XJS ( X27 ) 1975 - 1996 3.6 4.0 5.3 6.0

Tail Light problem

Old Nov 23, 2015 | 05:55 PM
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Default Tail Light problem

The tail lights in the trunk lid (boot?) are not working. All other lights are working, license plate, reverse, third brake light. The lower tail lights and brake lights are working. I have checked all bulbs and fuses. Everything seems fine except the 2 red tail lights in the lid. I also have a Bulb fault indicator light when I apply the brakes. I have gone thru the electrical diagrams.
Any ideas?

Thanks...Jimmy
 
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Old Nov 23, 2015 | 06:35 PM
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Do you have a facelift model. IIRC those aren't "lights" but fakes, I could be wrong.
 
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Old Nov 23, 2015 | 07:32 PM
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They have light bulbs, wires, etc.
...Jimmy
 
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Old Nov 24, 2015 | 04:06 AM
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The outer lights are the indicator/direction light, then the rear/brake lights, the next are reverse/backup lights, then are the rear fog lights (not found on many types of US cars. Which is why many US driver dont know about them), and the last ones are the fake/filler light.


The rear fog lights are controlled by a switch under the steering wheel, next to the front fog light switch.The light switch must be on for these to work.





I had the same problem with the warning light with my brakes. Have someone look when you press the brake pedal that the 2 brake light bulbs do illuminate, mine had a loose contact and only worked when it felt like it.
 

Last edited by malc4d; Nov 24, 2015 at 04:24 AM.
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Old Nov 24, 2015 | 05:24 AM
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Further to Malc's point, the brake light failure warning gizmo is separate from the other lights' ones. On a pre facelift it is under the console cubby/elbow box. no idea if it is still there on the facelifts, but it is somewhere and it could be playing up.
Greg
 
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Old Nov 24, 2015 | 06:14 AM
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Not sure on the face facelift, but am sure that the bulb failure you see when your stepping on the brakes indicate that the brake system and lights are working, it should say something in the owners manual about it
 
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Old Nov 24, 2015 | 08:01 AM
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Thanks Malc4d...
So...I have the US version, which has red lenses for rear fog lights? My switch is next to the radio. It does work! I think I'll just leave it on all the time for extra tail lights.
...Jimmy
 
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Old Nov 24, 2015 | 12:21 PM
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DONT DO THAT !!.......They are as bright as the brake lights and will p;ss everyone off behind ya. Use them in Fog, Snow or heavy rain as extra rear protection. Remember always to turn them off.


The light failure lamp will only illuminate for a short time when first started not everytime you use the brakes.
 
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Old Nov 24, 2015 | 12:50 PM
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OK...I'll leave them off. My failure lamp comes on every time I hit the brakes. I have removed and reinstalled every bulb as well as all connectors. The owners manual says the light should not come on with the brake unless there is a problem.
Thanks...Jimmy
 
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Old Nov 24, 2015 | 02:55 PM
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Originally Posted by JayCee
OK...I'll leave them off. My failure lamp comes on every time I hit the brakes. I have removed and reinstalled every bulb as well as all connectors. The owners manual says the light should not come on with the brake unless there is a problem.
Thanks...Jimmy
Are you sure the warning light is bulb failure and not ABS related?
 
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Old Nov 24, 2015 | 03:59 PM
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I thought ABS problems showed up on the Brake System Fault light. That's what it seems to show in the owners manual.
Thanks...Jimmy
 

Last edited by JayCee; Nov 24, 2015 at 06:28 PM.
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Old Nov 24, 2015 | 07:04 PM
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Have they been replaced with LED? LED bulbs are polarity sensitive.

You could check for 12V with a DVM at the bulb carrier. Check grounds as brake lights (regular bulbs) draw more current and could go dark in a bad ground situation.
 
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Old Nov 25, 2015 | 03:34 PM
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The bulb fail light will come on if you hit the brake pedal and the handbrake (park/emergency brake) is on or the circuitry is showing that it is on; is your handbrake bulb working as you could be driving around with the handbrake engaged, easily done?
 
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Old Nov 25, 2015 | 06:10 PM
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Thanks Steve,
I thought about that, but have not had a chance to look into it. I don't have a light on from the hand brake , but there could be a circuit failure. I will look through the electric diagrams and check it out. I noticed that I do not have to apply the hand brake when raising and lowering the conv. top. So the circuitry may be thinking that the hand brake is on when it is not. This could be the whole problem.
Thanks...Jimmy
 
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Old Nov 26, 2015 | 03:03 AM
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You do know how to correctly release the hand brake ? Have you checked that it is really off by pulling it up and releasing the button as the handle is always down whether on or off.
 
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Old Nov 26, 2015 | 05:31 AM
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Taking the brake off also helps you go faster!
 
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Old Nov 26, 2015 | 07:07 AM
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Yes. The hand brake seems to be working properly. Since the bulb failure light is suppose to come on with the hand brake on and brake peddle depressed, there might be something else in that circuit that thinks the hand brake is on all the time. I'll go thru everything in the electrical schematic.
Thanks...Jimmy
 
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