My lads Escort Van has a rear lighting fault.

The symptoms are that when he turns on his lights, the rears both come on fine. If he presses his brakes, the brakes lights illuminate. However, when he releases the brake pedal, the rear nearside light extinguishes. To rectify this you have to turn the lights off/on. Sometimes both rear lights extinguish. Throughout, the number plate light functions okay.

I seem to remember in the dime distant past, I had a similar fault with a car, and it was an earthling fault. Any pointers before I get my tools out at the weekend?

 

Correct it sounds like an earthing problem, first check the earth point for each cluster it will more than likely be corroded if so best bet is just to relocate to a good earth point.

The reason the number plate lights are ok is because they use a separate earth point.

Martin

 

Many thanks martysmartie, I'll check that out.

 

I often resort to hard wiring the wires direct to the "tracks" that go from the connector area to the individual bulbs.
tabetha

 

Escort vans have separate connectors for each bulb.

The stop-tail bulb holder is known for going wrong. If you take the bulb holder out, it will be scorched.

Swap it with the other side and see if the problem swaps. Chances are that it will.

Replacement (and making a better earth) is the cure. They are dear though from Ford.

Part number is 1000724.