Tail-lights dimming with indicators

[Waugh-terfall]

Posted this in French Bred, but thought I'd get a quicker response here...

My car has See-Me-Home lights, I locked the car the other day whilst they were on and noticed the drivers-side red tail light dims as the indicator flashed. I thought both did it, but on further inspection tonight it seems to just be the right one. It also does it whilst indicating whilst the engine is running. I thought it might be a weak battery, but now I'm not so sure...

Any ideas?

The car is a Renault Megane II 5dr

Quick vid to help illustrate: http://s77.photobucket.com/albums/j58/Waugh-terfal...

Ta

[PaulGT3]

Bad earth

[jas xjr]

Bad earth may e

[Waugh-terfall]

How might I go about checking/sorting a bad earth?

[Autogasm]

Looks as though the problem is being caused by a poor earth connection. Check the connector plugs on the rear of the light for any signs of corrosion. The connections need to be perfectly clean at the plug and the light itself.

[Faust66]

I'd say you've got a dodgy earth connection mate.

Have a look around the rear light clusters and you'll find a wire connected to the metal of the car body - unbolt/unscrew it and clean the metal up so it's nice and shiney. Reconnect the wire and the job should be a good 'un.

Failing that, a decent car electrician should sort it for a few quid.

Oh, and change the bulbs while you're at it, just in case they're getting a bit past it.

Edited by Faust66 on Monday 22 November 22:38

[jimbobsimmonds]

just to repeat everybody it is your earth...

had the exact problem in my old Corsa i just ran a piece of wire from attached to the left hand panel's earth to the right hand panel's earth and that fixed it...

if it is the earth connection on the actual bulb connectors (will always wear before the live) i know it sounds like a bodge (because it is) but some good WD40/cleaning fluid and a tiny sliver of foil to extend the connection will do the trick...

[jhfozzy]

Definately sounds like a bad earth or sometimes I've found the wrong bulb in the holder i.e. Single contact bulb in a twin contact holder. Simplest way to check an earth fault is to get the cluster out, get a spare length of wire and earth the correct point on the cluster (it's usually the largest metal track in the lamp) from any nearby clean bolt. Check the lights and if they work correctly it's the earth. You can either diagnose where you've lost the earth which will be quite difficult or you can fashion a new earth by making a more secure version of your test earth.

[Waugh-terfall]

Excellent, I dig my screw drivers out tomorrow! Thanks all

[Jo Po]

I have a Megane Coupe and it was doing the same til i changed the bulb and that seems to have sorted it.

[John D.]

See me home lights?

[Waugh-terfall]

John D. said:

See me home lights?

When I unlock the car in the dark the headlights, tail lights and reg-plate lights come on and when I get out of the car and touch the main-beam stalk they stay on for 30secs, lighting the way to the front door. The 308 does the same though without the need for tapping the stalk, as does the A6, although that uses the front fogs rather than the main headlamp units

Edited by Waugh-terfall on Monday 22 November 23:17

[Waugh-terfall]

Right, so I made a mess, pulling the boot seal, parcel shelf fixings and the carpeting off, found the earth and it looked pretty grimy, so whilst I was in fiddle-mode I worked out how to get the light cluster off (huge, but surprisingly light..), tested the bulbs, re-fitted it, cleaned up the earth and tested it. Result! I no longer have disco lights! The shape of the damned thing makes taking bits apart and re-fitting it all again really really awkward! Renault techies must all either be contortionists or dwarfs. If not, I can see why servicing costs are so high, it must take aaaaaaages to do anything!!

[Faust66]

Waugh-terfall said:

Right, so I made a mess, pulling the boot seal, parcel shelf fixings and the carpeting off, found the earth and it looked pretty grimy, so whilst I was in fiddle-mode I worked out how to get the light cluster off (huge, but surprisingly light..), tested the bulbs, re-fitted it, cleaned up the earth and tested it. Result! I no longer have disco lights! The shape of the damned thing makes taking bits apart and re-fitting it all again really really awkward! Renault techies must all either be contortionists or dwarfs. If not, I can see why servicing costs are so high, it must take aaaaaaages to do anything!!

Good work man. It's always satisfying to sort a car problem out by yourself.

[TallPaul]

Waugh-terfall said:

I can see why servicing costs are so high, it must take aaaaaaages to do anything!!

I'm thinking you have to take the front bumper off to get at the front headlights, sounds like you got the easy end!

[Tunku]

Faust66 said:

Waugh-terfall said:

Right, so I made a mess, pulling the boot seal, parcel shelf fixings and the carpeting off, found the earth and it looked pretty grimy, so whilst I was in fiddle-mode I worked out how to get the light cluster off (huge, but surprisingly light..), tested the bulbs, re-fitted it, cleaned up the earth and tested it. Result! I no longer have disco lights! The shape of the damned thing makes taking bits apart and re-fitting it all again really really awkward! Renault techies must all either be contortionists or dwarfs. If not, I can see why servicing costs are so high, it must take aaaaaaages to do anything!!

Good work man. It's always satisfying to sort a car problem out by yourself.

Good work indeed. Just keep an eye on water ingress through the disturbed rearlight cluster. I don't know if that particular car is prone to leaks in the light cluster, but a lot are.

[Waugh-terfall]

TallPaul said:

Waugh-terfall said:

I can see why servicing costs are so high, it must take aaaaaaages to do anything!!

I'm thinking you have to take the front bumper off to get at the front headlights, sounds like you got the easy end!

I've had to change a sidelight bulb on it before, you have to turn the wheel to the opposite lock (dependent on which light), remove a panel from the wheelarch lining, snap each finger in 7 places and have a fiddle. Had to clean the motor for the windscreen washer pump too, that's behind the drivers-side front fog light, nightmare!