Rear Window - Explain this......

[Jezware]

My rear window is playing up, I have read all the threads about it, but am totally stumped. I have tested the switches on the door lock mechanisms, and they work fine.

The back door warning light is on, but as soon as I turn my lights on, it goes off and the window will work.

Does anybody who knows the electrics going into the back window have nay idea what it could be? I guess I have a short somewhere, but where I have no idea. The only lighting electrics into the rear tailgate are the number plate lights, but it doesn't look like this.

Help!

[Chillitt]

earth problem? when the lights are on the tailgate earths through the no plate lights wiring?? maybe???

[Medieval Dave]

Sounds like a dropped earth.

Make a temporary earth connection from a good (bare metal) body earth to a good earth point on the tailgate and see if it makes a diference.

[Jezware]

Sounds like a dropped earth.

Make a temporary earth connection from a good (bare metal) body earth to a good earth point on the tailgate and see if it makes a diference.

Thanks guys, will try it at the weekend. It has mysteriously started working all the time now though, so will probablw have to wait for it to break again before I can find the fault.

[Medieval Dave]

If you have or can borrow a DVM (Digital Volt Meter or MULTITESTER), you can check for a dropped earth even if it isnt playing up at the time. Just measure the earth continuity in ohms between a tailgate earth and a body earth. You will need to actually bolt or clip the probes to an earth to get a meaningfull result. Should be <1 then open and shut the tailgate if the reading shoots right up and down then that means you are only getting an earth through the hinges or something and the proper earth in the loom has fallen off. If that is the case it is dead easy to fix

[DaveD]

hehe nothing is simple on a surf is it? I had blown brake light bulb...changed it.
Now apparently with lights off and step on brake. Brake lights come on and dash lights,parking lights too.
When I have main lights on and stamp on stop brake lights dont show..
Guess I'm going to be swearing all weekend till I find it.....it'll be something stupidly simple but whats the betting its the last thing I try rather than the first?
If Vince says try the last thing first he's getting custard pied........

[Graham H]

You may have the the wrong bulb in or the right bulb the wrong way round
Graham

[DaveD]

the lugs are different heights so its a one way bulb lol

[Paul739]

been reading the threads to see if my back window is knacked or not. The warning light is on the dash but the window works fine from the console switch. it will only close from the keyhole outside though, is that how its supposed to be? its a real pain having to open up turn on the ignition and drop the window to open the tailgate to let the dogs in.
be very grateful for any advice. PS its a 93 2.5 ssrx auto thats all i know
regards P

[Medieval Dave]

been reading the threads to see if my back window is knacked or not. The warning light is on the dash but the window works fine from the console switch. it will only close from the keyhole outside though, is that how its supposed to be? its a real pain having to open up turn on the ignition and drop the window to open the tailgate to let the dogs in.
be very grateful for any advice. PS its a 93 2.5 ssrx auto thats all i know
regards P

That's normally a broken wire where the loom goes from the boot lid to the chassis. Cant remember which wire it is if it closes but wont open. was either the green with red or the green with yellow I think, but I posted the full bit after I fixed it on mine on this section. have a search and you'll find it.

[Paul739]

That's normally a broken wire where the loom goes from the boot lid to the chassis. Cant remember which wire it is if it closes but wont open. was either the green with red or the green with yellow I think, but I posted the full bit after I fixed it on mine on this section. have a search and you'll find it.

Many thanks i'll check it out
regards P