Vitara Lights Fault

There appears to be a dead short between the side lights and break
lights on my 94 Vitara. Anybody had a similar fault or got an idea where
to start looking.
--
Best regards
Rick

In news:[email protected],
Richard Crosoer <[email protected]> fumbled, fiddled and
fingered:
> There appears to be a dead short between the side lights and break
> lights on my 94 Vitara. Anybody had a similar fault or got an idea
> where to start looking.


if you mean the side lights come on with the brake lights (or vice
versa) then its an earthing issue I'd think.

--
Steve Parry

http://www.gwynfryn.co.uk

http://www.arrivedeprived.org.uk/

K100RS SE
F650
(not forgetting the SK90PY)

Richard Crosoer vaguely muttered something like ...
> There appears to be a dead short between the side lights and break
> lights on my 94 Vitara. Anybody had a similar fault or got an idea where
> to start looking.

Sounds like an earthing issue. Check and clean / replace the earth straps
... engine to chassis and battery to chassis.

--
Paul ...

(8(|) Homer Rules !!!
http://paul-xxx.blogspot.com/ Just started a blog ..
"A tosser is a tosser, no matter what mode of transport they're using."

In article <[email protected]>, Steve Parry
<[email protected]> writes
>In news:[email protected],
>Richard Crosoer <[email protected]> fumbled, fiddled and
>fingered:
>> There appears to be a dead short between the side lights and break
>> lights on my 94 Vitara. Anybody had a similar fault or got an idea
>> where to start looking.
>
>
>if you mean the side lights come on with the brake lights (or vice
>versa) then its an earthing issue I'd think.
>
That's what I was hoping for. All the earth connections are fine. All
lights come on at full intensity whether you put your foot on the breaks
or turn on the side lights. If you remove the break light fuse the break
lights come on when the side lights are turned on. If you remove the
side light fuses the side lights come on when the breaks are applied.

This is a dead short some where or we have a problem with Ohms Law!
--
Best regards
Rick

In news:[email protected],
Richard Crosoer <[email protected]> fumbled, fiddled and
fingered:
> In article <[email protected]>, Steve Parry
> <[email protected]> writes
>> In news:[email protected],
>> Richard Crosoer <[email protected]> fumbled, fiddled
>> and fingered:
>>> There appears to be a dead short between the side lights and break
>>> lights on my 94 Vitara. Anybody had a similar fault or got an idea
>>> where to start looking.
>>
>>
>> if you mean the side lights come on with the brake lights (or vice
>> versa) then its an earthing issue I'd think.
>>
> That's what I was hoping for. All the earth connections are fine. All
> lights come on at full intensity whether you put your foot on the
> breaks or turn on the side lights. If you remove the break light fuse
> the break lights come on when the side lights are turned on. If you
> remove the side light fuses the side lights come on when the breaks
> are applied.
>
> This is a dead short some where or we have a problem with Ohms Law!

try adding an additional earth connection directly to the "brake" <note
the spelling ;o) ... > "lights" .. and to the side lights ...



--
Steve Parry

http://www.gwynfryn.co.uk

http://www.arrivedeprived.org.uk/

K100RS SE
F650
(not forgetting the SK90PY)

In article <[email protected]>, Paul - xxx
<[email protected]> writes
>Richard Crosoer vaguely muttered something like ...
>> There appears to be a dead short between the side lights and break
>> lights on my 94 Vitara. Anybody had a similar fault or got an idea where
>> to start looking.
>
>Sounds like an earthing issue. Check and clean / replace the earth straps
>.. engine to chassis and battery to chassis.
>
Unfortunately not, see my reply to Steve Parry
--
Best regards
Rick

Richard Crosoer vaguely muttered something like ...
> In article <[email protected]>, Steve Parry
> <[email protected]> writes
>> In news:[email protected],
>> Richard Crosoer <[email protected]> fumbled, fiddled and
>> fingered:
>>> There appears to be a dead short between the side lights and break
>>> lights on my 94 Vitara. Anybody had a similar fault or got an idea
>>> where to start looking.
>>
>>
>> if you mean the side lights come on with the brake lights (or vice
>> versa) then its an earthing issue I'd think.
>>
> That's what I was hoping for. All the earth connections are fine. All
> lights come on at full intensity whether you put your foot on the breaks
> or turn on the side lights. If you remove the break light fuse the break
> lights come on when the side lights are turned on. If you remove the
> side light fuses the side lights come on when the breaks are applied.
>
> This is a dead short some where or we have a problem with Ohms Law!

