NC interior light and central locking
Discussion
Since buying the car a few weeks ago the interior light has steadfastly refused to work. It did come on when the doors were opened, but then the switch on the light fell apart, or more accurately went all floppy. Since then no light at all.
Yesterday I took the whole unit out, and it was indeed in bits inside. I ordered a new one from MX5 Parts for under £20. Here's the thing, with the fittings removed, the central locking has stopped working. The key lights up, but the car doesn't lock or unlock. Would this be right or has the car gone all moody on me?
Yesterday I took the whole unit out, and it was indeed in bits inside. I ordered a new one from MX5 Parts for under £20. Here's the thing, with the fittings removed, the central locking has stopped working. The key lights up, but the car doesn't lock or unlock. Would this be right or has the car gone all moody on me?
I've never removed mine but theres a strong chance that as with many other cars, the radio receiver for the remote locking system is also integrated into the light unit. Which you have disconnected.
Wait till the new light unit turns up and see if it works.
The number of terminals on the unit might be a clue too, as the lampt will only need 3 max (ground, perm live and switched live).
Wait till the new light unit turns up and see if it works.
The number of terminals on the unit might be a clue too, as the lampt will only need 3 max (ground, perm live and switched live).
Sorted!
A simple three connection light switch, but in my enthusiasm to remove the old one, I'd obviously shorted across the bulb terminals blowing the fuse under the bonnet. The fuse that does central locking and interior (and presumably boot) lights. Because the old one wasn't working at all, I didn't realise until I fitted the new one and it didn't work either!
A simple three connection light switch, but in my enthusiasm to remove the old one, I'd obviously shorted across the bulb terminals blowing the fuse under the bonnet. The fuse that does central locking and interior (and presumably boot) lights. Because the old one wasn't working at all, I didn't realise until I fitted the new one and it didn't work either!
Re boot lights in the NC.
I found that the boot lights in the boot lid only come on if the car's lights are on - not much use if you have turned them off but wanted to get something out of the boot in the dark before you went inside the house. The single light mounted to the nearside of the number plate on the inside of the vertical rear panel of the boot has a switch which allows you to turn it on when the car lights are off. Now, does that light go off when the boot is closed and the car locked with the blip? I assume so or the battery would be drained, but don't want to rely on that assumption.
There is a way of finding out - a "Top Tip" in Viz magazine once suggested that if you are worried that your fridge light doesn't turn off when you close the door, simply drill a hole in the door and you will be able to see if it does... reassuring as that would be I don't think it the best solution.
I found that the boot lights in the boot lid only come on if the car's lights are on - not much use if you have turned them off but wanted to get something out of the boot in the dark before you went inside the house. The single light mounted to the nearside of the number plate on the inside of the vertical rear panel of the boot has a switch which allows you to turn it on when the car lights are off. Now, does that light go off when the boot is closed and the car locked with the blip? I assume so or the battery would be drained, but don't want to rely on that assumption.
There is a way of finding out - a "Top Tip" in Viz magazine once suggested that if you are worried that your fridge light doesn't turn off when you close the door, simply drill a hole in the door and you will be able to see if it does... reassuring as that would be I don't think it the best solution.
Revisitph said:
Re boot lights in the NC.
I found that the boot lights in the boot lid only come on if the car's lights are on - not much use if you have turned them off but wanted to get something out of the boot in the dark before you went inside the house. The single light mounted to the nearside of the number plate on the inside of the vertical rear panel of the boot has a switch which allows you to turn it on when the car lights are off. Now, does that light go off when the boot is closed and the car locked with the blip? I assume so or the battery would be drained, but don't want to rely on that assumption.
There is a way of finding out - a "Top Tip" in Viz magazine once suggested that if you are worried that your fridge light doesn't turn off when you close the door, simply drill a hole in the door and you will be able to see if it does... reassuring as that would be I don't think it the best solution.
Steal your wife's phone and face time yourself with your phone in the boot, alternatively you could lock a small child or Mini Me from Austin Powers in the boot, but that's frowned upon nowadays, bloody snowflakes.I found that the boot lights in the boot lid only come on if the car's lights are on - not much use if you have turned them off but wanted to get something out of the boot in the dark before you went inside the house. The single light mounted to the nearside of the number plate on the inside of the vertical rear panel of the boot has a switch which allows you to turn it on when the car lights are off. Now, does that light go off when the boot is closed and the car locked with the blip? I assume so or the battery would be drained, but don't want to rely on that assumption.
There is a way of finding out - a "Top Tip" in Viz magazine once suggested that if you are worried that your fridge light doesn't turn off when you close the door, simply drill a hole in the door and you will be able to see if it does... reassuring as that would be I don't think it the best solution.
On the NA and NB, the numberplate lights cleverly double up as the boot lights and come on every time you open the boot, car lights on or not.
I suspect the boot light (the one with the switch on the inside) goes off when the boot is closed, because I have left mine switched on and the battery hasn't gone flat. Yet. But I can't find an actuator switch for it anywhere...
I suspect the boot light (the one with the switch on the inside) goes off when the boot is closed, because I have left mine switched on and the battery hasn't gone flat. Yet. But I can't find an actuator switch for it anywhere...
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