Tailgate spotlight problem

[psybear]

Hi folks.

Bit of a longshot but I am hoping something might be able to advise.

2026 T6.1 Highline camper conversion. Bought new but the guy has since sold up and moved on. Prior to picking the van up I asked him to fit two interior tailgate LED lights (to give me more light when returning the camper after dark). He did a nice neat job, fitted two lights and a switch. Haven't had to use them in while but they have both stopped working. There's nothing else in the van that has stopped working, including the three matching LEDs in the main van (two in the ceiling, under the pop-top bed, one further forward - separate double switch for these beside the rear seat/bed).

There's no exposed wiring so I'm guessing he fed the wiring through the existing rubber gaiter.

Just wondering if this is something that I might be able to rectify myself, i'm guessing a broken wire or bad connection somewhere?

 

[StratosFearXX]

Yes you can, start with fuses.

My tailgate lights aren't working either since VW had it, it'll be one of my Wagos they haven't clipped back in probably.

 

[psybear]

Yes you can, start with fuses.

My tailgate lights aren't working either since VW had it, it'll be one of my Wagos they haven't clipped back in probably.

I was thinking that a blown fuse is the least likely option though, given that everything else is working okay. Given that they were fitted post main conversion, it seems more probable that he spliced the wiring into existing electrics?

 

[StratosFearXX]

I was thinking that a blown fuse is the least likely option though, given that everything else is working okay. Given that they were fitted post main conversion, it seems more probable that he spliced the wiring into existing electrics?

Yeah but it's always the first and easiest thing to check.

 

[manfrotto]

Hi folks.

Bit of a longshot but I am hoping something might be able to advise.

2026 T6.1 Highline camper conversion. Bought new but the guy has since sold up and moved on. Prior to picking the van up I asked him to fit two interior tailgate LED lights (to give me more light when returning the camper after dark). He did a nice neat job, fitted two lights and a switch. Haven't had to use them in while but they have both stopped working. There's nothing else in the van that has stopped working, including the three matching LEDs in the main van (two in the ceiling, under the pop-top bed, one further forward - separate double switch for these beside the rear seat/bed).

There's no exposed wiring so I'm guessing he fed the wiring through the existing rubber gaiter.

Just wondering if this is something that I might be able to rectify myself, i'm guessing a broken wire or bad connection somewhere?

Do you have a multimeter to check the wiring? - see if there is power to the lights, switch etc.

 

[StratosFearXX]

So anyway, it's unlikely to be the lights or the wiring in the tailgate, fuse first, then check for voltage at the switch.

 

[StratosFearXX]

Mines fixed, wire had popped off the switch.

 

[psybear]

Thanks for the help folks, not there yet but may have found the issue.

Fuses seem fine (visual check only on the 5A and 7.5A in the fuse box) but as I said I don't think it's a fuse issue as everything else is still working.

Popped off the rocker switch. There's an orphan black wire that looks like it has come astray. Also one of the two wires going into the switch (brown wire in the image, connected to a white wire) had insulating tape that had come adrift, possibly where that black wire had been spliced into it? But touching the black wire to that exposed wire does NOT make the lights work? I'm a bit of numpty when it comes to stuff, as I am sure is apparent.

I do have a multimeter but I am struggling to find suitable bare metal for the black lead. I did try using it on the metal part of the tailgate latch but got no readings and not sure I can rely on that as an earth point.

 

[Sasquatch]

Christ almighty. Its a good thing hes no longer in thet business if that's his standard of workmanship.

The mount for the locating plates in the door/tailgate shut should provide a good earth for testing (its an excellent earth point in mine.)

 

[psybear]

Yeah can’t disagree based on this and other issues that have arisen. The apparently neat job on the outside is a bit of a mess behind the scenes.

Any clues on that orphan back wire?

 

[StratosFearXX]

Ugh, can't work out what's going on there at all. It may not be using the van body as an earth (mine doesn't) hence no reading from black to body.

 

[StratosFearXX]

Is the brown to white wire connection under the insulating tape good?

And I don't think that black wire is being used (guessing).

 

[psybear]

Is the brown to white wire connection under the insulating tape good?

And I don't think that black wire is being used (guessing).

Yes it looks solid. Have also checked the joint - and the three connection points on the switch - for signs that the black wire might have broken off but no sign of anything.

I was wondering myself if that black wire is just redundant and he just didn’t bother sealing it off.

Tried ChatGPT for advice on the issue too and it says fault is most likely a broken wire inside the loom in the gaiter, even though everything there is well wrapped up. Aftermarket/conversion wiring even if well insulated is apparently very prone to breakage over time.

 

[StratosFearXX]

@psybear Get that multimeter back out and see if there's 12v between red and brown.