godzilla

iTrader: (1)

My Saph has decided to go a bit mad when i indicate. I shall describe as best as i can here!!

When the lights are on and i brake whilst indicating to the left it goes very fast and the rear left light dims (only know this as my girlfriend was folloeing me the other day) whilst giving fast flashes, i take my foot of the brake to indicate left and all is ok! Also when i indicate left the rear for lamp switch on my dash illumintes.

Any ideas?

whoopty

they get damp and corode it acts like there is a bad earth but the terminals just need cleaned with emery paper

ickey818

Sounds like a poor connection on the rear light clusters, normally the earth wire. I had the same problem on my car about 6 months ago.

I managed to fix it on mine by removing the wiring plug to the bulb holder and then gently twisting the metal prongs on the bulb holder so you get a better interference fit between the plug and the bulb holder if that makes sense?

PSL

Well worth taking the cluster out and having a look. I had similar happen on my old Escort and it was where water had got into the unit and had corroded the prongs which caused a short.

Take the cluster out and unplug it, then just run some sandpaper between the prongs, then re-attach and you'll probably find they'll work fine

tabetha

DON'T use sandpaper on anything electrical EVER.
Clean up with emery cloth, best loing term solution is to solder the wires direct to the bulb holder.
The tracks/pins are galvanised as std, but it is a crap amount so does not do it's job properly.
You can also whilst there fit a 1N5408 diode between the fog light and brake light so you have four brake lights and normal fog lights.
I do this on all of my cars and the difference is amazing, and all for around 10 pence!!
tabetha

godzilla

iTrader: (1)

How do I do this Tabetha and where can i get a 1N5408 diode from, also what is it?!

Many thanks

Paul.

AndyPen

iTrader: (24)

Sometimes an extra earth wire to ground it to one of the bodywork points is as easy as it gets. E.g. there is one near the boot striker plate I think. Or if you are not too concerned about originality drill your own somewhere discrete.

Interesting idea about the diode Tab

godzilla

iTrader: (1)

What wire from the light cluster is the earth? I have found an earthing spot but have not got a clue on what wire is what!

Glenn_

iTrader: (1)

I just took my rear light clusters out and give the connections a good clean. Then i used some grease to try and protect them.

tabetha

The reason why you should not use glasspaper is because any arcing of the wire/connection causes heat and this can as it does on points cleaned with the same stuff melt the glass particles and insulate the connection.
On the metal circuit bits of the lights bulb holders you will see one common rail that goes to all the lights, this is the EARTH, if you drill a small 3/4mm hole in here it will be nice and sharp and also have got rid of the galvanise around the hole, so solder will readily stick here, solder a wire here about 12" long and put a ring terminal on the end, then this can be put down to a suitable earth point.
The DIODE's 1N5408 can be bought from places like Maplin's, they are one way electrical valves, so the current can flow from the brake light bulb to the fog light bulb but not the other way around, this will light up your fog light switch led in the centre, but to stop this merely put another in line with the feed to the fog light from the switch if you are that bothered about it.
You can use any 1N4000 series diodes but 1N5408 is a much heavier duty version, and a lot more suited to the DC current of a car, as this is a LOT harsher than ac current, even though voltage much lower than household lecky.
I also have these dioders fitted on my car so dip beam stays on on main beam, so you have 2X55watt dip and 2X60 watts main as well as inner 2X55watts spots, another is fitted to my fogs/relay so they come on with main beam as well, but still work independantly on thier own.
The brake light mod is FULLY STREET LEGAL AND WILL PASS THE MOT no problem.
The diodes are around 7/10pence each.
tabetha