DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker

hi Folks

there's two lights not working on my recently purchased RHD 1973T (will post pictures once I get broadband sorted...) - LHS front side light and RHS rear light. I've checked bulbs and fuses and neither of these are the problem.

I'd like to have a go at fixing this myself - in the absence of any knowledge or experience... I do have a multimeter and plenty of enthusiasm at my disposal - could someone give me a step by step on how I should approach tracking down the problems?!

Or should I get an expert to look at this?

thanks
Damian

Damian

I had the same prob.....those lights are on the same circuit and route thru the same fuse in the box.

You have a short circuit (I presume you have checked/changed fuse!!??) which almost certainly will be caused by a dodgy earth.

There should be an earth connecter attached to the rear bumper - check it's attached and or the coonection to same - should sort it out....

Viv

thanks Viv

the corresponding light works in both cases so earthing doesn't sound like the cause?

Damian

I think they might be earthed separately?

Quick Tip

Anything that you suspect is not working due to poor earth: don't bother trying to find the relevent earth to start with: just ran an additional wire round from a decent earth and touch it on the body of the suspect light, if it lights: its the earth and you can go dodgy earth hunting. If its not then its either the item itself or it's power supply.

Just saves a bit of time, usually cleaner as well .

Got some time to have a look at this yesterday, and I don't think its an earth problem.

The rear tail light that's not working is the combined brake light/tail light bulb. Brake light is working fine, so I think this means the unit is earthed OK? - meaning the problem is on the live side of the circuit? The corresponding tail light on the right hand side is working fine, so I guess there's a problem somewhere after the branch point in the circuit. Does this make sense?! Very much making it up as I go along here... If I am right, how would I track down where the problem is?

The front light that's not working is on its own fuse. I've used multimeter to check the circuit back from the light unit to the earthing point beside the battery, and this is fine i.e. the unit is earthed. However the meter is showing no voltage at the live side of the fuse so this would appear to be the problem. Again the corresponding light on the other side of the car is working so the problem here is somewhere after wherever the circuit branches after leaving the switch?

Any and all thoughts/suggestions would be appreciated.

thanks
Damian

No suggestions?!

Both the lights I'm having trouble with are on the same fuse, number 5 in fuse box 2. The wiring schematic for the car shows the circuit leading from here to a six-way block connector which then connects to the lighting switch on the dash.

I'd like to check if there's power at that block connector for this circuit - does anyone know whereabouts the block connector is located in the car and how I can access?

Damian