What have I done?

[DoctorBonzo]

I have just spent the evening fitting new front bulbs - what a fiddly job but I got it done! Sidelights wouldn't work so after some fiddling I gave up and re-sealed the wheelarch covers. Now.... NOTHING! I have no dash light, interior light, headlight or rear lights working. But the breaklights do work
What on earth have I done so stop the rest of the lights from working? I really hope I haven't blown the circuit
Any ideas what I have done? I'm going to take the wheel arch covers off to investigate again tomorrow. Where do I start?
Disheartened. R

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

I'd start by looking at the fuses. You may have shorted something whilst fiddling.

The brake lights (on mine at least) are on a separate fuse shared with the wiper parking circuit, so that could explain why they're still working.

[DoctorBonzo]

Thanks - on inspecting the fuses it seemed changing the headlights had blown the clock/instruments fuse. Other lights must be inter-conected I guess. Its all working now so I'm a step close to fixing all the niggles. Side lights still aren't functioning and reverse light is temperamental but I don't think these are checked for the MOT?

[Quietlybonkers]

DoctorBonzo said:

Thanks - on inspecting the fuses it seemed changing the headlights had blown the clock/instruments fuse. Other lights must be inter-conected I guess. Its all working now so I'm a step close to fixing all the niggles. Side lights still aren't functioning and reverse light is temperamental but I don't think these are checked for the MOT?

Three things:

1. Don't know on the MOT front
2. Reverse light switch is up on the side of the gearbox, I think it is the same side as the exhaust and I will try to find you a link to a pic - could be a loose connection. Mine broke mechanically recently, spitting its ball bearing into the gearbox and leaving me with no reverse gear, as it is part of the linkage.
3. "Niggles" is copyright - I christened my Chimaera "Niggles" first!

[Dr Mike Oxgreen]

Side lights will be an MOT failure I'm afraid - you need to get that sorted. Reverse light I think is not checked.

[CDP]

Dr Mike Oxgreen said:

Side lights will be an MOT failure I'm afraid - you need to get that sorted. Reverse light I think is not checked.

IIRC all mandatory lights are checked and even optional lights where fitted. I needed to do the repeater tail lamps on the van despite them being 6' up...