Tail Light Problem (Non MB)

[Thmsshaun]

have just got an Escort van for a bit of a cheap load lugger.

Now when i checked the lights on purchase everything was good.

Tonight though all was not so good.
Sidelights fine
Brake lights fine

Sidelights and brake lights on together the NS rear brake/side light goes out completly. OS functions as should do.

Now swapping the bulbs over it happens the other way round.

I think its a faulty bulb as if it was circuitry shurely swaping the bulbs over would make no difference.

Thanks.

 

[Shude]

Is the brakelight bulb a separate bulb or is it a dual intensity bulb shared with the main rear tail lamp bulb?

When one filament goes on a dual intensity bulb or if you use the wrong type (might look basically the same) you can get some very strange results!

Fords have rubbish rear lamps/wiring anyway, practically every escort/fiesta/sierra etc from the mid 90s and earlier have earthing problems, for example when braking and indicating the indicators are on permanently and the brake light flashes on and off instead! Very, very common problem. A friend of mine had an early 90s escort and he ended up earthing the rear lamps through his ICE to escape this insane tail lamp behaviour.

 

[Thmsshaun]

Yes it is a dual filament bulb.

Where originally it was the NS light with the problem if I removed the OS bulb then the NS light would function as it should do. The problem only occurs when bothe bulbs are in and it is always the same bulb which goes out regardless of side.

This is what makes me think it could be the bulb

something tells me it will not be quite as simple as a bulb though

 

[Vips]

shude, that usually happens when there is moisture in the brake lights/holders. Bit of WD4o should disperse the moisture.

THM, you need the straight pin bulb (380), assuming its on the older escorts. The newer ones usually take the off set pins, (566). Just make sure they are of a good brand and not the cheap make like Ring.

 

[Thmsshaun]

The fault is with the bulb holder. Cant quite see what makes it does what it does but it is the holder. New holder and problem solved. Dont you just love car electrics.