Tail light inoperative

[peterengland]

My tail light has stopped working and I have checked the connections to the rear light, power comes through when brake is pulled but nothing on the other wires. Headlight and brake light work fine. Does anyone have an idea as to where the problem might be?

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

My tail light has stopped working and I have checked the connections to the rear light, power comes through when brake is pulled but nothing on the other wires. Headlight and brake light work fine. Does anyone have an idea as to where the problem might be?

Does the rear light work if you select the parking lamp position?

IIRC the tail light power starts in the headlamp unit might be worth checking the connector at that end after you have checked both ends of the small loom from the lamp to under the rear seat I think is where the connector is (solid brown wire on mine).

If you have power at the lamp then it is either the earth or the bulb itself - I have come across quite a few faulty new stop/tail bulbs over the years.

Also check the condition of the inside of the bulb holder for any rusting.

[peterengland]

No I have no power at the lamp so problem seems to be further back, are there any connections between tail loom and headlamp spaghetti?

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

No I have no power at the lamp so problem seems to be further back, are there any connections between tail loom and headlamp spaghetti?

Rear lamp loom has connections under the seat & goes into the loom to inside the headlamp bowl that is supplied powered from the light switch loom.
Pretty sure side lamp is solid brown in colour - there is a wiring diagram in the downloads section. If there is no power at the brown connection in the headlamp bowl when sidelamp switch is on then it might be the switch itself. A squirt of WD 40 at the switch is worth trying.

Does the parking light only work at the front sidelamp iirc they are a different supply circuit.

[Oddjob]

500 or 550 Peter and what model.

Any work done recently?

[Bryanj]

I have had the wire break off inside the lamp fitting but it is rare, would suspect a loose connection in headlamp or possibly bad ignition switch or if 550 with 3 fuse fusebox bad fuse/holder

[peterengland]

Could it be the fuse? It-s only got 3 and the tail light on its own would not have a separate fuse..would it? everything else works. It's a 550 btw

[Bryanj]

Yes the tailight has a seperate fuse, one of those 3

[peterengland]

Thanks will check that tomorrow