rear lights on xantia

nimue · Post by **nimue** » 13 Sep 2004, 01:01

hi, last night my rear lights went outon both sides,today found it was two fuses,replaced them,fine,working. Went out in car and lights were out again. anyone got any ideas on why they both are going out together ie; blowing fuse not bulbs.....as I hate trying to find electical faults. Is there something obvoius which will cause this problem?
thanks

xantiav6 · Post by **xantiav6** » 13 Sep 2004, 03:20

Has it got, or has it had a towbar fitted? If so, then suspect any wiring to a trailer socket, or that someone has got at the wiring around the rear lights.

Post by **RichardW** » 13 Sep 2004, 16:10

Have you changed a brake light bulb recently, and either fitted a single filament where it should be double or vice-versa? Otherwise it sounds liek you have a dead short to earth somewhere in the wiring that is melting the fuses.

Panjandrum · Post by **Panjandrum** » 13 Sep 2004, 18:57

Sounds weird. If lights worked without blowing fuses when you replaced them first time, the fault is likely to be movement-related or to do with indicators or brakes. Are front sidelights affected too? My book lists two fuses for sidelights in diagonally-opposite pairs. Are brakelights and indicators working OK?

AndersDK · Post by **AndersDK** » 13 Sep 2004, 20:47

Have ignition turned on, engine off, handbrakes on.
Then check all lights on the rear :
* parking or main (dipped) lights on
* adjust drivers seat, clamp piece of wood on brake pedal for brake lights
* indicators (use the hazards switch, then ALL indicators MUST come on)
* gear stick in reverse for reversing lights
* rear fogs
Now try mess around with the carpetting or the rear seats (cars LH side) to test if the rear feed multi-cable under the carpets is messing around with a shortcircuit.