[dmtinker]

I'm getting a light on one side but not the other. I've done all the obvious, changed the bulb, checked that fuse (although one was working). The one that is out is the drivers side rear. I am wondering, since the passenger side is working, on whether its a loose wire. I just don't know how they are wired up.

I suspect it goes through the lift gate back to the other bulb. Can anyone confirm this? Does anyone know what the common failure points are?

 

[dmtinker]

ok, this is a stumper, could anyone post a wiring diagram for the reverse lights? I haven't gotten my manual yet.

 

[djtaylor]

I'm not sure which car you've got? Is it a 900T or a 9000?

The 9000 wiring is pretty straight forward, just remove the side panels in the boot area and the carpet from the floor, it's all there.

Anyway, 900 tail lights diagram or 9000 tail lights diagram

 

[dmtinker]

Its a 9000 CSE 1995. I appreciate the diagram. The onlything I noticed was the wires are listed as green and the ones attached are actually brown. Could this be due to fading?

 

[djtaylor]

I'm not sure about the US market but in the UK market we only have on reversing light anyway, the other is a high intensity red rear.

 

[raske9k]

It is the same here, only one reverse light, the other one is a fog light and it is red, I've been told "hey one of your reversing lights is out!" by almost every person that happens to see the rear as I back-up, I of course reply _yeah I know, there IS only one at the rear... but I've got two at the front_, they just go wow! :lol: .

 

[dmtinker]

Oh my GOD! No wonder I was having a problem ;oops: . OK I have only one reverse light, should the other come on when I put the car in reverse? Should it come on when I hit the brakes?

I was sure my car was hit and they did a bad repair job. Now that I know better I feel much better. I am SURE that I'm going to get a hard time getting the car inspected. Inspection here in MD is like the MOT its a b*stard!

 

[djtaylor]

The rear high intesity is there for you to turn on when the weather is dismal and seriously has reduced visibility. There's a switch on the right hand side of the panel, just above the panel light dimmer.

Unfortunately way too many numpties over here think it's a "It's raining light". :evil:

David.

 

[boxman]

Unfortunately way too many numpties over here think it's a "It's raining light". :evil: David.

or too stupid to realize that its still switched on from january :roll:

 

[raske9k]

Oh my GOD! No wonder I was having a problem ;oops: . OK I have only one reverse light, should the other come on when I put the car in reverse? Should it come on when I hit the brakes?

It can be switched on only when the head lights are on, under the main rotary slight switch there are two buttons; one is for the front fog lights, its symbol simulates a lamp with the beam pointing at an angle; the other one is for the rear fog light and its symbol looks similar but the beam is pointing straight and in the opposite direction. You don't need to worry about leaving it on since it resets (shuts off) with every ignition cycle.

 

[midway]

In a US car you should have two reverse lights. I have never seen a car sold in the US with the fog light feature required in Europe, in fact, I think it may be illegal. When the original owner of my car brought it back from Germany he had to have the rear fog light removed before he could ship it. But that was in 1990, I am not sure what the rule is today.

 

[raske9k]

It is illegal if the car was modified, but the CSE comes like that from the factory, one light on the rear (tight side) and the fog light (left side), plus the two rear-facing reversing lights on the front corner light fixtures, the one at the rear is integrated into the decor panel and cannot be removed or modified, all CSEs in the world are the same. All others including the CDE have two at the rear.

 

[LondonCSE]

plus the two rear-facing reversing lights on the front corner light fixtures

This isn't the first time I have seen this mentioned....?
do you mean the front foglamps in the spoiler?

 

[djtaylor]

No it's not the foglights.

I think you'll find that the side indicator moulding has an apeture for a sort of side/rear facing bulb in the US. On ours it's just blanked off in the moulding and would need drilling out plus some other work no doubt. I expect it would be illegal here although the light would be white to the rear? Maybe too much too the side?

 

[Robinb]

I too have been told many many many times "you only have one reversing light". There is a look of perplexion on people's face when I explain.

Can't see the point of the high-intensity rear fog light, because the guy behind you will just come closer in poor visibility, thus defeating the purpose.

I would really prefer to have 2 reversing lights if possible. Is there a back panel available for a '96 Aero, and would the wiring be a problem?

 

[djtaylor]

When used correctly, the high intensity rear is very effective and doesn't lead to someone coming closer from my experience. It's just that there are few times when they really are needed and we are plagued with people that see a wisp of mist and turn the damn things on for the rest of the day.

I figure it's very easy, if I can see someone 100 yards ahead, so can the person behind me see me and there's absolutely no need for the light to be on. On the days when it is pea soup, it helps but even then, when someone has clearly come up behind and is then maintaining distance, I will often turn mine off again.

The problem is when people start turning them on because for a moment, they can be mistaken for brake lights (even with one - cos we've all seen cars with faulty bulbs) and then someone does brake and that can start a braking cascade.

I'd rather they had been a strobe because it's far easier to notice a flashing light than a continuous one, in fact i'd rather brake lights were a very rapid strobe but it's too late to change all those over.

If you want to hack yours around though, wiring would be trivial. Both bulbs have an earth so on what was the rear, just connect it across to the switched wire on the other bulb. You could try to source some frosted translucent material and cut a piece to fit but the thing is, those rear panels are awfully expensive, even on ebay.

David.

 

[dmtinker]

Got the car inspected and I was told that I need a new highbeam bulb, RR brake and stop light bulbs, new front rotors and a wheel bearing. Merchants tire offered me the great deal of doing all this for $890.00 US. I said "how generous, but no thanks".:evil:

 

[raske9k]

Got the car inspected and I was told that I need a new highbeam bulb, RR brake and stop light bulbs, new front rotors and a wheel bearing. Merchants tire offered me the great deal of doing all this for $890.00 US. I said "how generous, but no thanks".:evil:

Ouch! , those must be some very special wheel bearings, rotors and bulbs :lol:

 

[raske9k]

No it's not the foglights.

I think you'll find that the side indicator moulding has an apeture for a sort of side/rear facing bulb in the US. On ours it's just blanked off in the moulding and would need drilling out plus some other work no doubt. I expect it would be illegal here although the light would be white to the rear? Maybe too much too the side?

The US spec lights have a small clear portion and a specialised reflector for the reverse portion, and it lights the sides nicely as one is backing-up.

 

[Last_straw]

Nice wheels Raske, what brand are they ?