I'm in a bit of a really irritating pickle here. Since i changed a left side rear bulb (for correct bulb), I can get all lamps working except nighttime running lights. Brake, indicators and hazards all work as normal, and all four upper bulbs come on when I hit the brakes, so I know all bulbs are working. I've checked fuses in all the places I know (there are only 3 fuseboxes, right?) .

I'm now stuck for driving after dark with no lights at the rear. I'm now toying with the idea of removing the connector and connecting the wires direct, and seeing if it's that works (even though everything else works through it), but before i do that, can anyone enlighten me on something I may have missed?

Thanks

I'm in a bit of a really irritating pickle here. Since i changed a left side rear bulb (for correct bulb), I can get all lamps working except nighttime running lights. Brake, indicators and hazards all work as normal, and all four upper bulbs come on when I hit the brakes, so I know all bulbs are working. I've checked fuses in all the places I know (there are only 3 fuseboxes, right?) .

I'm now stuck for driving after dark with no lights at the rear. I'm now toying with the idea of removing the connector and connecting the wires direct, and seeing if it's that works (even though everything else works through it), but before i do that, can anyone enlighten me on something I may have missed?

Thanks

Have you used a multimeter to check if there's a voltage?

I did do a continuity check

 

Sent from my VG30DETT

There is a little black box behind the rear drivers side light plastic panel, this is the side light sensor/ controller and likely water ingress on the board causing a short or bad connection

Thanks. I'll check that next

 

Sent from my VG30DETT

Anyone got one I can buy/have off them? It's bone dry but run out of things to check

 

Sent from my VG30DETT

You need to take it apart to see the board for any damage

The board looks perfect. Nothings come loose or looks bad.

 

Sent from my VG30DETT

Have you used normal filament bulbs or led replacements? I got some led ones a while back and they just refused to work. Put std ones back in and all was ok.

Just normal bog standard bulbs. All I did was change one then all this trouble started. It's a real head scratcher...all I can think of is swapping out that black box before I'm forced to find some auto electrician who probably knows nothing about zed wiring

 

Sent from my VG30DETT

How old is your car?

1991 TT

 

Sent from my VG30DETT

Are your front position lamps and dash bulbs illuminating when you switch on your lights to the first position?

Yep.

 

Sent from my VG30DETT

Someone must have an old breaker with that connection box surely.....?

 

Sent from my VG30DETT

Brake, indicators and hazards all work as normal, and all four upper bulbs come on when I hit the brakes, so I know all bulbs are working.

 

Inside the bulb there are two filaments, you state the brakes are working - that's one of the two but could it be possible that all four sidelight part of the bulbs are blown ?

Hmm. ..I'll buy 4 new bulbs to test. Could always keep as spare if not

 

Sent from my VG30DETT

Hmm. ..I'll buy 4 new bulbs to test. Could always keep as spare if not

 

Most basic way to test a stop/tail is to hold on a wire from the neg part of the battery against the bulbs metal base and then in turn touch on the positive to both the contacts on the bulbs bottom, both should light - one brighter (brake/stop) than the other (tail/sidelight).

Replacement arrived. That was the problem. Thanks for all your advice guys :tt1:

Replacement arrived. That was the problem. Thanks for all your advice guys :tt1:

 

i got the same issue but only on the drivers side all other lights work fine except the drivers rear sidelights! so the little black box sorted your issue?

 

dan.

i got the same issue but only on the drivers side all other lights work fine except the drivers rear sidelights! so the little black box sorted your issue?

 

dan.

 

Looks like it was the bulbs mate, they are double filament bulbs. One filament within the bulb failed and led to the problem I believe.

i got the same issue but only on the drivers side all other lights work fine except the drivers rear sidelights! so the little black box sorted your issue?

 

dan.

 

Yep. Took all of 45 seconds.

Looks like it was the bulbs mate, they are double filament bulbs. One filament within the bulb failed and led to the problem I believe.

 

Yep. Took all of 45 seconds.

 

thanks for the replies, checked the bulbs and the bulb holder loom swoped both sides over and the drivers side loom and bulbs work in passenger side but still not night lights on pass side! got power going into the black box will have a look see if can track any power out, will probably stick a wanted up for the controller box see if that works.

 

dan.:thumbup1:

turned out to be the sensor controller luckily facebook group helped out sorted now.

 

dan.