Tail Lights and Instrument Panel Lights Failure!

[RickApple]

Hi everyone! The tail and instrument panel lights on my 91 mini are not working at all; the reversing light does however. I have checked the fuses, and all the in-line and boxed fuses are fine. Ive tested the earth point, which is also fine, and i'm beginning to run out of ideas. Has any one got any suggestions of things to try. Newly installed spots are working fine, as are the flashers and the headlamps. The spots are wired independantly from the other lighting circuit, so should not make a difference. The only thing is that they share the earth point. Is this an issue?

Thanks very much!

[RickApple]

Ive just checked the connections to the back of the rocker switch, which seem fine, and cleaned up the poles on the fuse box terminal, and checked the fuses again. Could it be a short somewhere??? HHhm!

[oldboyracer64]

had the same thing turned out to be a break on the brown wire to the second fuse had chaffed on the body clip

[Cooperman]

More late Mini electrical nightmares. The only thing you can do, and the correct logical way to do it is to get the circuit diagram (Haynes Manual) and check for power feed at all points in those circuits. The circuit diagram will show you where the feeds for those items comes from, so start at the initial current supply point, i.e. before the appropriate fuse(s) and then chech at each following connection point. At some point your circuit tester will show a zero current and the fault(s) will be between there and the last point in that particular circuit at which you got 12v feed showing.
It can be a longish job, but it will give the answer you need.
I hope this helps.
Peter

[Plotloss]

Had this a few times.

IME, which is admittedly limited.

Second fuse from top, either corroded contacts or some shorting nonsense going on.

[RickApple]

Thanks a lot. I'll have to have a marathon sesh with the multimeter - too cold at the moment tho!

[RickApple]

bump!

Are there any fuses behind the dash that may have gone? I'm checking connections and dont want to remove my home made jobbo for no reason!

Thanks

[miniman]

RickApple said:

Are there any fuses behind the dash that may have gone?

Not that I've ever found - there are just 4 fuses in the box in the engine bay. Are the dash lights definitely earthing properly? If you've changed the dash, any chance you could have disturbed an earth connection behind there somewhere? Also check the main engine to body earth strap.

[RickApple]

The dash has been changed for twelve months now. Its the circuit controlling sides, instruments, interior and rear lamps, and thats the only one, so it must either be a fusing problem or a break on that particular bit. thing is, ive rejuvenated the fuse box by scraping crap off the connectors and checked the fuses and earth point, as well as all the solenoid live feeds. Ive completely ran out of ideas, and its doing my nut!