What dictates the boot light coming on in a mk4 escort?

When I open the boot the light flickers as the boot goes up and it causes my sub to pop?!

 

There's no boot light switch, when you turn the sidelights on the boot light and number plate light comes on too.

 

I thought they had a 'mercury' switch in the tailgate, so when the tailgate gets a certain angle the switch activates and puts the light on.

 

My boot light comes on when the tailgate is lifted about an inch?

Someone said this to me earlier, but I would have no idea where it is or what one even looks like?!

I should think if it was broken or had a bad connection this would cause the light to flicker on and off.

 

There will be switch on the lock, if like other setups.

Martin

 

Whatever type of switch it has, the problem is it's not making good contact!

Martin

 

Might have to whip the lock mechanism out and have a look.

When I rebuilt the boot I cant remember any wires going to it though.

 

IIRC the 'mercury' switch is a gold/brass coloured 'tube' shaped thing with a wire coming out of it, it's in the tailgate.

Can't find any pics of one though.

 

I will have a look tomorrow.

Its no big deal. The issues come to a stop by removing the boot light bulb (which is about as useful as a match ember), however I do like to fix things rather than leave them.

 

I'd check the wires from the roof to the tailgate as well, as these were very common for breaking back in the day.

I'm intruiged about the boot light switch now, if you do find it, can you put a pic on here please?

 

Yeah I did consider the wires from the roof through the tailgate, however the flickering issue only occurs when the tailgate is about 2/3 open. If you wiggle it up and and down slightly then the light flickers. Gave all the wires from the roof a good wiggle and that has no affect.

I'll get some pictures of my findings

I still cant understand why its making my sub "pop". The sub is wired to the amp, which is wired straight to the battery and earthed to the boot floor. I always knew electric was some kind of magic

 

Some kid of interference going on, must be!

Found a PDF of the Haynes book of lies, it mentions the 'load space lamp switch' but no pic of it, and the text just says to remove the trim in the tailgate, remove a screw and remove the switch.. that's it

Page 4 on here - http://escort.mk3.pagesperso-orange....es/0686-12.pdf

 

This is the switch.


and with the latch closed


So it just breaks the circuit once the boot is closed.

 

Well that's my theory out the window then.

 

I checked the wires going from the boot to the roof and one of them was very flexible. Ended up chopping out the soft section and reconnecting it.

The boot light is now on, nice a bright until the boot is fully open, then the light goes out and the sub goes "pop"

So I'm still confused about this.

 

Just had a thought on this. Where the tailgate meets the roof, should this be a bare metal join? as the tailgate doesnt have an earth strap.

 

It's clearly the wiring at fault.

Martin

 

Yup. Ended up rewiring the back of the switch into the car to a point where the wires dont move. Problem solved.