Slight Earthing problem

John J · 12th March 2008, 22:03

I've had a search and can't find any other topics relevant to my problem.
The problem is if i turn my sidelights on and then flash either side's indicators or hazards, the sidelights strobe slightly. Has anyone else had this problem? I tried to fit some LED sidelights as they are much brighter but they just strobe like a disco.

Phil · 12th March 2008, 22:44

Does normal operation resume if you put the original bulbs back in?

John J · 15th March 2008, 15:33

It is using the original bulbs at the moment. I'm not going to leave the leds in if they're flickering.

Phil · 15th March 2008, 15:38

So they don't flicker now, with the normal bulbs in?

John J · 15th March 2008, 16:29

It still flickers.

Phil · 15th March 2008, 17:37

Ah, sorry. There was a member, I think it was PONDWEED that found a wire chafing on part of the body and was giving him headlamp oddities. The wire in question was behind the bumper. If he doesn't see it maybe send him a PM??

Simon · 15th March 2008, 17:50

Yes can confirm (although it wasn't me who had the problem) that wiring chaffing on the seams of the body work/engine bay can cause lighting problems. Only real way to tell and properly diagnose/fix is to remove the front bumper but you can cheat if you don't fancy removing the front bumper. Here's how:

1. Jack up front of car and place on axle stands.
2. Open bonnet (to aid light entering the areas you are about to access)
3. Get underneath front of car - you should see two small pannels in front of the front wheels underneath the bumper. These have 5 or 6 screws holding them in place. Remove these pannels and look up.
4. If you can't see much get a torch/worklamp and shine it into the space and you should see the wiring looms for the lights hanging down.
5. Although space is very limited you might just be able to see the problematic wire and fix it.

Hope that helps.

sworks · 15th March 2008, 18:40

If you think it's an earth fault check the earth points behind both of the lower A panel trims. Some bolts were cross threaded from the factory

12th March 2008, 22:03	#1
John J Regular poster Rover 75 1.8 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Stourbridge, West Midlands Posts: 94 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Slight Earthing problem I've had a search and can't find any other topics relevant to my problem. The problem is if i turn my sidelights on and then flash either side's indicators or hazards, the sidelights strobe slightly. Has anyone else had this problem? I tried to fit some LED sidelights as they are much brighter but they just strobe like a disco.

12th March 2008, 22:44	#2
Phil This is my second home Rover 75 CDT Connoisseur SE Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Wales Posts: 12,227 Thanks: 469 Thanked 523 Times in 241 Posts	Does normal operation resume if you put the original bulbs back in? __________________

15th March 2008, 15:38	#4
Phil This is my second home Rover 75 CDT Connoisseur SE Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Wales Posts: 12,227 Thanks: 469 Thanked 523 Times in 241 Posts	So they don't flicker now, with the normal bulbs in? __________________

15th March 2008, 17:37	#6
Phil This is my second home Rover 75 CDT Connoisseur SE Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Wales Posts: 12,227 Thanks: 469 Thanked 523 Times in 241 Posts	Ah, sorry. There was a member, I think it was PONDWEED that found a wire chafing on part of the body and was giving him headlamp oddities. The wire in question was behind the bumper. If he doesn't see it maybe send him a PM?? __________________

15th March 2008, 15:33	#3
John J Regular poster Rover 75 1.8 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Stourbridge, West Midlands Posts: 94 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	It is using the original bulbs at the moment. I'm not going to leave the leds in if they're flickering.

15th March 2008, 16:29	#5
John J Regular poster Rover 75 1.8 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Stourbridge, West Midlands Posts: 94 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	It still flickers.

15th March 2008, 17:50	#7
Simon Banned - Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: - Posts: 10,318 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	Yes can confirm (although it wasn't me who had the problem) that wiring chaffing on the seams of the body work/engine bay can cause lighting problems. Only real way to tell and properly diagnose/fix is to remove the front bumper but you can cheat if you don't fancy removing the front bumper. Here's how: 1. Jack up front of car and place on axle stands. 2. Open bonnet (to aid light entering the areas you are about to access) 3. Get underneath front of car - you should see two small pannels in front of the front wheels underneath the bumper. These have 5 or 6 screws holding them in place. Remove these pannels and look up. 4. If you can't see much get a torch/worklamp and shine it into the space and you should see the wiring looms for the lights hanging down. 5. Although space is very limited you might just be able to see the problematic wire and fix it. Hope that helps.

15th March 2008, 18:40	#8
sworks Been absent for a while… Rover 75 Tourer, Classic mini Cooper S, Abarth 595 competizione, MG TF and a Hyundai Tucson PHEV Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cumbria Posts: 13,065 Thanks: 1,033 Thanked 1,686 Times in 1,040 Posts	If you think it's an earth fault check the earth points behind both of the lower A panel trims. Some bolts were cross threaded from the factory