Tail lights are semi-working

[Ivan141]

Dont go wasting money..lets give it a shot first...

step 1: get yourself a multimeter.. essential tool for electronics debugging.

step 2: grab yourself a copy of the factory manual

step 3: look up the corresponding circuit in the wiring diagrams..

I'll help out..seems like the taillight is switched by a taillight relay, and the power then passes through the TAIL fuse. The combo meter and license plate lighting/ radio backlight etc. is also switched through the same relay + fuse.
If you have a multimeter, remove the TAIL fuse, poke the black (-) probe into a clean bit of metal on your chassis (bolts going to the chassis work well). Then poke the red (+) probe into the contacts of the fuseholder. With the lights switched ON you should be getting 12 volts on one of the contacts. If you dont, then your relay is most likely the culprit.

If you will check this out I'm sure we can get it fixed in no time...

[banpei]

Ivan141 Wrote:step 2: grab yourself a copy of the factory manual

Here you can find the body repair manual:
http://www.aeu86.org/viewtopic.php?p=35506#35506

Unfortunately we still don't have a electric-wiring diagram scanned (does have one in my bookcase)

[NZ Trueno]

Thanks for that guys, i will get a multimeter and have you diagnose the results

A picture of the wiring diagram would help though banpei

[Ivan141]

Isnt it included in those scans robokill made? I have them on CD here at work but the pics are too big to upload onto the forum.

[Mux213]

ivan, mail them and I'll put them online

[Ivan141]

I'll give it a try..
I should get an additional textline under my avatar, electric helpdesk or something... But first I need to help get those lights a'working

[Mux213]

Ok, I've put them up:

http://www.aeu86.org/images/p1.jpg
http://www.aeu86.org/images/p2.jpg
http://www.aeu86.org/images/p3.jpg
http://www.aeu86.org/images/p4.jpg

We may make better scans in the future, it seems that banpei has these in his nice new clean book

This information is now also in the Technical FAQ

[NZ Trueno]

Ok, i just did your test ivan. I had no current, i tested the earth by putting the probe in the cigarette lighter aswell, got a good current there. But nothing in the fuse holder thing. You say it is probably the relay but the only relays i can find are for the headlights (which work) and something called "head"

[Ivan141]

The relay is located somewhere behind the kickpanels..I've attached the image so you have an idea where to look. Maybe the relay fell out so also check for empty sockets. When you find the correct relay start testing the voltage's there (BTW, you need to be checking DC voltage, not current like you wrote..that can potentially ruin your multimeter)

[NZ Trueno]

Well my multimeter has a digital display and no unit measurements or anything, i just said 0.03 on the display.

Thanks for that, i will check it tomorow afternoon (too dark now) after my rugby game.