Sidelights stopped working during swap

EvylRat

Active Member
Jan 9, 2016
6
0
I've got a Mk2 Arosa, which I was changing sidelights on. So difficult. I checked the sidelights before I started, they both worked. After much swearing I got the nearside light out. Thought I'd try the sidelights again to check before I continue and both are out. The rear lights are on (fuses 4 and 5 are ok).
I swapped that bulb over to my new Cree sidelight, but still nothing.
Dash lights are on, rear lights are on, I can get dipped and high beams, dashboard lights; just no front side lights.
Same is true when using parking lights, only the rear lights are on. I'll be checking I've not pulled any cables too hard.
I did hear a couple of beeps from the car when I was fiddling with the bulbs earlier on.

Any advice is most welcome. I've been reading posts from this forum for a while, but nothing is jumping out.

My initial thought is that I've disturbed an earth. Those holders are tough to remove, slightly easier once you realised that it's a straight pull and wiggle.
 
Last edited:

yeha

Active Member
Jul 4, 2015
22
0
An LED is a diode. If it's connected backwards, then no current flows and it won't light. If the holder only fits one way, then spin the bulb round. I have LEDs in mine, but I think I checked that they worked before I put the holder into the headlight unit. I found it easier to remove the bumper and take out the whole headlight.
 

EvylRat

Active Member
Jan 9, 2016
6
0
An LED is a diode. If it's connected backwards, then no current flows and it won't light. If the holder only fits one way, then spin the bulb round. I have LEDs in mine, but I think I checked that they worked before I put the holder into the headlight unit. I found it easier to remove the bumper and take out the whole headlight.

Thanks the tip. Luckily this one works both ways; tested before and after fitting. I'll be able to get a look at the weekend, I'm confident I've damaged earth wires in my struggle to get the bulbs out. My cheap cree brake light bulbs were like that though, one way only, and in some cases I had to squeeze contacts together. The new cree led bulbs are much bigger too, so I had to dismantle the lens off the high level brake light and fit the bulbs in that way. Lens only just fitted back on. Was it worth it? Nah, looks the same apart from that 0.2s difference to full illumination.

Since I tend to drive with sides on most of the time I thought I'd try cree bulbs in the side lights too.
 

EvylRat

Active Member
Jan 9, 2016
6
0
I'm an idiot :confused:
I tested my new unfitted LED and the removed sidelight. The LED doesn't work both ways and the sidelight I removed was blown.
So, both sidelights must have blown after starting the sidelight change.

It took me me 30 mins to test and replace both, last weekend I wasted 2 hours trying to get the bulbs out.
 
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