electrical problem!

[martymillwall]

cowboys have struck!

2 days after buying my 98 explorer, i got it MOT'd, and it failed on a blown number plate bulb. The garage didn't have a bulb so replaced the bulb holding unit with one off a caravan!!!

Now that wouldn't have been a big problem, but i've had it in storage until today and noticed that i have no near or offside sidelights or park lights!!!!

I have changed bulbs just to confirm my suspicions, with no result!

i believe that the garage (who are 250 miles away now since i moved!) have somehow taken a feed to the number plate light from the wiring circuit that feeds the side/park lights!!! leaving the lights without a feed!

could i be correct in this assumption (i have checked fuses etc!) and if so how do i go about rectifying? Do i have to take the tailgate inners apart, and if so what am i looking for????

Im loathed to pay another garage to put it right as ive just been made redundant and times are hard at the mo....

can anyone give me a pointer??

many thanks
Marty

 

[Howard]

I'm a little confused. Do you mean that just the rear side lights (in the clusters) do not work but that the number plate lights do work? What about the front sidelights? The two sides are are fused separately so must have independent feeds. (fuse # 35 rh and 36 lh both brown 7.5a in the auxiliary fuse box by the drivers door) also a 15a fuse m11 under the hood.

 

[martymillwall]

sorry, i didn't explain very well!

1) Both front sidelights so not work

2) i presume that when in Park mode or when handbrake is applied the rear stop/park lights should illuminate - they dont!

3) they were definately working before the idiots messed about with the number plate light!

Can you confirm the rear stop/park light fuses Howard? I'll recheck the fuses for the lot today. Also i was told by a mechanic that the lights in question are all on one circuit even though fused seperately???

 

[Howard]

The side lights only come on with the switch regardless of handbrake or drive selected. I attach the two pages from the handbook on the fuses and relays.

 

[martymillwall]

Howard i've checked all fuses and they are fine.

I'm almost certain that the garage have disconnected in some way the wiring circuit in order to feed the number plate light......... but that assumes the front sidelights and rear park lights are all on a ring circuit, is that correct?

Where do i look? i presume behind the tailgate panel? any tips????

 

[Howard]

I would start by dropping the new light out and see what they did. If you do have to remove the trim from the hatch them the top pulls off (round the window) there are a couple of bolts that go down by the wiper motor and then it lifts up to release the bottom hooks. A test light will be your friend in tracking this one down.

 

[martymillwall]

thanks howard, will spend an afternoon getting frustrated trying to fix!

appreciate your help though, thanks for taking the time to help another numpty!