light problems

omri · Post by **omri** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 10:32 am

hi everyone,
i have a 92 1.9 gti.
i have a light problem. suddenly, all of the following lights died: tail lights, rear-parking lights, front activations lights, high beams, fog lights (front and rear). in addition, the small light in the dashboard that goes on after one click of the light switch doesnt go on.
i still have the dashboard light that goes on after two clicks, and i have driving lights, break lights and signaling.
i checked the fuses and they are ok, which means one of the controlers is fried or out of place (i was rallying, so it might have poped out).
does anyone know which controler it is?

thank you bx lovers.
dont forget to watch rally finland on the 31/07. loeb will try to get his ranking back....

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 12:53 pm

Sorry, i cant help with your problem, but i'm intrigued by the rallying bit, now thats something i've never seen before in a bx

Got any more details/piccies etc??

omri · Post by **omri** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 1:18 pm

it wasn't a race or anything, i was just trying to get somewhere realy fast and some of the road was through the fields - mostly dirt and holes. the bx is a lot of fun on these off-roads, if your suspension is in good shape and you are willing to fix them up afterwards. you simply fly over the holes and dont feel a thing....
i did the off-road parts at about 80 kph and the highway at 150 kph.

i love this car!

btw, the bx-4tc used to race in group B, it wasn't very good at it. if you look hard, maybe you'll find a 4tc for sale (they are very very rare).

DLM · Post by **DLM** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 2:25 pm

I don't think the BX's basic but fragile electrical system will react well to off-roading .... nor will the filament light bulbs on the car, particularly if they're old bulbs. Just a thought. You'll probably kill the front suspension struts or their mountings very quickly too.

First, I'd be looking in the same area as the fuses - at the interconnect box that the fuses plug into. There are a number of relays there but no relays exist for the lighting circuits (from memory).

If the fuse/interconnect box wasn't clipped-up, the cable connectors there could easily shake loose off-road. There is a wide black ribbon-cable connector that takes several electrical feeds for lighting to the rear of the car. Check this is connected properly. If there was anything in the boot of the car that could bounce around while driving off-road, check the wide black ribbon cable under the boot carpet for damage.

Then I'd check the connectors behind the instrument panel, or maybe the main lights switch, the connector for it, and the earthing points.

omri · Post by **omri** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 2:35 pm

because there are so many different lights that went out at the same time, im pretty sure its something in the box and not a specific connection.

ill check for what you pointed out.
thanks!

Way2go · Post by **Way2go** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 4:24 pm

It may not be in the box, as DLM pointed out there is a good chance it is the lighting switch itself.

omri · Post by **omri** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 8:10 pm

its probably not in the switch because the fog lights are on a different switch (on the left side of the display). i went through all the wires and controllers and they are all in place and working, so im done. it doesnt work and i have no idea what to do. any last advices before i go to an electrician?

Mike E (uk) · Post by **Mike E (uk)** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 8:32 am

BX wiring was constructed rather shoddily,wire gauges are minimal and the connectors not properly protected from corrosion.

But fortunately different functions are wired seprately, so engine wiring is separate from the lighting etc.

As so many things are faulty, I suspect an earthing point has detached,
or there is a fault in a common part such as the main switch as already ssuggested.

It is easy to replace the switch, so do that and inspect the connections first.

Mike

omri · Post by **omri** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 8:53 am

do you know where the lights earthing is? there is such a mess in the wires in my car that i dont even know where to start looking.

i like the photo.
thanks,
omri

DLM · Post by **DLM** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 12:05 pm

There are two earths which serve the lights you're describing -

m2 - mounted on the left-hand side of the steering column, and underneath it, I think. You'll need to remove the plastic steering column shroud to gain access. Removing the shroud also gives you access to the lights/indicator switch.

m6 - The rear light earth behind the left-hand rear light unit - remove this light to gain access. This one is well worth cleaning-up as it often causes christmas-tree problems with the rear lights as the erath terminals corrode. This is the first earth I'd check and clean up. If the car has had a towbar fitted, be prepared to find a mess of Scotchlok connectors in this area as well - another common source of wiring and electrical problems.

I think you need a manual for your car....

omri · Post by **omri** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 6:17 pm

it was the switch. i replaced it. cost me 13 pound and a couple of hours of work.
now everything works as it should with one glitch - the back right signal light is not working.
the bulb is fine. what do you think?

DLM · Post by **DLM** » Tue Jul 14, 2009 4:36 pm

Signal light = flashing indicator?

If:

(1) the light contacts don't respond to a wire-brushing,

and

(2) the grey ribbon-wire connector from l/hand rear lights to the r/h rear lights is firmly in place at both ends

(3) I'd do a continuity check across that wire, checking carefully for any crossed-over wires at either end. It passes from light cluster to light cluster under the boot floor trim.

BX Club Forum

light problems

light problems

thanks everyone...