No rear lights since unplugging the interior light [Resolved]

[Cooper]

Evening all

I thought I’d add an extra interior light to the rear of my 2017 T6 but when I took the rear light nearest the barn doors out, I must have been a bit heavy handed when Unplugging it as it fell to bits…. I swore and thought I’d try again when it wasn’t dark and 2.5degrees. Stuffed what was left of the light back in the hole and went to move the van…. Then I realised I had this icon on the dash!


Checked the fuses and all seem ok. AND I don’t seem to have and rear lights now! Plugged the Carista thing in and it said this… tried turning ignition off then on as it advised but can’t clear the fault. Also tried disconnecting the battery but it’s not helped. Any ideas??

 

[mmi]

Perhaps double check - this one:

[RESOLVED] Interior light and sidelights after lining

Hi, New to the forum today I own a 65 plate T6 LWB Combi and have just been sound proofing and insulating the rear side & ceiling panels in preperation to start a slow DIY day van/Camper conversion.. I've not moved or touched any wiring at all EXCEPT one of the original ceiling light internal...

www.t6forum.com

 

[Cooper]

Hi

Thanks for the reply.

I had already read that thread. I’ve just pulled all the fuses out and put a meter across all of them - all fine.

Is there anything else with a reset button that I might have damaged when the rear interior light fell to bits? I was sure I had break lights til I tried the disconnecting of the battery for a while trick. How long would the BCM (or whatever it is) take to reset it self? 20 minutes? Over night?

Thanks again

 

[Vanbus]

Try disconnecting battery for a few minutes. Sometimes doew wonders to weird faults

 

[Cooper]

Yep. Tried that too. Disconnected the starter battery. And tried Dellmassives BCM reset. Still not working. I can’t see how I could have done so much damage - the worst I could have done is short the tree wires together that go into the rear interior light. And that didn’t even blow any fuses.

Any other ideas? I can’t drive the van now. Good auto electrician I’m Kent!?

 

[Vanbus]

Sorry don't know anyone that way. Must be a fuse. I hate courtesy lights.... Have you removed fuses to check?

 

[Deaky]

100% it’s a fuse

 

[Cooper]

I’ve taken every fuse out of the box under the gear stick and tested it for continuity with a multi meter and they are all fine. Are there any other fuses tucked away anywhere that could be the issue?

 

[Pauly]

Fuse 5 counting up from the bottom left
It’s the first blade in the left column as 1-4 are box type fuses

 

[Cooper]

I’ve got three of the box type fuses then I was sure that there was a space then the 7.5 amp one right next to the 30 amp one. But I’ve just tried it in the the space right next to the top box fuse and I have rear driving lights but still no brake lights.

Could I have killed the BCM?

 

[Deaky]

Maybe there's a chance that you've put a fuse or fuses back in the wrong place after testing them. I'm not 100% sure but I think Fuse 5 is the interior and side lights only, not the brake lights.

Check everything else is working and take a close look at the empty slots in your fuse box. If you can see a metal terminal in both sides of a slot then it should have a fuse in it.

 

[Deaky]

Just checked
Fuse 5 is Interior light, side lights and tail lights.

According to the wiring diagram I have, Brake lights and turn signals are fuse 47 25A.

Of course, this being VW it might be completely different in your van.

 

[Cooper]

**** solved****
When you are on scrabbling around testing fuses at 11 o’clock at night in 2 degrees in the dark by iPhone-light, try to keep a good grip on them with your numb-with-cold/wet with real-man-tears fingers or you will drop one inside the worlds smallest/hardest to reach fuse board area. If you do drop one, do not attack every plastic panel in sight with your bare fingers as they are tougher than they look (what possessed me to remove the gloves box, we will never know for sure). Simply accept that once said fuse drops it immediately passes into a parallel universe never to be seen again. Also, make a note of where the fuses are before you start ripping them out and testing them…… you were correct @Deaky….. I had put one back in the wing position! Thank you for your advice guys!