• Ford Focus 2013 Tail Light Wiring/Fuse

    From thescullster@21:1/5 to All on Wed Jun 15 14:02:59 2022
    Hi All

    One of my colleagues has a 2013 Focus Estate with lighting issues.

    He had been told of a failed break light and was replacing this bulb today.
    But although he now has 2 operating break lights, his tail (side) lights
    are not working.

    It is not clear whether he caused the problem when swapping the bulb. I suppose they could have stopped working and he would not necessarily be
    aware given the light nights.
    We inspected the wiring local to the bulb housing and all seemed in
    order (i. e. no disconnects).

    Looking at fuse board "key" diagrams from various sources, I could not
    see a fuse that looked in any way associated with the rear tail lights.
    My review included fuse boards in: the engine bay, the cabin, the
    luggage area.

    Does anyone know if there is a fuse specifically protecting the tail
    light bulbs and if so where this is? The front side and headlights
    appear to be functioning correctly.

    Many thanks

    Phil

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  • From alan_m@21:1/5 to thescullster on Thu Jun 16 09:07:14 2022
    On 15/06/2022 14:02, thescullster wrote:
    Hi All

    One of my colleagues has a 2013 Focus Estate with lighting issues.

    He had been told of a failed break light and was replacing this bulb today. But although he now has 2 operating break lights, his tail (side) lights
    are not working.

    It is not clear whether he caused the problem when swapping the bulb.  I suppose they could have stopped working and he would not necessarily be
    aware given the light nights.
    We inspected the wiring local to the bulb housing and all seemed in
    order (i. e. no disconnects).

    Looking at fuse board "key" diagrams from various sources, I could not
    see a fuse that looked in any way associated with the rear tail lights.
    My review included fuse boards in: the engine bay, the cabin, the
    luggage area.

    Does anyone know if there is a fuse specifically protecting the tail
    light bulbs and if so where this is?  The front side and headlights
    appear to be functioning correctly.

    Many thanks

    Phil


    Is it a single bulb with two filaments, one for brake and on for tail
    light? How many connection terminals in the connector and how many on
    the base of the bulb - although often (always) its impossible to fit the
    wrong type of bulb as the y are physically keyed differently.

    --
    mailto : news {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

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  • From thescullster@21:1/5 to All on Thu Jun 16 09:37:10 2022
    On 16/06/2022 09:07, alan_m wrote:
    On 15/06/2022 14:02, thescullster wrote:
    Hi All

    One of my colleagues has a 2013 Focus Estate with lighting issues.

    He had been told of a failed break light and was replacing this bulb
    today.
    But although he now has 2 operating break lights, his tail (side)
    lights are not working.

    It is not clear whether he caused the problem when swapping the bulb.
    I suppose they could have stopped working and he would not necessarily
    be aware given the light nights.
    We inspected the wiring local to the bulb housing and all seemed in
    order (i. e. no disconnects).

    Looking at fuse board "key" diagrams from various sources, I could not
    see a fuse that looked in any way associated with the rear tail
    lights. My review included fuse boards in: the engine bay, the cabin,
    the luggage area.

    Does anyone know if there is a fuse specifically protecting the tail
    light bulbs and if so where this is?  The front side and headlights
    appear to be functioning correctly.

    Many thanks

    Phil


    Is it a single bulb with two filaments, one for brake and on for tail light?  How many connection terminals in the connector and how many on
    the base of the bulb - although often (always) its impossible to fit the wrong type of bulb as the y are physically keyed differently.


    Hello Alan

    The side/break lights are the dual filament variety. Yes they are keyed
    and I watched him fit the replacement, so know that it was fitted
    correctly (without undue force).

    The fact is that neither tail light is working although the break lights
    are both now operating.

    The bulb he fitted looked right with dual contact points just like the
    failed item.

    Does each bulb have a separate ground wire or does the housing have one combined? If the latter I don't see how that can be the issue (based on
    the fact that the break lights work OK).


    I am at a loss to understand which fuse covers these and whether they
    are on a separate fuse to all other users.

    Thanks


    Phil

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  • From Tim+@21:1/5 to thescullster on Thu Jun 16 08:44:54 2022
    thescullster <Phil@nospam.com> wrote:
    On 16/06/2022 09:07, alan_m wrote:
    On 15/06/2022 14:02, thescullster wrote:
    Hi All

    One of my colleagues has a 2013 Focus Estate with lighting issues.

