Every time I turn on my lights, the lights in the back of the car stop working. If the turn signal is flashing, both the brake lights and the turn signal as well as the lights on the trunk all flash. How do I fix this problem?

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1998 XK8 (added by GGG)

 

Welcome to the forum SilverStreak,

I've moved your question from X350 to X100 forum. This is the place to post technical questions about your model.

Graham

 

Those are the classic symptoms of a failed ground connection on one or both rear light clusters. On each cluster in the wiring connection is a Black wire. Look carefully and you may see signs of it or its connecting pin having overheated . The usual fix for this not uncommon problem is to run a new wire from a ground point in the boot/spare wheel well directly to the light unit, by-passing the connector completely.

 

+1 with astromorg. It's easy enough to test.

pull rear light pack off as though you were changing a bulb. Take a piece of wire and hold one end to bare metal on 1 of the exposed bolts on the car's body. Other end to exposed circuit board (that entire board is a ground plane) scratch surface 2 make good contact. Try the lights. That side should now work.

FWIW I used an 18 gauge wire to fix mine. Rivet into ground plane. Use crimp on eyeconnectors both end of wire. I always solder the crimp connection, only take a minute or 2. Other end of new ground wire tastes under one of the bolts by rear lights after scraping paint or crud to expose shiny metal.

I was just in there a minute ago . If you want photo just ask.

John

John