[Carpet Dawg]

I'm hoping you guys can help me with a strange problem i am having with my 2005 tranist.

My side lights and rear tail light dont seem too work, but everything else works i.e. headlights, reg plate lights, brake lights, indicators and reverse light.

I checked the fuse and sure enough No15 (the blue one) was blown! I replaced it with a brand new one from halfords but this lasted about one day before going again.

So does anyone know what the issue might be? I am thinking a dodgy bulb holder? or a dodgy connection with the wires near/ going to the bulb holder??

many thanks in advance

Tony

[jaespray]

hi tony   probaly salt corrosion    on earth return wire "someware"
regards john

[markpowell]

The switch will be faulty imo
Mark

[Simon@arenaclean]

Could be the board they plug into but more likely a wiring fault. Sound like the live is going to earth so I would check the cables around the body work. A small nick on a live cable that occasionally goes to earth would cover you problem.

[Carpet Dawg]

cheers for the replys guys!

mmmm a few things to look into then. Think i'll start looking for dodgy wiring first near the switch/bulbs as this will be easy to see if there are any faults (i think  )

I got the back all ply lined and had a bulk head fitted a week ago. (last tuesday) and there are wires running in there. I wonder if the fitter done some damage to them?  Having said that, this light problem started on Saturday.

Tony

[Simon@arenaclean]

Easy to nick a wire whilst putting in a screw or drilling a hole, could be a bugger to trace that. The wire will actually be bare and would need to come in contact with the body or something metal going to the body. The live will short and pop the fuse. That it is not happening straight away suggests it's moving around. I not sure how they work but a fella with a multi meter might be able to find the spot if there is a voltage drop. Might be worth finding a local auto electrician once you've exhausted what you can do.

Good luck

[Paul Heath]

I would check all the bulb holders on the rear light cluster...these tend to wear and not make a good conection, usually needs new ones to cure this problem but thought it would still be in warrenty ?

[Carpet Dawg]

Cheers Simon mate! Yeahs thats whats worring me! miles of cabling in a van!   the van is still under warrenty so if i cant sort out myself in the next couple of days i'll take it in at the weekend.

Cheers
Tony

[Carpet Dawg]

Yeah Paul, still under warrenty. Just dont have time to bring it and leave it there!    Want to see if i can find the fault first then just point it out to a mechanic to quickly fix it! lol

Tony

[BDCS]

Disconnect the light clusters and try the lights - if it blows the fuse its the wiring/switch if not its the clusters

[John Kelly]

If the cables been damaged in any way then the warranty won't cover it and they may charge you just for finding the fault. I used to fanny on trying to find faults on vans and cars and I eventually realised it was costing me more in time and money than letting a pro sort it. An auto electrician will sort this in half an hour and shouldn't cost too much.

[Carpet Dawg]

BDCS
Problem is that the fuse doesn't blow straight away.

John
Yeah taking it in on friday afternoon, moved a job till next week.

Think i found the fault tho (or a fault waiting to happen!) i found corrosion on one of the wires going back in to a connection thingy in the back of the van, along the top of the ply lining.

Tony