Tail Light Problem

[D Chapman]

I have not checked anything, yet. I have not checked connections, checked for power, fuses, etc... The only thing I've done is replace the bulb.

With that said, I have a drivers side tail light acting up:
- With the headlights turned off, the brake lights work fine.
- With the headlights turned on, I have no brake light on the drivers side. I also have no running light on the drivers side.

I did notice one tag light is out, but I don't think that has anything to do with it.

What could be causing the bulb/socket to loose power only when the headlights are turned on? Sounds like something is grounding out to me, but has anyone else heard of this happening?

 

[I HATE PONIES]

I have not checked anything, yet. I have not checked connections, checked for power, fuses, etc... The only thing I've done is replace the bulb.

With that said, I have a drivers side tail light acting up:
- With the headlights turned off, the brake lights work fine.
- With the headlights turned on, I have no brake light on the drivers side. I also have no running light on the drivers side.

I did notice one tag light is out, but I don't think that has anything to do with it.

What could be causing the bulb/socket to loose power only when the headlights are turned on? Sounds like something is grounding out to me, but has anyone else heard of this happening?

Sounds like a bad ground to me. Do you have a trailer harness?

 

[WindRover]

yes, i have one better.... with headlights off and i step on the brake, headlights light up, and the lights for the clock, the radio, the tranny shifter lights, and some lights on the instrument cluster light up!
every bulb on the outside of the truck has been checked and replaced using the owners manual's wattage guide, ive cleaned up my battery terminals with baking soda and water, and still i get that crazy problem.
i noticed one fuse was blown so i replaced it with a lower amp fuse just to see if my problem still remained and of course it did.
i cant understand the RAVE so their diagrams dont help..........
these vehicles get the craziest electrical shit goin on sometimes, i truly have a disco, the same lights blink to the rhythm of the directional signal when turn left, im not impressed with Land Rovers grounding system

 

[D Chapman]

I do, but I'm told it was doing this prior to installing the harness.

 

[WindRover]

trailer harness could be part of the problem, mines an after market that somebody put in before I bought the truck. it needs to go, im gonna take it out and cap off any wires that are no longer in use.

 

[gmookher]

Dan, I had weird shit happen to me like this when a relay for the rear 'fogs' fried...troubleshoot without the trailer harness btw is it a oe trailer kit or a generic?

 

[D Chapman]

It is the U-Haul kit.

I don't think it's going to be the trailer wiring. I'll do a few tests to rule it out, but I don't think that will have anything to do with it.

Something has to be grounding out. It's either in the running lights wiring, or the brake lights wiring. Could be the light housing itself. Could be the light socket. Just thought maybe someone else has had the same issue...

I'll do a few tests between now and Wednesday.

 

[gmookher]

It is the U-Haul kit.

dump that asap man.

I went with the pricey OE and it works great...one less think to mess up my rover, I do a good job at that on my own ..

atleast disconnect it whilst your troubleshooting

 

[jymmiejamz]

Are you sure you replaced it with the right bulb? These trucks will do some funny shit with the wrong bulbs in there.

 

[D Chapman]

dump that asap man.

I went with the pricey OE and it works great...one less think to mess up my rover, I do a good job at that on my own ..

atleast disconnect it whilst your troubleshooting

There is nothing wrong with the u-haul kit. I've install 20 of them and never had an issue.

 

[D Chapman]

Are you sure you replaced it with the right bulb? These trucks will do some funny shit with the wrong bulbs in there.

Pretty sure it was the right bulb...then again that does not mean it was a "good" bulb.

Not sure you can even fit the wrong bulb, can you? Something like a 1156....aren't the nipples different and will not fit the socket?

Anyway, it was doing this with the old bulb, too. I replaced the bulb thinking a filament was burned out. I'll change it again to make sure, but I think my issue goes deeper than this.

 

[JustAddMtns]

I had the wrong bulb in the rear tail light of my DI and it did the headlight - brakelight thing. FWIW

 

[jymmiejamz]

Pretty sure it was the right bulb...then again that does not mean it was a "good" bulb.

Not sure you can even fit the wrong bulb, can you? Something like a 1156....aren't the nipples different and will not fit the socket?

Anyway, it was doing this with the old bulb, too. I replaced the bulb thinking a filament was burned out. I'll change it again to make sure, but I think my issue goes deeper than this.

I'm pretty sure an 1157 will fit in an 1156 socket. I don't know what bulbs a D1 takes, but its possible that someone previously replaced the bulb with the incorrect bulb.

 

[D Chapman]

This was an easy one...

I pulled the light housing out because I could not twist the socket out to check the bulb by hand. When I got the housing out, I noticed that the socket was discolored and brown. It took a pair of pliers to get the socket out. The socket was melted and deformed. So was the light housing.

Looks like something either 1) got hot; or 2) the socket was not replaced properly and was arcing.

New light housing and extra sockets ordered. This should fix the issue.

 

[sven]

Dan I had the same thing happen to me at SCC this past winter. Both brake sockets were burned. Junk.

 

[Tims95Disco]

I just replaced my tail/ stop light with a 7528. Was listed as correct bulb in the sylvania catalog.
Also had to replace the bulb holder, as it was melted around the bulb base. Works fine now.

 

[jymmiejamz]

This was an easy one...

I pulled the light housing out because I could not twist the socket out to check the bulb by hand. When I got the housing out, I noticed that the socket was discolored and brown. It took a pair of pliers to get the socket out. The socket was melted and deformed. So was the light housing.

Looks like something either 1) got hot; or 2) the socket was not replaced properly and was arcing.

New light housing and extra sockets ordered. This should fix the issue.

That is actually a very common problem.

 

[D Chapman]

That is actually a very common problem.

Then why did you not say so?

I swear, you fit right in at Land Rover Richmond.

 

[d1driver]

I had this issue a couple years ago. Took a dremel to the white plastic. It had a manufacturing defect where the bulb was not locking into place, and it was arcing across periodically, turning the white plastic brown.

 

[jymmiejamz]

Then why did you not say so?

I swear, you fit right in at Land Rover Richmond.

Well I thought you would have noticed it when you changed the bulb the first time! Actually every time we give a customer a quote on replacing a tail light bulb on a D1 we usually tell them that the socket will probably be burnt up too.