Rear light cluster terminal question..

[Ant16]

My lights don't seem to be working only on the left side at the back. Had a look and swapped bulbs to other side and the bulbs are fine.

Problem is...the connections from the wiring to the light cluster seems to be slightly rusty where the pins connect.

Where would I be best looking to buy a new one? Scrapyard?

Thanks, Ant.

 

[James28]

Yea scrapyard.

Try some WD40/Electrical contact cleaner on the existing pins with a small brush first.
Check the earth too.

 

[Ant16]

Where is the earth? Is it under the front passenger wheel arch somewhere?

 

[James28]

You did say rear clusters yea?
The earth for the rear clusters is inside the boot just underneath where the loom passes through the hole to the rear cluster. Small bolt.

 

[Ant16]

Yeah I did say that, ok thanks. I'll check that. Thanks again

 

[jenic]

Got the same issue myself.

Contacts are a nightmare to clean up, can't get much access. I've used sandpaper on the cluster side and a wire brush on the car side and got it sort of working, well good enough that I'm about legal while driving around.

It's the car side thats the most difficult to clean up, so I'm just going to get another connector for it.

 

[Ant16]

Where are you gonna get that from? Won't you have to rewire the wires into the connector?

 

[jenic]

I think it will be a chop and solder job, but not looked properly yet.

Will probably use these: http://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/product/926/category/163

 

[Ant16]

Brilliant. Exactly what I was hoping NOT to hear as i'm unable to do that kind of stuff myself. If you sort it out could you please keep us updated so I know? Thanks jenic.

 

[jenic]

Will do.

Check out the connectors I linked to, incredibly easy to use. You just strip the cable, place the connector over, twist them together, centre connector over joint, and heat gun it.

 

[Ant16]

Ok i'll bear that in mind if giving them a proper clean doesn't sort it out.

 

[jenic]

I swapped my bulb holders over today, the fault moved with it.

I've cleaned it up but still got issues so ordered another from renparts.

 

[Ant16]

Ah, I have swapped mine numerous times and changed bulbs in each. Like you say, the fault moved with it. But I decided to clean and sand the connecting pins a bit and now only my brake light doesn't work so i'm gonna give it a bit more of a clean to see if that helps as it has helped the other lights. Cheers for the update though!