Rear light fault

rab60bit · 8th December 2023, 19:37

I'm having a recurring faulty bulb warning issue with the O/S running light where the bus switches to the rear brake light bulb as back-up. Both bulbs function normally and I've had the cluster housing off and everything seems to be clean and correct and I've carefully Vaselined all the cluster plug connectors. The problem is easily corrected, I just give the lens a gentle bump with the palm of my hand and the bulbs reverse and the warning is extinguished, the problem is it's happening every time I need to put the lights 'on'.
Anyone got an explanation as to why it's happening/how to fix?

Mike Noc · 9th December 2023, 08:37

Can you bend the connector to the base pin of the bulb up a bit in the holder? Might be a weak connection there if you have checked everything else out. I take it you have unplugged the unit and made sure there is no corrosion on the plug pins and sockets.

rab60bit · 10th December 2023, 13:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Noc

Can you bend the connector to the base pin of the bulb up a bit in the holder? Might be a weak connection there if you have checked everything else out. I take it you have unplugged the unit and made sure there is no corrosion on the plug pins and sockets.

Mike, thanks. Yes I'd had the whole bulb holder unit out and checked all the contact points but didn't 'adjust' any of the contact tracks - I'll give it a quick look and get back to you.

roverbarmy · 10th December 2023, 14:04

A spray with contact cleaner may also help. Sometimes the bulb filaments break and then reconnect, causing the bulb out warning. They are difficult to spot. If in doubt, change the bulb anyway. Better safe than sorry. I bought a box of 10 bulbs (on Amazon) for what you pay for two at the garage!

rab60bit · 10th December 2023, 19:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by roverbarmy

A spray with contact cleaner may also help. Sometimes the bulb filaments break and then reconnect, causing the bulb out warning. They are difficult to spot. If in doubt, change the bulb anyway. Better safe than sorry. I bought a box of 10 bulbs (on Amazon) for what you pay for two at the garage!

Thanks. When I apply my 'fix' - give the lens a light bump of my palm - the re illuminated running light bulb does show a slight flicker. I was also going to swap the N/S with the O/S bulb to see if the problem moved with the bulb.

8th December 2023, 19:37	#1
rab60bit Posted a thing or two Rover 75 Saloon & Tourer Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Wilmslow Posts: 1,517 Thanks: 433 Thanked 301 Times in 212 Posts	Rear light fault I'm having a recurring faulty bulb warning issue with the O/S running light where the bus switches to the rear brake light bulb as back-up. Both bulbs function normally and I've had the cluster housing off and everything seems to be clean and correct and I've carefully Vaselined all the cluster plug connectors. The problem is easily corrected, I just give the lens a gentle bump with the palm of my hand and the bulbs reverse and the warning is extinguished, the problem is it's happening every time I need to put the lights 'on'. Anyone got an explanation as to why it's happening/how to fix?

10th December 2023, 14:04	#4
roverbarmy This is my second home Roverless + 1.7D Sportage Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: East Norfolk Posts: 7,055 Thanks: 729 Thanked 2,021 Times in 1,449 Posts	A spray with contact cleaner may also help. Sometimes the bulb filaments break and then reconnect, causing the bulb out warning. They are difficult to spot. If in doubt, change the bulb anyway. Better safe than sorry. I bought a box of 10 bulbs (on Amazon) for what you pay for two at the garage! __________________ Oil in my veins!

9th December 2023, 08:37	#2
Mike Noc This is my second home Rover 75 CDT Manual Connoisseur SE, Rover 75 CDT Automatic Connoisseur SE & a Freelander Td4. Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Hampshire Posts: 11,557 Thanks: 3,470 Thanked 3,119 Times in 2,247 Posts	Can you bend the connector to the base pin of the bulb up a bit in the holder? Might be a weak connection there if you have checked everything else out. I take it you have unplugged the unit and made sure there is no corrosion on the plug pins and sockets.