    He had been told of a failed break light and was replacing this bulb
    today.
    But although he now has 2 operating break lights, his tail (side)
    lights are not working.

    It is not clear whether he caused the problem when swapping the bulb.
    I suppose they could have stopped working and he would not necessarily
    be aware given the light nights.
    We inspected the wiring local to the bulb housing and all seemed in
    order (i. e. no disconnects).

    Looking at fuse board "key" diagrams from various sources, I could not
    see a fuse that looked in any way associated with the rear tail
    lights. My review included fuse boards in: the engine bay, the cabin,
    the luggage area.

    Does anyone know if there is a fuse specifically protecting the tail
    light bulbs and if so where this is?  The front side and headlights
    appear to be functioning correctly.

    Many thanks

    Phil


    Is it a single bulb with two filaments, one for brake and on for tail
    light?  How many connection terminals in the connector and how many on
    the base of the bulb - although often (always) its impossible to fit the
    wrong type of bulb as the y are physically keyed differently.


    Hello Alan

    The side/break lights are the dual filament variety. Yes they are keyed
    and I watched him fit the replacement, so know that it was fitted
    correctly (without undue force).

    The fact is that neither tail light is working although the break lights
    are both now operating.

    The bulb he fitted looked right with dual contact points just like the
    failed item.

    Does each bulb have a separate ground wire or does the housing have one combined? If the latter I don't see how that can be the issue (based on
    the fact that the break lights work OK).


    I am at a loss to understand which fuse covers these and whether they
    are on a separate fuse to all other users.


    Earth faults are very common in older cars and can cause odd things to
    happen with the rear lights. I’d have a close look at the earths.

    Tim

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    Please don't feed the trolls

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  • From Robin@21:1/5 to All on Thu Jun 16 10:07:49 2022
    On 16/06/2022 09:44, Tim+ wrote:
    thescullster <Phil@nospam.com> wrote:
    On 16/06/2022 09:07, alan_m wrote:
    On 15/06/2022 14:02, thescullster wrote:
    Hi All

    One of my colleagues has a 2013 Focus Estate with lighting issues.

    He had been told of a failed break light and was replacing this bulb
    today.
    But although he now has 2 operating break lights, his tail (side)
    lights are not working.

    It is not clear whether he caused the problem when swapping the bulb.
    I suppose they could have stopped working and he would not necessarily >>>> be aware given the light nights.
    We inspected the wiring local to the bulb housing and all seemed in
    order (i. e. no disconnects).

    Looking at fuse board "key" diagrams from various sources, I could not >>>> see a fuse that looked in any way associated with the rear tail
    lights. My review included fuse boards in: the engine bay, the cabin,
    the luggage area.

    Does anyone know if there is a fuse specifically protecting the tail
    light bulbs and if so where this is?  The front side and headlights
    appear to be functioning correctly.

    Many thanks

    Phil


    Is it a single bulb with two filaments, one for brake and on for tail
    light?  How many connection terminals in the connector and how many on
    the base of the bulb - although often (always) its impossible to fit the >>> wrong type of bulb as the y are physically keyed differently.


    Hello Alan

    The side/break lights are the dual filament variety. Yes they are keyed
    and I watched him fit the replacement, so know that it was fitted
    correctly (without undue force).

    The fact is that neither tail light is working although the break lights
    are both now operating.

    The bulb he fitted looked right with dual contact points just like the
    failed item.

    Does each bulb have a separate ground wire or does the housing have one
    combined? If the latter I don't see how that can be the issue (based on
    the fact that the break lights work OK).


    I am at a loss to understand which fuse covers these and whether they
    are on a separate fuse to all other users.


    Earth faults are very common in older cars and can cause odd things to
    happen with the rear lights. I’d have a close look at the earths.


    I don't know the 2013 but I'm pretty sure on my 2008 Focus the tail and
    brake lights share an earth.

    I'd track back the cables to see where the harness enters the hatch.
    They have a habit of rubbing and shorting or breaking.



