Club 80-90 Forums

Hi all

I have a rather puzzling issue.
My rear sidelights stay on all the time even when the switch on the dashboard is off.
When it is on both the front and rear lights are on, but when I turn the switch to the off position 
only the front lights go off.

Obviously having the rear lights permanently on drains the battery.

Any ideas on what might be the issue?

Best Wishes
Ernest

Is it the brake lights on , possibly.

Hi Cecil

Thanks for response.
The issue only seems to involve the sidelights.

Ernest

So the combined brake /rear light portion of the lens brighten considerably when the brakes are operated (ignition on) do they?

Sounds silly but are you certain they are on? Pull the lights out and look to see if the bulbs are lit, could just be a reflection

Hi Both
Thanks for responses.
It is just the sidelight section of both rear lights (so one 'lens' each side). And definitely on.... this was initially brought to my attention by a neighbour when it was dark.
Best Wishes
Ernest

——————————I must admit that I had forgotten that side lights have a separate section of the lens to the brake lights. Both pictures in this post is side lights(section directly below reversing light lens)does not photograph very well in the strong sunshine! ,picture below  in next post is brake lights.Hope this helps you to confirm that it is the side lights (as in the 2pictures above )that you have which are remaining on.

Often strange happenings with rear lights are due to poor earth connections. An easy though not full proof way I often check this is to switch on the side lights , then the hazard lights as well to see that the side lights do not flash in unison with the hazard lights.

My guess is your headlamp switch is full of muck.
Unlikely to be an earth problem.

Do the lights go out when you unplug the headlamp switch?

I had been wondering if the bulbs have been changed to LEDs and that they might be more sensitive to imperfect wiring or switch etc.

Another query - what year is your van?

Early type with the Euro torpedo fuses,
(Upto early 1985)

Or the later type with the CE1 blade fuse box.
(From mid 1985 - ish).

If it is the later type with blade fuses, then the tail lights are connected to the front side lights inside the fusebox. - So the fronts should light with the rears if it is a switch fault.
Moving towards the back of the van, the connections for both tail lights are in the 7 pin barrel connector in the rear junction box.

Are we thinking leak over voltage? Or a bad earth causing voltage to look for an alternative route to ground?.

If a moderately late van does it have dim / dip, parking lights or daytime running lights?
---------------------------------
If it is an early fusebox, then it is a bit more tricky to fathom as there are no documented fusebox terminal indentifications.

From what I can tell fuses 1 and 2 feed the side and tail lights on the early vans.
If pulling either fuse has no effect, then you have ruled out the light switch and the wiring from the fuse box.

Wow!

Thanks all for range of observations/advice.

I am thinking that Robsey makes some interesting suggestions, especially re. the rear junction box, that are worth following up.
It is a 1990 van.

But I do very much appreciate all your suggestions and will think about these over the next few days.

Best Wishes
Ernest

It is worth looking at all the wiring between the barrel connector and the light units.

There are not many permanently live wires in the rear of the van. (Red wires usually).
But there is the stud with the big fat red wires.

It has been hot and dry recently, so I would rule out ambient moisture, which often leads to tracking type shorts.

Therefore look for where wires have dirty connections, or where wires have chafed in close proximity to your tail light wires.

As said - good electrics require sound wiring with secure, clean and dry connections.

Daft question but it is both sides the side lights staying on? It’s not totally clear from the pics?