The Dispatch | Expert | Scudo Hub

X47

Member

Registered: 2025-01-06

Posts: 1

Rear light problem solved

My 25-year-old rear light clusters were developing mouldy-caravan syndrome - the indicators were feebly trying to flash every bulb in both clusters, and when I put the brakes on the warning light for the rear foglights would come on too, especially in the damp. Experience tells me this points to a faulty earth connection, but my first attempts didn’t solve it.

I began to suspect the connector plugs on the bulb-holder units - on both sides, the earth pin was discoloured and cleaning efforts didn’t help. Eventually, I drilled out one of the plastic rivets holding the earthing strip (there are four round each bulb) and replaced it with a flat-headed M4 set screw, with nuts on the back to connect a short flylead. The other end was earthed under the head of a self-tapper in the back of the housing. Suddenly, good, bright, separate rear lights again!

I realised that in certain rare circumstances that earth pin would be carrying close to 10 amps, and over the years corrosion had taken its toll (to draw that much current, you’d have to be idling, with the gears in reverse, your feet on the brake and the clutch, the hazard flashers on, headlamps and rear fog lamps. Admittedly, the full whack doesn’t happen very often).

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Expert 2.0Hdi 5-seater combi - relic of the turn of the millenium

Garethw

Member

Registered: 2025-08-23

Posts: 9

Re: Rear light problem solved

Just had a very similar issue with mine.

Rear drivers indicator has been intermittently giving me problems for a while and at the last MOT I spotted the earth was corroded. When I looked at it last week there was very little of the earth left in the connector. I went with soldering a flying lead to the track and then fixing it under the bolt that holds the cluster in place. I probably ought to go have a look at the passenger side as well as I assume it will be doing the same thing (but it's not giving me any problems currently.

I like the idea of drilling a rivet out though as I'm a teeny bit concerned that the solder might not hold.