side lights issue

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340 Nate
Posts: 205
Joined: 05 Mar 2005 03:45 pm
Location: Cambridgeshire

side lights issue

Post by 340 Nate »

hi all again!, been busy getting car finished all day :340: and at the end of the day when i was about to go home my mate told me my sidelights were switching on when i depress the brake pedal, it obviously dont happen atall when you put the sidelights on, i didnt have the problem before but i did change my brake light and rear fog light bulbs for working ones (passenger side), plus i did put a new passenger side brake light cluster in too since my other one was all faded and dark, just hope someone has had this problem before as wiring isnt my strengths :( ,

cheers

Nate
pettaw
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Post by pettaw »

Its the earth bar in the rear clusters, a really common one and the bulbs are finding a path to earth through another bulb. You'll need to clean all the holders and the earth bar.

That should hold it for a good while if you can get everything clean.

Chris (Chris_C) has done a mod to his car where he solders a direct earth to each holder, which very neatly prevents the problem occuring but he'll fill you in when he comes on later.
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MJ
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Post by MJ »

Problems with lights is usually to do with an earthing problem. Someone posted a tutorial here on how to make sure the lights are well earthed involving solding a short piece of wire. Have a search.

As you've "put a new passenger side brake light cluster in" I'd suspect that. Have a look for currosion and clean any up :)
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SteveP
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Post by SteveP »

Definitely earth on the rear clusters, I had this when one of my bulb holders needed adjustment.
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Chris_C
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Post by Chris_C »

Yup, you are all right guys, Kar did this when I bought it. I said I wanted an MOT on it before I picked it up, and it had failed as the front sidelights came on when the brake pedal was pushed. Dude managed to wait an hour or two, passed it, and I fixed it when I got home.

Nate, have a nosey at the pictures here
http://www.ecs.soton.ac.uk/~clc202/earthlight/index.htm
Black wire between the edge of the holder and then crimp a ring (and some solder if you use an uninsulated one, which you can as it's an earth). To solder that wire, use a useful sized iron (at least 25W) so you can get the heat into it quick enough without melting the plastic. Might be worth pulling a scrappy one so you don't screw the job, and have a less legal car ;)
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'89(F) 340 GL F7R (ex B172k) - Fake -> SBKV 300 Runner Up 08, 12; '91(H) 340 GL B14.4E - Kar; '88(F) 360 GLT B200E - Jet -> BKV 300 Runner Up 09; '89(G) 360 GLT B200E - Beast
340 Nate
Posts: 205
Joined: 05 Mar 2005 03:45 pm
Location: Cambridgeshire

Post by 340 Nate »

cheers chris_c!, will give it a go during the week and report if it solved the problem or not.

cheers

Nate
340 Nate
Posts: 205
Joined: 05 Mar 2005 03:45 pm
Location: Cambridgeshire

Post by 340 Nate »

little update, i was able to stop the brake/sidelight problem but as you stop one problem another occurs, i didnt do the earth brake light method as i thought ive stopped it, i keep getting somewhere but now ive got to the point where my rear foglamps are on and only driver's side sidelight is on when you switch it onto sidelights :oops: , makes no difference switching it onto full beam (the 2 on the light switch)i can say all bulbs are working as ive replaced half of them to be safe :cry: .

cheers

Nate
340 Nate
Posts: 205
Joined: 05 Mar 2005 03:45 pm
Location: Cambridgeshire

Post by 340 Nate »

sorted :oops: , partly my fault for not having keys turned in ignition preventing headlights working without me realising :lol: , but there was still a light always playing with me which was driver's side brake light and now thats sorted as someone who owned car before screwed wire to the bracket on the cluster making a large split in wire, bend wire then electric tape it and presto it works again, only if i thought of takin drivers side cluster off sooner then i would have noticed :oops: , time to fill the car up and take it for a spin :)

cheers

Nate
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