Has this just started to happen where the lights were previously working ?
If it's a 'new' problem I'd look for wires that can move and which may have
chafed possibly causing a short circuit, and at the earth connections, if
any, between lighting sockets and body.

Or is this a new vehicle you've bought and someone's 'played' with the
wiring ?

'Cos it now sounds like the above and someone's off-loaded it or a basic
wiring problem, where someone's re-wired lights incorrectly, possibly added
Fog / Driving lamps or towing hitch and socket, and screwed up. I think you
need a wiring diagram and a Volt Meter ..

--
Paul ...

(8(|) Homer Rules !!!
http://paul-xxx.blogspot.com/ Just started a blog ..
"A tosser is a tosser, no matter what mode of transport they're using."

In article <[email protected]>, Paul - xxx
<[email protected]> writes
>Richard Crosoer vaguely muttered something like ...
>> In article <[email protected]>, Steve Parry
>> <[email protected]> writes
>>> In news:[email protected],
>>> Richard Crosoer <[email protected]> fumbled, fiddled and
>>> fingered:
>>>> There appears to be a dead short between the side lights and break
>>>> lights on my 94 Vitara. Anybody had a similar fault or got an idea
>>>> where to start looking.
>>>
>>>
>>> if you mean the side lights come on with the brake lights (or vice
>>> versa) then its an earthing issue I'd think.
>>>
>> That's what I was hoping for. All the earth connections are fine. All
>> lights come on at full intensity whether you put your foot on the breaks
>> or turn on the side lights. If you remove the break light fuse the break
>> lights come on when the side lights are turned on. If you remove the
>> side light fuses the side lights come on when the breaks are applied.
>>
>> This is a dead short some where or we have a problem with Ohms Law!
>
>Has this just started to happen where the lights were previously working ?
>If it's a 'new' problem I'd look for wires that can move and which may have
>chafed possibly causing a short circuit, and at the earth connections, if
>any, between lighting sockets and body.
>
>Or is this a new vehicle you've bought and someone's 'played' with the
>wiring ?
>
>'Cos it now sounds like the above and someone's off-loaded it or a basic
>wiring problem, where someone's re-wired lights incorrectly, possibly added
>Fog / Driving lamps or towing hitch and socket, and screwed up. I think you
>need a wiring diagram and a Volt Meter ..
>
You might just have given me a clue - the towing socket. Can't remember
when I first noticed the problem. Didn't pay much attention to it as I
too assumed it was an earthing problem and as I only use it to tow a
harrow round the paddock and nip down to the pub I kept putting it off.

Fingers crossed! Otherwise it's out with the AVO and up with the
carpets.

Thanks for the help guys.
--
Best regards
Rick

> There appears to be a dead short between the side lights and break
> lights on my 94 Vitara. Anybody had a similar fault or got an idea where
> to start looking.
>
Wrong bulb in the stop/tail light?

In news:[email protected],
Richard Crosoer <[email protected]> fumbled, fiddled and
fingered:
> There appears to be a dead short between the side lights and break
> lights on my 94 Vitara. Anybody had a similar fault or got an idea
> where to start looking.


if you mean the side lights come on with the brake lights (or vice
versa) then its an earthing issue I'd think.

--
Steve Parry

http://www.gwynfryn.co.uk

http://www.arrivedeprived.org.uk/

K100RS SE
F650
(not forgetting the SK90PY)

Richard Crosoer vaguely muttered something like ...
> There appears to be a dead short between the side lights and break
> lights on my 94 Vitara. Anybody had a similar fault or got an idea where
> to start looking.

Sounds like an earthing issue. Check and clean / replace the earth straps
... engine to chassis and battery to chassis.

