O/S Brake light bulb keeps blowing

[M 80NGO]

I'm having to replace my o/s brake light bulb approx every 4 weeks, the tail light works fine. Before i start taking the van to bits is there any known wiring issues with the bongo that could be causing this ?

Thanx

[mister munkey]

Most common complaint would be a dodgy earth connection. 1st point of call is to have a look at the the state of the loom & connections, clean up what you can get to. While you're at it, look to see if the plastic lugs that hold the unit in are still there. A bit too much vibration can do damage too.

[M 80NGO]

Most common complaint would be a dodgy earth connection. 1st point of call is to have a look at the the state of the loom & connections, clean up what you can get to. While you're at it, look to see if the plastic lugs that hold the unit in are still there. A bit too much vibration can do damage too.

Yeah understand all that buddy and thanx for the swift responce, i'll get me hands dirty this weekend, the weird thing is that i'm sure tis has only been an issue since havin my towbar fitted and all the wiring for that is spured off of the o/s rear light, all plastic lugs / screws are all present and correct so i think vibration can be ruled out as no other bulbs are effected.

[wormey]

I'd speak to whoever fitted the tow bar, but if you can't, defo check the earth and then check all the wires connected by the tow bar fitter, that seems to be your trouble.

You could try an extra earth wire from the light and see if it blows again or not.

[M 80NGO]

I'd speak to whoever fitted the tow bar, but if you can't, defo check the earth and then check all the wires connected by the tow bar fitter, that seems to be your trouble.

You could try an extra earth wire from the light and see if it blows again or not.

Yeah i'll speak to them this week some time they're only half a mile from me, the thing thats got me foxed is that the sidelight also uses the same earth and its fine.

[gmaczbongo]

Check how tight the bulb is in its holder and against the other light unit.
Wedge it in nice and tight.
Then check the whole unit is not loose.

[mister munkey]

the thing thats got me foxed is that the sidelight also uses the same earth and its fine.

Is that right, front & back hooked to the same earth or have I read that wrong?

[bobngo]

did they use those "fold over snap shut connectors " forgot what they are called, to connect into the system , they are sometimes abit iffy.

[M 80NGO]

the thing thats got me foxed is that the sidelight also uses the same earth and its fine.

Is that right, front & back hooked to the same earth or have I read that wrong?

The rear brakelight and the rear sidelight use the same earth not front and rear

[M 80NGO]

did they use those "fold over snap shut connectors " forgot what they are called, to connect into the system , they are sometimes abit iffy.

Yeah they did use scotch locks i'll give it a look over this weekend

[mister munkey]

The rear brakelight and the rear sidelight use the same earth not front and rear

Sorry - Misread that. Sidelights to me are at the front, tailights at the back, missed the Rear bit.

[bigdaddycain]

I had this mysterious phenomenon with a car quite recently... Except i was getting through brakelight bulbs at the rate of maybe one a week! (either side) everything checked out 100% perfect after an auto sparky check, he suggested that the only way of working out the problem was to have diagnostics plugged in at exactly the same time as the bulb blew! As i din't have a spare week, i tried the uprated brakelight bulbs from halfords (i know) but it did solve the problem somehow! The bulbs were brighter, (combined brake and rear light twin filament bulbs) The bulbs were still going strong when i sold the car on months later! They were quite expensive though i think... About 5 or 6 quid for a pair.

[M 80NGO]

I had this mysterious phenomenon with a car quite recently... Except i was getting through brakelight bulbs at the rate of maybe one a week! (either side) everything checked out 100% perfect after an auto sparky check, he suggested that the only way of working out the problem was to have diagnostics plugged in at exactly the same time as the bulb blew! As i din't have a spare week, i tried the uprated brakelight bulbs from halfords (i know) but it did solve the problem somehow! The bulbs were brighter, (combined brake and rear light twin filament bulbs) The bulbs were still going strong when i sold the car on months later! They were quite expensive though i think... About 5 or 6 quid for a pair.

Thats good info there cos its really got me baffled, i had a look at it earlier and both rear light units are recieving the same 12.5 volts so i may well try uprated bulbs

[daveblueozzie]

It sounds like you have an intermittant fault. You'd need to check the voltage as and when the voltage fluctuation happens.