XM rear lights

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Doc
Posts: 150
Joined: 30 Dec 2002, 04:11
Location: United Kingdom
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XM rear lights

Post by Doc »

I was driving home from a nightshift just the other night, when I was surprised to be pulled up by a patrol car as I left the A14.[:I] Apparently all my rear lights except brake lights and indicators had failed. Luckily it was just a couple of miles from my house so the police escorted me home and just advised me to get it fixed. Anyway, I have checked all the bulbs, wiring fuses and connectors and they are all clean and secure. They just don't work.
The headlights work fine though. As I was getting ready to remove sill trim to access wiring, the back lights came back on. Incidentally the vehicle condition monitor didn't flash up any warning of bulb failure or anything similar. (annoying as I knew the lights were working when I left work. I could see them reflected in a window) My question. Do the lights run through a 'blackbox'computer or similar? This fault has never occured before in the two years I have owned the car.
Thanks in advance
Doc
NiSk
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Joined: 24 Jan 2002, 20:11
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x 1

Post by NiSk »

Was it just the tail lights or all the sidelights?
//NiSK
Doc
Posts: 150
Joined: 30 Dec 2002, 04:11
Location: United Kingdom
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Post by Doc »

It was everything except brake lights and indicators. All tail lights and numberplate lights all gone. When they did start working, I had not actually touched anything on the car. Once on I tested all rear connectors for security and continuity. I even gently pulled on wires to see if they went out. They didn't. It's got me scratching my head.
Doc
NiSk
Posts: 1422
Joined: 24 Jan 2002, 20:11
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Post by NiSk »

How many relays have got mounted above the right-hand headlight assembly (seen from drivers seat), there can be anything from 1 to 3. Check that the relays are securely fitted and that the blade contacts on the relay(s) are not discoloured (they tend to develope poor contact, overheat and melt the plastic).
//NiSk
Paulxmski
Posts: 154
Joined: 13 Nov 2003, 04:20
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Post by Paulxmski »

Yes I agree it's the relays. On the drivers side a relay controls the dim dip this has often failed on both my xms' you have to push it a bit and watch the lights to see them come on again. I had to keep doing it until I lightly tin soldered the legs of the relay to make a good connection on the passenger side there are another bunch of relays check them all. Also there is a brown coloured wiring socket connector on the passenger side which I had trouble with on one of my cars. That seems to carry cuurent to all the lights. You just have to pull and push them a bit and watch for flickering. Seems like you have to check everytime you go out for all systems working and even then due to the extraordinarily damp conditions we have been suffering this year something might stop working while your driving along, although this might be due to the fact that I have a series one car.
crooser
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Post by crooser »

remove the rubber cover where the cables go from the tailgate into the body and check for breakage in the wiring loom,this happened to me and it's very hard to find.
NiSk
Posts: 1422
Joined: 24 Jan 2002, 20:11
Location: Sweden
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x 1

Post by NiSk »

The hatchback has two rear lights on the bodywork as well as those on the tailgate - are these also effected?
//NiSk
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