--
Paul ...

(8(|) Homer Rules !!!
http://paul-xxx.blogspot.com/ Just started a blog ..
"A tosser is a tosser, no matter what mode of transport they're using."

In article <[email protected]>, Steve Parry
<[email protected]> writes
>In news:[email protected],
>Richard Crosoer <[email protected]> fumbled, fiddled and
>fingered:
>> There appears to be a dead short between the side lights and break
>> lights on my 94 Vitara. Anybody had a similar fault or got an idea
>> where to start looking.
>
>
>if you mean the side lights come on with the brake lights (or vice
>versa) then its an earthing issue I'd think.
>
That's what I was hoping for. All the earth connections are fine. All
lights come on at full intensity whether you put your foot on the breaks
or turn on the side lights. If you remove the break light fuse the break
lights come on when the side lights are turned on. If you remove the
side light fuses the side lights come on when the breaks are applied.

This is a dead short some where or we have a problem with Ohms Law!
--
Best regards
Rick

In news:[email protected],
Richard Crosoer <[email protected]> fumbled, fiddled and
fingered:
> In article <[email protected]>, Steve Parry
> <[email protected]> writes
>> In news:[email protected],
>> Richard Crosoer <[email protected]> fumbled, fiddled
>> and fingered:
>>> There appears to be a dead short between the side lights and break
>>> lights on my 94 Vitara. Anybody had a similar fault or got an idea
>>> where to start looking.
>>
>>
>> if you mean the side lights come on with the brake lights (or vice
>> versa) then its an earthing issue I'd think.
>>
> That's what I was hoping for. All the earth connections are fine. All
> lights come on at full intensity whether you put your foot on the
> breaks or turn on the side lights. If you remove the break light fuse
> the break lights come on when the side lights are turned on. If you
> remove the side light fuses the side lights come on when the breaks
> are applied.
>
> This is a dead short some where or we have a problem with Ohms Law!

try adding an additional earth connection directly to the "brake" <note
the spelling ;o) ... > "lights" .. and to the side lights ...



--
Steve Parry

http://www.gwynfryn.co.uk

http://www.arrivedeprived.org.uk/

K100RS SE
F650
(not forgetting the SK90PY)

In article <[email protected]>, Paul - xxx
<[email protected]> writes
>Richard Crosoer vaguely muttered something like ...
>> There appears to be a dead short between the side lights and break
>> lights on my 94 Vitara. Anybody had a similar fault or got an idea where
>> to start looking.
>
>Sounds like an earthing issue. Check and clean / replace the earth straps
>.. engine to chassis and battery to chassis.
>
Unfortunately not, see my reply to Steve Parry
--
Best regards
Rick

Richard Crosoer vaguely muttered something like ...
> In article <[email protected]>, Steve Parry
> <[email protected]> writes
>> In news:[email protected],
>> Richard Crosoer <[email protected]> fumbled, fiddled and
>> fingered:
>>> There appears to be a dead short between the side lights and break
>>> lights on my 94 Vitara. Anybody had a similar fault or got an idea
>>> where to start looking.
>>
>>
>> if you mean the side lights come on with the brake lights (or vice
>> versa) then its an earthing issue I'd think.
>>
> That's what I was hoping for. All the earth connections are fine. All
> lights come on at full intensity whether you put your foot on the breaks
> or turn on the side lights. If you remove the break light fuse the break
> lights come on when the side lights are turned on. If you remove the
> side light fuses the side lights come on when the breaks are applied.
>
> This is a dead short some where or we have a problem with Ohms Law!

Has this just started to happen where the lights were previously working ?
If it's a 'new' problem I'd look for wires that can move and which may have
chafed possibly causing a short circuit, and at the earth connections, if
any, between lighting sockets and body.

Or is this a new vehicle you've bought and someone's 'played' with the
wiring ?

'Cos it now sounds like the above and someone's off-loaded it or a basic
wiring problem, where someone's re-wired lights incorrectly, possibly added
Fog / Driving lamps or towing hitch and socket, and screwed up. I think you
need a wiring diagram and a Volt Meter ..

--
Paul ...

