Hi all, bit of an odd one but just thought I'd ask on SNet before getting an auto-electrician to take a look.

A few weeks ago I went to "detango" my rear indicators by replacing the orange bulbs for chrome ones. In the process I managed to break my drivers side rear tail light (the red one which comes on whenever my headlights are on). The passenger side is fine for the record, as is every other light in the rear clusters (indicators, fog, brake, reverse).

I assumed bulb at first, as you do - but upon swapping the bulb it still didn't fix it. The wiring harness was a little tight so my next theory was that I'd been a bit hamfisted and had broken a wire/connector in the harness when swapping bulbs. It looked fine visually, but I don't have a multimeter so I simply replaced the harness with one from a breaker.

Guess what, still no driver side rear tail light!

I posted a few wanted adverts up when on the hunt for a new harness, and one reply on another forum suggested the driver side had it's own fuse? My manual doesn't list it but that could be one more thing to check before paying somebody to take a look... does anyone have any ideas whether there is a seperate fuse, and if so which one?!

Finally - any other suggestions as to things I've missed/messed up?

 

Just get a cheap multimeter and check wiring as will be running round in circles without one

 

Yeah I probably should, but even if I get one - all I'd be able to check (with my knowledge) is the harness which I've already replaced - I'd simply stick the prongs in the bulbholder, knowing it's not going to work - and then I'd be back to square one!

 

Or alternativly route a wire from the other side tail light for a quick fix.

 

Aye good call, I've been known to be a bit of a bodger at times.

I think I'll grab a multimeter at the weekend (it wouldn't go amiss in my toolkit anyway) and have a poke around. I guess I can at least compare the two harnesses and confirm there's no power going to the bulb holder.

Does anybody know if any wiring diagrams exist for this part of the car's electronics? It would be nice to know what pinks correlate to what on the connector between the car's wiring and the cluster harness.

 

I actually fixed it!

Got a 15 quid multi-meter from Homebase and had a probe around. Nailed down a crimp on the car-side of the loom, wiggled my long nose pliers in and compressed it - also added a blob of solder. Job done!

Cheers peeps.