Rear light problem
- D366Y
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- Car(s): 1986 Laser 1.6, daily runaround project
1981 GL Auto 2.0, Barn-Find-Resto, now also a runaround project
1980 3.0S, crash damage resto
1993 Fiesta 1.1
Currently full up and no more space but I still want a 2.8... - Location: Buckinghamshire
Rear light problem
Hi all,
My drivers rear brake light is playing silly buggers. It works when I press the brake pedal down, but not when I put the sidelight/headlights on. I thought it would be a cracked cluster or something so bought a new one from Martin that arrived today so changed it over and still the same problem - any ideas of what else could be causing it??
Also, lucky I have two phones so I could video call myself to check it was/wasn't working!!
Cheers
Danny
My drivers rear brake light is playing silly buggers. It works when I press the brake pedal down, but not when I put the sidelight/headlights on. I thought it would be a cracked cluster or something so bought a new one from Martin that arrived today so changed it over and still the same problem - any ideas of what else could be causing it??
Also, lucky I have two phones so I could video call myself to check it was/wasn't working!!
Cheers
Danny
A wise man once said... "you can never have too many capris - buy another"
It's me, I'm the wise man.
It's me, I'm the wise man.
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Re: Rear light problem
Its only supposed to work when you press the brake pedal , not when you turn the head/side lights on . Are your blinkers playing up too .
The two tail lights are on different fuses which may explain why only one side is playing up. Try taking the tail light bulb out of the faulty side ,turn tail lights on and try the brake light again . Might be an earth issue
The two tail lights are on different fuses which may explain why only one side is playing up. Try taking the tail light bulb out of the faulty side ,turn tail lights on and try the brake light again . Might be an earth issue
Sometimes I talk to myself ... and we both have a good laugh
- D366Y
- Donator
- Posts: 2576
- Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2012 2:26 pm
- Car(s): 1986 Laser 1.6, daily runaround project
1981 GL Auto 2.0, Barn-Find-Resto, now also a runaround project
1980 3.0S, crash damage resto
1993 Fiesta 1.1
Currently full up and no more space but I still want a 2.8... - Location: Buckinghamshire
Re: Rear light problem
I rather thought so too!!
A wise man once said... "you can never have too many capris - buy another"
It's me, I'm the wise man.
It's me, I'm the wise man.
- D366Y
- Donator
- Posts: 2576
- Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2012 2:26 pm
- Car(s): 1986 Laser 1.6, daily runaround project
1981 GL Auto 2.0, Barn-Find-Resto, now also a runaround project
1980 3.0S, crash damage resto
1993 Fiesta 1.1
Currently full up and no more space but I still want a 2.8... - Location: Buckinghamshire
Re: Rear light problem
I'd forgotten they were on different fuses... Will give it a look when I can.Mc Tool wrote: βFri Aug 27, 2021 9:05 pm Its only supposed to work when you press the brake pedal , not when you turn the head/side lights on . Are your blinkers playing up too .
The two tail lights are on different fuses which may explain why only one side is playing up. Try taking the tail light bulb out of the faulty side ,turn tail lights on and try the brake light again . Might be an earth issue
If I take the bulb out of the faulty side and turn it on how will I know whether it works or not Hamish??
The other side always works fine anyways, the bulb definitely works as I've tested it on the working side
A wise man once said... "you can never have too many capris - buy another"
It's me, I'm the wise man.
It's me, I'm the wise man.
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- Car(s): 3.0 Ghia
Re: Rear light problem
I cant remember what the car was but a couple of years ago, a bloke at work fitted a new 5w-21w stop & tail bulb, standard bayonet fitting & had a simliar issue.
Somebody then suggested he turn the bulb 180 Degrees & re fit, to his surprise it worked, I think it was something to do with the contacts on the bottom of the bulb.
Somebody then suggested he turn the bulb 180 Degrees & re fit, to his surprise it worked, I think it was something to do with the contacts on the bottom of the bulb.
- Andrew 2.8i
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Re: Rear light problem
The dual filament bulbs can only be fitted the correct way around. The little stud things are in a slightly different location on each side.
Andrew.
Andrew.
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- Location: Invercargill New Zealand
Re: Rear light problem
Yeah , you would think Andrew , but a sloppy socket and a undersize bulb and a bit of impatient persuasion and it can be done .
