failed mot - nearside lamps

[sunflower68]

Hi my car just failed on "nearside and offside rear position lamps adversely affected by the operation of another lamp". Please can you tell me what it means has to be done. Is it an electrical fault easily fixed? Thanks.

[homer75]

Usually caused by a faulty earth connection - easily rectified

[imajenarry]

what is probably happening is when you put your left indicator on at the same time as you apply your brake lights a faulty earth causes all your lights to flash.

[imajenarry]

or right indicator

[sunflower68]

yes apparantly the lights were flashing tho you would not know if you were driving. How do you fix a faulty earth connection then?

[sddsddean]

Check for corrosion on the multiplug to the rear light clusters (a very common place for a dead short fault). To find them, look inside the boot at the back of where the lights are and there should be some sort of plug that goes into the light cluster assembly (you may have to remove a bit of carpet type panelling to get access). Pull the plug off and look at it and the socket. If it has some green verdigris on them, clean it off (I use a small screwdriver to scratch the worst off then use a bit of emery paper to clean it up, or an emery board will do). Once they are nice and copper coloured again, put it all back together and it should all work...fingers crossed!

[sunflower68]

Thankyou all very much, your advice worked a treat : )