wiring loom. Make sure that the pins haven't been pushed back. Let me know the result.... Steve

#11 Anarchy

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Posted 28 November 2004 - 01:47 PM

My meter registers some volts between 6 an 12v (its a cheap tester with just leds on it) the 12v led lights up but quite dull. When a bulb is pushed in the volts no longer register. All other lights work fine with various combinations and all of them on at once.

#12 Anarchy

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Posted 28 November 2004 - 02:33 PM

I have also unplugged the whole of the left side bulb loom and tried it in the right side, it works so the wiring and sockets etc are contacting and indicate it must be a problem further down the circuit towards the gearstick switch.

#13 Steve Crisp

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Posted 28 November 2004 - 03:19 PM

Yup, 'fraid so. I agree that the lighting clusters check ok as best as we can tell. The next step is to locate the particular fuse that serves the reversing-light. Hopefully the manual will tell you if anything else is fed from the same fuse. If it is, then check if these other items off of the same fuse are working. If it's just the reversing light on that fuse, then substitute-test this fuse, even if it looks good. Locate the reversing light switch on the gearbox (presumably), and check for 12volts there (throw away that crappy tester and either use a 12v bulb with two wires soldered onto it, or buy a decent meter for £10. :P ) - actually, the bulb with two wires soldered on is better. I'm assuming that you've concidered that the ignition needs to be on for the reversing light to work! ;) Steve

#14 Anarchy

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Posted 28 November 2004 - 03:39 PM

I have been trying with engine on and off, swapped the fuse, the owner manual says the fuse is only for the reverse light. Will have to have search about for the gearbox switch, though when I put it in and out of reverse the voltage comes and goes suggesting the switch works?

#15 Steve Crisp

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Posted 28 November 2004 - 04:24 PM

You've got a bad connection somewhere in the chain from fuse-holder to switch to light. Bad connections will read ok on a meter, but won't drive a bulb. You'll fair better in your testing if you buy a 21watt festoon bulb (like they use in the interior light), and solder on two wires. Steve

#16 Anarchy

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Posted 28 November 2004 - 04:34 PM

Ok thanks for your replies. I will get a bulb with some wires on and check at various points and try and pinpoint where the bad connection is. Can anybody explain how to get at the gearbox switch?
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