D366y .....I had forgotten they are a dual filament bulb . My car ... some one has rewired the tail lights so the rear fog lamp is now another brake light , coz we dont have rear fogs here, we have them on the front ( still not sure whats the best ). I went mental trying to figure out why I didnt have wires for (front) fogs despite there being a fog light switch , untill the penny dropped
D366y .....I had forgotten they are a dual filament bulb . My car ... some one has rewired the tail lights so the rear fog lamp is now another brake light , coz we dont have rear fogs here, we have them on the front ( still not sure whats the best ). I went mental trying to figure out why I didnt have wires for (front) fogs despite there being a fog light switch , untill the penny dropped
Sometimes I talk to myself ... and we both have a good laugh
Re: Rear light problem
Hi D366Y
Did this problem occur after you had changed a bulb?
I'm sure you knew that, on a double-filament bulb on a Capri and any other car of this era, the locating pins are diametrically opposite but are at different lengths from the contact face, as in the photo.
A couple of months ago I discovered that on my Mondeo (Don't laugh!) when I tried to replace a brake light bulb the pins are not only different lengths from the contact face they are not diametrically opposite but off-set around its circumference. At first glance this minor difference is not immediately apparent.
I managed to get an older bulb into the Mondeo housing but it obviously didn't work as it should.
Then someone told me about the difference.
Have you tried to use a later type bulb? (Just asking.)
Did this problem occur after you had changed a bulb?
I'm sure you knew that, on a double-filament bulb on a Capri and any other car of this era, the locating pins are diametrically opposite but are at different lengths from the contact face, as in the photo.
A couple of months ago I discovered that on my Mondeo (Don't laugh!) when I tried to replace a brake light bulb the pins are not only different lengths from the contact face they are not diametrically opposite but off-set around its circumference. At first glance this minor difference is not immediately apparent.
I managed to get an older bulb into the Mondeo housing but it obviously didn't work as it should.
Then someone told me about the difference.
Have you tried to use a later type bulb? (Just asking.)
- D366Y
- Donator
- Posts: 2576
- Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2012 2:26 pm
- Car(s): 1986 Laser 1.6, daily runaround project
1981 GL Auto 2.0, Barn-Find-Resto, now also a runaround project
1980 3.0S, crash damage resto
1993 Fiesta 1.1
Currently full up and no more space but I still want a 2.8... - Location: Buckinghamshire
Re: Rear light problem
Hi guys,
I have tried a new bulb and like Andrew says the bulb only fits into the housing one way so know that isn't the issue, and I've tried a brand new bulb ( same problem) and the same bulb in the other side which worked fine so I know the bulb isn't at fault.
I will try and look tomorrow but in truth I've been rather distracted the last few days
Cheers
Danny
I have tried a new bulb and like Andrew says the bulb only fits into the housing one way so know that isn't the issue, and I've tried a brand new bulb ( same problem) and the same bulb in the other side which worked fine so I know the bulb isn't at fault.
I will try and look tomorrow but in truth I've been rather distracted the last few days
Cheers
Danny
A wise man once said... "you can never have too many capris - buy another"
It's me, I'm the wise man.
It's me, I'm the wise man.
-
- Donator
- Posts: 2373
- Joined: Sat May 17, 2014 8:34 pm
- Car(s): 1980 mk3 capri 2l ohc T9 , Toyota Blade Master 3.5l V6, Paso , 850T,rd400, 900ss
- Location: Invercargill New Zealand
Re: Rear light problem
Ah , yes , work is the curse of the drinking man
Sometimes I talk to myself ... and we both have a good laugh
- D366Y
- Donator
- Posts: 2576
- Joined: Mon Sep 03, 2012 2:26 pm
- Car(s): 1986 Laser 1.6, daily runaround project
1981 GL Auto 2.0, Barn-Find-Resto, now also a runaround project
1980 3.0S, crash damage resto
1993 Fiesta 1.1
Currently full up and no more space but I still want a 2.8... - Location: Buckinghamshire
Re: Rear light problem
Problem solved!
Drove the car yesterday and checked it when I got back, weirdly the drivers side light was now working and the passenger wasn't... Anyway, changed fuse 3 and 4 over, problem solved.
Drove the car yesterday and checked it when I got back, weirdly the drivers side light was now working and the passenger wasn't... Anyway, changed fuse 3 and 4 over, problem solved.
A wise man once said... "you can never have too many capris - buy another"
It's me, I'm the wise man.
It's me, I'm the wise man.
-
- Posts: 356
- Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2017 6:19 pm
- Car(s): 3.0 Ghia
Re: Rear light problem
Result, nice easy & cheap fix