1982 series 3 xj6


Well I got pulled over for the plate lights being out, never payed attention to them. I unscrewed the bulbs: shouldn't I have power right at the wire with the bulb unscrewed with a test light or am I testing them wrong? Unfamiliar with this circuit

 

If your lights are switched on you should have 12v at the positive terminal on the light sockets. If not check back to your connections inside the boot lid,one may be loose or dirty/corroded. And where they are tied to the boot hinge, there may be a broken wire where the wires move when opening and shutting the boot.

 

Is it illegal to have no License Plate light?

I never knew. I just assumed it is made out of reflective material so it can be seen at night anyway, am I wrong?

 

The law in NSW states that your licence plate must be visible so I guess that if it's a drizzly dimlit night and your light is not working you can be fined....in recent rego checks they have not checked. My number plate light.

 

In Qld during the legal hours of darkness (30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise) or in hazardous weather/conditions the light illuminating your registration plate must be working.
If not you could be fined by police for not obeying the road rules which stipulate rego plates be clearly visible 24/7.

I got a $80 fine and one point for the rego light on my boat trailer not working about 5 years ago.

 

Yes, you should.

Are any other rear lamps inoperative? If so, that might be a clue....as the license lamps are tied-in with the opposite side rear lamps. That is, the LH license lamp is on the same circuit as the RH tail lamp and vice-versa.

If all the other rear lamps are OK then you probably just have a poor connection at the license lamps itself

Cheers
DD

 

Haven't noticed, but, must the key be on for the lamp circuit to be hot?


And, way back when, I chased a dark tail lam on a past critter. At last, I found the bulb good, but worn. that is the lead contact on the nose. Stingy me tried tot build it up with solder, but relented and replaced it. Lights on !!!! The bulb was soldrred with wires and became a test lamp!!


My 94 Jeep just got it's recall fixed. Two items fixed. A trailer hitch installed. Gas tank protection from getting rear ended. Mine apparently, sans hitch, not as rare as I thought. I had one, now superfluous. saved the work of me installing it. But, alas, no wiring!!! It got an extra detent on the shifter. Why, beats me. It got a gratis safety check. Did pretty good. but, on license lamp out? Gee, the last time that happened the "fawncy" info panel fussed about it. I may or may not get around to fixing that.


Some cops are fussier than others. But, gee, I thought an dark lamp was a fix item with no fine involved. Depends on the local budget, I suppose and the need for more bucks to waste. Like for outsourced useless a studies.




Carl

 

Bit keen wasnt he? how hard would it be to say mate your plate lights out get it fixed?