HELP - Sylva Phoenix rear light electrical fault

[rdjohn]

When I operate the brakes the LHS rear brake light does not come on and the side light goes off. The RHS is working normally - please, has anyone some idea of what the problem might be and how to rectify it?

Thanks for your time.

Rodger

[silverian535]

Sounds like an earth issue IMHO. Check all the earths.

Electricery is slippery stuff, if it cannot find a clean route to earth, it will go back through another bulb in the cluster or even the other light cluster depending on how it is wired.

I call it 'the disco light' effect when I see it on the back of people's cars.

[rdjohn]

It is a common earth for both lights, I don't know if that is significant.

I have a small AVO meter; presumably I start by separating the bullet connector in the wheel arch and check for continuity there?

I was also thinking of re-routing the 3 cables by piggy-backing onto the RHS lights that are working OK. Could you say if you think that this is sensible?

Does anyone know of a good guide book for car electrics, or on-line source of reference?

[rdodger]

It could be as simple as cleaning the connector. My Libra has suffered from Disco light syndrome a couple of times and a quick clean up of the multi connector soon sorts it.

[silverian535]

yep - if they share a common earth, check the conections to the lamp units and make sure the bulb connections are clean.