8 replies to this topic

[JustJack]

Basically its a bit of a funny one,  

when i turn my lights on, the rear ones dont come on,

 

but they light up when i press the brake pedal so i know its not the bulbs

the reverse lights and indicators work,

ive checked the main fuse box in the engine bay and all ok
 

 

1978  / 1275

Many Thanks

[chipmongrel360]

have you physically checked the bulbs? brake lights are twin filament so that would explain why they light up under braking but not with the headlights.

[JustJack]

i checked one of them, both the  fillaments on that bulb was still connected didnt look like it had blown

[KernowCooper]

Check the wiring for a 12v feed when the lights are switched on and folllow it back, do you have any number plate lights working ?

[tiger99]

Replace both bulbs, as it is not uncommon to have two fail. Remember that they have both had the same amount of use. I have had this on a modern car recently, and the bulbs looked ok, but were not.

Do the sidelights work? If not, suspect a fuse, despite them seeming to be ok. Often the failure is dirt or corrosion, rather than the fuse blowing. Sometimes the wire (any wires on a Mini, almost) rots at the terminal, inside the bullet or spade connector, which is not to easy to spot.

The incoming supply to the side/tail fuse will be red, and the outgoing feed to the lights red/green, which will help to identify the correct fuse, probably an inline type, depending on model and year. Later cars have a split circuit, red still incoming from teh light switch, and red-something to one side and tail light, red-something else to the other.

[jagman.2003]

Also check the earth supply to the lights in the boot. Typically any of the connections can become corroded.

[JustJack]

Also check the earth supply to the lights in the boot. Typically any of the connections can become corroded.

Changed both the bulbs as tiger suggested, but still nothing have since spotted what looks like and earth wiring ring not connected to anything so im going to see if its that tomorrow as i cant see what im doing, want to avoid lifting out the petrol tank tho, seems pretty tight 

[tiger99]

You could make a more accessible earth connection. Ideally you would earth the left and right lights seperately, and same at the front, which removes the biggest cause of total headlight failure.

 

In the boot there are places which can be drilled without encouraging water leaks by going throuigh the floor. The floor to wheel arch stiffner is one possible place. However, you do have a very effective earth point already, for the battery, if the wires will reach.

[JustJack]

Problem sorted, dont know how or why but, i did use my multimeter to check the connectivity on the reg wires, and it bleeped so i knew there was power but how much? 0.09v so that was why. anyway i thought it cant be a problem at the back as the break lights and all others work so i knew the power was there, so moved a few wires in the fuse box and bingo, all the lights back on with a reading now of something like 11.53v