    --
    Robin
    reply-to address is (intended to be) valid

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  • From thescullster@21:1/5 to Robin on Thu Jun 16 14:23:09 2022
    On 16/06/2022 10:07, Robin wrote:
    On 16/06/2022 09:44, Tim+ wrote:
    thescullster <Phil@nospam.com> wrote:
    On 16/06/2022 09:07, alan_m wrote:
    On 15/06/2022 14:02, thescullster wrote:
    Hi All

    One of my colleagues has a 2013 Focus Estate with lighting issues.

    He had been told of a failed break light and was replacing this bulb >>>>> today.
    But although he now has 2 operating break lights, his tail (side)
    lights are not working.

    It is not clear whether he caused the problem when swapping the bulb. >>>>> I suppose they could have stopped working and he would not necessarily >>>>> be aware given the light nights.
    We inspected the wiring local to the bulb housing and all seemed in
    order (i. e. no disconnects).

    Looking at fuse board "key" diagrams from various sources, I could not >>>>> see a fuse that looked in any way associated with the rear tail
    lights. My review included fuse boards in: the engine bay, the cabin, >>>>> the luggage area.

    Does anyone know if there is a fuse specifically protecting the tail >>>>> light bulbs and if so where this is?  The front side and headlights >>>>> appear to be functioning correctly.

    Many thanks

    Phil


    Is it a single bulb with two filaments, one for brake and on for tail
    light?  How many connection terminals in the connector and how many on >>>> the base of the bulb - although often (always) its impossible to fit
    the
    wrong type of bulb as the y are physically keyed differently.


    Hello Alan

    The side/break lights are the dual filament variety.  Yes they are keyed >>> and I watched him fit the replacement, so know that it was fitted
    correctly (without undue force).

    The fact is that neither tail light is working although the break lights >>> are both now operating.

    The bulb he fitted looked right with dual contact points just like the
    failed item.

    Does each bulb have a separate ground wire or does the housing have one
    combined? If the latter I don't see how that can be the issue (based on
    the fact that the break lights work OK).


    I am at a loss to understand which fuse covers these and whether they
    are on a separate fuse to all other users.


    Earth faults are very common in older cars and can cause odd things to
    happen with the rear lights. I’d have a close look at the earths.


    I don't know the 2013 but I'm pretty sure on my 2008 Focus the tail and
    brake lights share an earth.

    I'd track back the cables to see where the harness enters the hatch.
    They have a habit of rubbing and shorting or breaking.




    Thanks Tim/Robin

    I'll tell him he needs to do a bit more ferreting/diagnostics

    Phil

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  • From Peter Hill@21:1/5 to All on Sun Jun 19 22:32:59 2022
    On 16/06/2022 09:07, alan_m wrote:
    On 15/06/2022 14:02, thescullster wrote:
    Hi All

    One of my colleagues has a 2013 Focus Estate with lighting issues.

    He had been told of a failed break light and was replacing this bulb
    today.
    But although he now has 2 operating break lights, his tail (side)
    lights are not working.

    It is not clear whether he caused the problem when swapping the bulb.
    I suppose they could have stopped working and he would not necessarily
    be aware given the light nights.
    We inspected the wiring local to the bulb housing and all seemed in
    order (i. e. no disconnects).

    Looking at fuse board "key" diagrams from various sources, I could not
    see a fuse that looked in any way associated with the rear tail
    lights. My review included fuse boards in: the engine bay, the cabin,
    the luggage area.

    Does anyone know if there is a fuse specifically protecting the tail
    light bulbs and if so where this is?  The front side and headlights
    appear to be functioning correctly.

    Many thanks

    Phil


    Is it a single bulb with two filaments, one for brake and on for tail light?  How many connection terminals in the connector and how many on
    the base of the bulb - although often (always) its impossible to fit the wrong type of bulb as the y are physically keyed differently.


    The internal conductors on many tail lamps are stamped zinc plated
    tracks. The earth socket with the keyed slots is easy to damage by
    trying to fit the bulb with too much force or when removing corroded
    bulbs. That pops the heat sealed head off the plastic "rivet" that holds
    the tracks in place and then the bulb doesn't fit tight to the contacts
    on the base as the socket is loose.

    I had to replace a mates tail light on a Ford fiesta for this as hot
    melt glue didn't hold, the brake light melted it.

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