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Subject Topic: Odd rear light question Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonRustybus
24/5/2015 at 5:03pm
 Location: East Woodhay
 Outfit: Passat TDi and Sprite Alpine :-) View Rustybus's Profile View Profile   Reply to Rustybus Reply   Quote Rustybus Quote  
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I have just replaced the 2 broken tail lights on my caravan, as they were damage when I bought the van I am not sure what state the output was. Anyway I now have very dim side lights on both sides, bright indicator on the right but dim on the left and bright brake lights. Any ideas what is causing the weird dimness of the various light? At first I thought poor "earthing" (negative ) but all the lights have a common "earth" so should they all be dim?
ps. I am an auto electrician and I am baffled, also I have replace plug on van and socket on car (checked and rechecked both wirings).


Personmoppetsdad
24/5/2015 at 5:35pm
 Location: The foot hills of no
 Outfit:  A full biohazard su View moppetsdad's Profile View Profile   Reply to moppetsdad Reply   Quote moppetsdad Quote  
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Have you checked for to correct wattage? Also damaged wiring?

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David

    

I've stood on Lego and didn't even cry!!


PersonRustybus
24/5/2015 at 5:40pm
 Location: East Woodhay
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All bulbs correct wattage and no visible damage, fresh look tomorrow.


Persontango55
24/5/2015 at 6:56pm
 Location: Lichfield
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I have just replaced the 2 broken tail lights on my caravan:

        _____________________________________________


Did you replace with brand new or second hand light clusters?


Personmoppetsdad
24/5/2015 at 7:00pm
 Location: The foot hills of no
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Have you checked the car with another trailer or light board?

-------------
David

    

I've stood on Lego and didn't even cry!!


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PersonRustybus
24/5/2015 at 7:23pm
 Location: East Woodhay
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Yes, on 2 trailer boards just to be sure. I've now made a rig up to test the cabling through the caravan.


Persontango55
24/5/2015 at 7:47pm
 Location: Lichfield
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Quote: Originally posted by tango55 on 24/5/2015
I have just replaced the 2 broken tail lights on my caravan:

        _____________________________________________


Did you replace with brand new or second hand light clusters?



All the lights may have a common earth at the connection plug but there are independent earth connections in the light itself. That was the reason behind my question which you didn't answer.


Personbabygrumplin
24/5/2015 at 10:28pm
 Location: lincs
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Do the lights earth to the van body? if they do, they might have bad earth between body and chassis, an earth return back to the plug is a good idea on any older van.

-------------
VENI VIDI VACATIOUS (I came, I saw, I stayed for an holiday).


PersonRustybus
24/5/2015 at 10:34pm
 Location: East Woodhay
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New lights fitted and could try body earth return.


Persontrog100
25/5/2015 at 8:59am
 Location: None Entered
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left and right running lights have two desperate power leads from the plug.. it may be worth fitting a new plug.. that covers a whole bunch of possibilities in one fell swoop.. i did they dont cost much..

trog


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PersonRustybus
25/5/2015 at 11:11am
 Location: East Woodhay
 Outfit: Passat TDi and Sprite Alpine :-) View Rustybus's Profile View Profile   Reply to Rustybus Reply   Quote Rustybus Quote  
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Mystery solved

If I had looked at the bulbs carefully, I would have noticed that half were 24v and the rest 12v hence the dimmness of some but not all At least all is well, good job I had not got to the point of ripping out cables


Personmoppetsdad
25/5/2015 at 12:02pm
 Location: The foot hills of no
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Should have gone to specsavers it seems!    Glad you got it sorted, electrics can be a right pain and good of you to let us know you found it.   

-------------
David

    

I've stood on Lego and didn't even cry!!


Persontango55
25/5/2015 at 11:07pm
 Location: Lichfield
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Quote: Originally posted by Rustybus on 25/5/2015
Mystery solved

If I had looked at the bulbs carefully, I would have noticed that half were 24v and the rest 12v hence the dimmness of some but not all At least all is well, good job I had not got to the point of ripping out cables



That's why I asked if the light clusters were brand new or second hand.
As the units were brand new it doesn't make sense why the bulbs were mixed as they should have all been 12 volt bulbs in the lighting unit.



PersonRustybus
26/5/2015 at 7:48pm
 Location: East Woodhay
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Quote: Originally posted by tango55 on 25/5/2015





That's why I asked if the light clusters were brand new or second hand.
As the units were brand new it doesn't make sense why the bulbs were mixed as they should have all been 12 volt bulbs in the lighting unit.




I am learning fast not to assume anything these days




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