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number plate lights (again!!)

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 9:43 am
by Boxer6
Hi Everyone

THanks again for all the invaluable help I've had from the forum - I need a bit more!

The number plate light on the right of the plate is working but very intermittently - I have checked all connections and the bulb etc and all are fine - could it be an earthing problem/dodgy earth? If so - where is it?!? Do both number plate lights have the same earth because the other is working fine?

Many thanks

Tim

Posted: Tue Nov 21, 2006 9:52 am
by 912uk
Earth is earth so yes they can share the same earth so if one is working and the other light is not then it's not your earth..

Sounds like a simple bit of wire checking and cleaning of contacts..

Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2006 2:01 pm
by Barry
If you suspect an earth problem (with anything really), you can test it by running a tempory wire from the part (usually the body, if not then the earth terminal) giving trouble (e.g. number plate light) to a known good earth.

If the part starts to work or works better/brighter/faster (as appropriate) the problem is indeed earth related: check terminals, connectors, earth straps and the last couple of inches of all earth wires connected to, or do to do with, the part. Sometimes a connector will be fine, but the wire going into it is corroded within the connector.

Sounds an odd way of testing, but it takes no time, you don't have to disturb anything, and more to the point, if you've got some wire hanging around, it's free :) .