rear tail lights and side lights gone...!

[Beirut944]

HI
If anyone could point me in the right direction in fault finding this one, i would be very grateful.
I didn't manage to see if there was a single fuse for the tail lights. Or even the side lights at the front. But the fact that both front and rear are out, would suggest someonething like a fuse, no?

Any advice appreciated. It's really a bugger not being able to use the car at night.


MJ in Beirut

[jtehfreaks]

Have you tried checking the bulbs first? Try swapping out a bulb from a working light to one that isn't working; easy test to see where you need to go next. For the fuses, pull off the fuse box lid and look at it, there's a diagram there that tells you what fuse goes to what.

[Beirut944]

Originally Posted by jtehfreaks

Have you tried checking the bulbs first? Try swapping out a bulb from a working light to one that isn't working; easy test to see where you need to go next. For the fuses, pull off the fuse box lid and look at it, there's a diagram there that tells you what fuse goes to what.

Of coure i have looked at the fuse box. There isn't a single fuse that is labelled for tail plus side lights.

CHanging the bulbs? How could eight bulbs all blow at once?

[looneybin]

Try checking the grounds
Sometimes they get some corrosion on them and can cause problems like you describe

[pfarah]

MJ,
Do you have an early or late model? (where's the fuse block?)

[9FF]

The tail lights and the side lights all come on when the headlight switch is turned to the first position, so they are on the same related circuit. They get their power from two fuses, one controls the right hand side and one the left hand side. (Early car fuses 13&14; late car fuses 40&41).Check both fuses first just in case both have blown, then check the only common factor which is the headlight switch.

[Beirut944]

Originally Posted by pfarah

MJ,
Do you have an early or late model? (where's the fuse block?)

It's an 86. The fuse box is on the firewall immediatly in front of the driver

[Beirut944]

Originally Posted by 9FF

The tail lights and the side lights all come on when the headlight switch is turned to the first position, so they are on the same related circuit. They get their power from two fuses, one controls the right hand side and one the left hand side. (Early car fuses 13&14; late car fuses 40&41).Check both fuses first just in case both have blown, then check the only common factor which is the headlight switch.

40 and 41 i removed ages ago so as to prevent me leaving the rear side lights on when the get out of the car and teh indicator is left on. Ran down the battery a couple of times and it pissed me off too much as it's a poor design.

But the front ones are gone too which is leading me to suspect that it must be the switch. I mean, what else could take out ALL side lights in one go?

Another member mentioned the grounds. WOuld be terribly helpful if someone could tell me where they are

thanks

MJ

[Beirut944]

Apologies to all concerned. If there is a competition for total jackass of the month on this site, please put my name forward I didnt relise that 41 and 41 controlled all the side lights. THought they were for parking lights only so when i disconnected them i didn't check the tail lights and have been driving around at night in beirut for months with no tail lights.
Idiot.


thanks for your patience

MJ