Oh no! Not that old fog light question again.

I have a 1998 Defender 90.

There are two lights to the rear at low level. The drivers side is the red fog lamp and I assume the left hand side is the white reverse light?
Neither work.

I bought a new reverse light fitting with the attached length of wiring. I cannot see where the wiring goes to. From looking under the left wheel arch, it looks as if the wiring passes through to the inside, but I don't know where. On the left as you look in the car door I can see a speaker and a small gap behind of that right in the corner where I can see/feel the back of the back break lights. Does the wiring go behind the speaker? Would you generally have to remove the folding seat beside of this and the whole speaker to gain access to that wiring?

I have googled this and generally I am fairly good at researching but I can't seem to find anything that shoes me where that wiring goes.
Just to add, the reversing light I have (just like the original) a rectangal fitting, came with the bulb and about a foot of wiring already fitted with two connectors on the end. Is this because I should be able to disconnect the existing one (which has fallen apart internally) and reconnect the new one.

Thanks

Hi.
The light are wired into the 'triangle' at the back of the tub just to the right and left of the rear door.
The wires come along, through the chassis, from the front and up into this space where they connect to the lights on the offside (rear, brake indicator and fog) and then go down, across the rear X-member to the near side, up into the triangular space and then to the lights (rear, brake, indicators and reverse).
Some wires (from the offside) also feed into the back door for the heated screen and the wash/wiper - if fitted.

Not sure about the speaker (I don't have any) but it sounds like this is the cover you need to remove.
The nearside is easier as you can get at the bolt/nuts with the door open. The offside takes two (unless you have very long arms).

These wires are all wrapped in a covering until they come up into the cab where you need to read the wiring diagram to see what you have.

The wires hide behind plastic shields inside the wheel arch, these shields look like the inner wing but are not.

If both bulbs are good, I would say rev light switch is at fault, and either needs new or adjusting, both of the lamps are pretty crap, but normally clean up just fine.

Where are you switching the fog light on from? will need ignition and lights on for the fog to work.

Thank you for the replies and tips.

The fog lamp switch is on the dash to the right of the steering wheel. There is a bank of three switches, emergency hazards (working), heated rear windscreen (not tested) and the fog light switch which lights up on the switch at least.

I had to change the reverse lamp as mine was shattered to bits inside. All I did was cut the existing wires that were already there from the back of the shattered concave reflector and connect to the new lamp internals with a new bulb. I was hoping for that to work obviously but it didn't.

I did have the engine on and light son to test the fog and reverse lights.

The bulbs are new and I checked they worked in the indicator just to double check. I am not sure where to find the revers light switch.

I have added some photos as sometimes that can help, but I am going to check if power comes to the units. I have a multimeter so will try that later.

lynall said:

The wires hide behind plastic shields inside the wheel arch, these shields look like the inner wing but are not.

If both bulbs are good, I would say rev light switch is at fault, and either needs new or adjusting, both of the lamps are pretty crap, but normally clean up just fine.

Where are you switching the fog light on from? will need ignition and lights on for the fog to work.

Click to expand...

Plastic? Mine are ali panels that are bolted into place.

EDIT: are you referring to the underside in which case yes there is foam/rubber mud guard to protect the wiring that you can lift up to get behind.

Hu-man said:

Thank you for the replies and tips.

The fog lamp switch is on the dash to the right of the steering wheel. There is a bank of three switches, emergency hazards (working), heated rear windscreen (not tested) and the fog light switch which lights up on the switch at least.

I had to change the reverse lamp as mine was shattered to bits inside. All I did was cut the existing wires that were already there from the back of the shattered concave reflector and connect to the new lamp internals with a new bulb. I was hoping for that to work obviously but it didn't.

I did have the engine on and light son to test the fog and reverse lights.

The bulbs are new and I checked they worked in the indicator just to double check. I am not sure where to find the revers light switch.

I have added some photos as sometimes that can help, but I am going to check if power comes to the units. I have a multimeter so will try that later.

Click to expand...

The rear light wiring will be behind the speaker. Your is clearly more upmarket than mine but if you remove the trim to remove the speaker you will either have another cover to remove or the wiring will be there. the main loom will be behind that panel and will then connect to the light which will run down to the light itself.

Not the best photo but you can see the wiring on mine here (which is a mess) behind that light panels, you can see the hole the brake light goes through. From memory the fog light is a red and yellow wire to connect to the light at the rear. The light connections and the light unites themselves are notorious for filling with water and corroding. I would not trust the old wiring and would be removing and replacing properly.

Spagettii ... and that red paint gets everywhere