(8(|) Homer Rules !!!
http://paul-xxx.blogspot.com/ Just started a blog ..
"A tosser is a tosser, no matter what mode of transport they're using."

In article <[email protected]>, Paul - xxx
<[email protected]> writes
>Richard Crosoer vaguely muttered something like ...
>> In article <[email protected]>, Steve Parry
>> <[email protected]> writes
>>> In news:[email protected],
>>> Richard Crosoer <[email protected]> fumbled, fiddled and
>>> fingered:
>>>> There appears to be a dead short between the side lights and break
>>>> lights on my 94 Vitara. Anybody had a similar fault or got an idea
>>>> where to start looking.
>>>
>>>
>>> if you mean the side lights come on with the brake lights (or vice
>>> versa) then its an earthing issue I'd think.
>>>
>> That's what I was hoping for. All the earth connections are fine. All
>> lights come on at full intensity whether you put your foot on the breaks
>> or turn on the side lights. If you remove the break light fuse the break
>> lights come on when the side lights are turned on. If you remove the
>> side light fuses the side lights come on when the breaks are applied.
>>
>> This is a dead short some where or we have a problem with Ohms Law!
>
>Has this just started to happen where the lights were previously working ?
>If it's a 'new' problem I'd look for wires that can move and which may have
>chafed possibly causing a short circuit, and at the earth connections, if
>any, between lighting sockets and body.
>
>Or is this a new vehicle you've bought and someone's 'played' with the
>wiring ?
>
>'Cos it now sounds like the above and someone's off-loaded it or a basic
>wiring problem, where someone's re-wired lights incorrectly, possibly added
>Fog / Driving lamps or towing hitch and socket, and screwed up. I think you
>need a wiring diagram and a Volt Meter ..
>
You might just have given me a clue - the towing socket. Can't remember
when I first noticed the problem. Didn't pay much attention to it as I
too assumed it was an earthing problem and as I only use it to tow a
harrow round the paddock and nip down to the pub I kept putting it off.

Fingers crossed! Otherwise it's out with the AVO and up with the
carpets.

Thanks for the help guys.
--
Best regards
Rick

> There appears to be a dead short between the side lights and break
> lights on my 94 Vitara. Anybody had a similar fault or got an idea where
> to start looking.
>
Wrong bulb in the stop/tail light?

In news:[email protected],
Richard Crosoer <[email protected]> fumbled, fiddled and
fingered:
> There appears to be a dead short between the side lights and break
> lights on my 94 Vitara. Anybody had a similar fault or got an idea
> where to start looking.


if you mean the side lights come on with the brake lights (or vice
versa) then its an earthing issue I'd think.

--
Steve Parry

http://www.gwynfryn.co.uk

http://www.arrivedeprived.org.uk/

K100RS SE
F650
(not forgetting the SK90PY)

Richard Crosoer vaguely muttered something like ...
> There appears to be a dead short between the side lights and break
> lights on my 94 Vitara. Anybody had a similar fault or got an idea where
> to start looking.

Sounds like an earthing issue. Check and clean / replace the earth straps
... engine to chassis and battery to chassis.

--
Paul ...

(8(|) Homer Rules !!!
http://paul-xxx.blogspot.com/ Just started a blog ..
"A tosser is a tosser, no matter what mode of transport they're using."

In article <[email protected]>, Steve Parry
<[email protected]> writes
>In news:[email protected],
>Richard Crosoer <[email protected]> fumbled, fiddled and
>fingered:
>> There appears to be a dead short between the side lights and break
>> lights on my 94 Vitara. Anybody had a similar fault or got an idea
>> where to start looking.
>
>
>if you mean the side lights come on with the brake lights (or vice
>versa) then its an earthing issue I'd think.
>
That's what I was hoping for. All the earth connections are fine. All
lights come on at full intensity whether you put your foot on the breaks
or turn on the side lights. If you remove the break light fuse the break
lights come on when the side lights are turned on. If you remove the
side light fuses the side lights come on when the breaks are applied.

This is a dead short some where or we have a problem with Ohms Law!
--
Best regards
Rick