03 Avensis tail lights

Nekarsulm

Hi all,
My Avensis 2003 D4D has lost tail and brake lights on the passenger side.
Indicator and reversing light works OK.
Changed bulbs, but no difference.

I would have thought that being two different circuits, brake and tail lights would not be on the one fuse?

Another point, there seems to have been a towbar fitted at some stage in the past, but this shouldn't affect things now.

Any ideas?

punisher5112

Nekarsulm wrote: »

Hi all,
My Avensis 2003 D4D has lost tail and brake lights on the passenger side.
Indicator and reversing light works OK.
Changed bulbs, but no difference.

I would have thought that being two different circuits, brake and tail lights would not be on the one fuse?

Another point, there seems to have been a towbar fitted at some stage in the past, but this shouldn't affect things now.

Any ideas?

Take off splitters and check cable hasn't pulled quite possible break in it at dodgy connection.

Cables could have shorted as they are just left uncovered. If needed check fuse also.

Nekarsulm

Thanks Punisher.
I checked the bank of fuses under the bonnet on the left along the wing, all good there.
I had expected to find a fuse box at the driver's knee area of the dash, but can only see the connection plug for the scan tool.
No hand-book came with the car so no list of fuses and their circuits.

punisher5112

Nekarsulm wrote: »

Thanks Punisher.
I checked the bank of fuses under the bonnet on the left along the wing, all good there.
I had expected to find a fuse box at the driver's knee area of the dash, but can only see the connection plug for the scan tool.
No hand-book came with the car so no list of fuses and their circuits.

Fuse board inside car its either behind glove box or at side of dash
Think its under steering wheel there a pull panel.

elperello

You can get a manual online.
Just click the link and go to one of the pages listed.


https://www.google.ie/?gws_rd=cr,ssl&ei=LyEuVtS_Nqn-ygPSmZvIAw#q=2003+avensis+user+manual

Nekarsulm

Found both fuse boxes. Glove box unclips and comes away completely. There is a list of fuses on a sticker on the back of the glovebox.
However, none are blown.
There is a smaller fuse box up above the accelerator pedal. Seems to be mainly for electric windows etc. nothing blown there either.
I suppose its a case of tracing the wires back from the cluster.

punisher5112

Check the cables aren't broken at dodgy clips and also test to see if any juice going to light fitting.

colm_mcm

It's almost certainly caused by the tow bar wiring.

Have you got a multimeter?

Nekarsulm

Removed those clips, wires SEEM unbroken, but I will have a go with a lidl multimeter that I have somewhere. Thanks guys!

colm_mcm

Even just test with a bulb grounded to earth.

Nekarsulm

Success!
The Lidl (or perhaps Aldi) meter helped a lot. There are two separate earth clamps points under the trim panel that runs across the lip of the boot, where the boot lid latches. Both were rusty so cleaned them up.
I now had 12v at the printed circuit on the light cluster OK, but still no light.
Two perfectly good looking bulbs were duds. (who knew Vietnam made light bulbs?) changed them for Hella's from an old merc W124 lying in a shed, and all is now 100%
Thanks everyone. Nec.