Number Plate Bulb Out, But No Error Message??

Johnny chimpo · Post by **Johnny chimpo** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 8:06 pm

Hi all,

I ordered a couple of LED number plate lights the other day and receieved a call from the mrs today to say that the "check number plate light" message was showing on screen.... excellent I thought, when they turn up I can get the fitted and thats two birds with one stone.

Popped the covers off the number plate light bulbs to find one of them quite corroded. So gave it a blast with some wd40 and a wee clean up with some kitchen roll.

Fitted the new LED lights - 1 worked, one didnt

Swapped them over incase one of them was faulty - neither worked!

So it seems I have 1 knackered LED number plate light, fair enough will contact the seller and get it sorted.

Tried putting the working standard bulb in place of the duff one and its not working, but not only that im not getting any error message on the dash now!!!

So anyone seen this before and have any idea how to resolve it? Could it just be because Ive given it a bit of a spray with WD40 that it needs to dry out first and then show a fault? Or is there something else causing this.....

Why is something so simple such a pain in the 'erse!

Sanj · Post by **Sanj** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 9:40 pm

Daft ask - but did you try turning the one that didn't work around. Serious they are uni-directional. Put em in one way and they won't work, turn em around and voila!

jaynana · Post by **jaynana** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 10:46 pm

[quote=""Sanj""]Daft ask - but did you try turning the one that didn't work around. Serious they are uni-directional. Put em in one way and they won't work, turn em around and voila![/quote]

normal filament bulbs - directional?? sounds odd...

Johnny chimpo · Post by **Johnny chimpo** » Thu Jan 12, 2012 11:01 pm

Cheers Sanj, It turns out you were onto something there. I thought one of the LED lights wasn't working, but when I turned it round the other way it worked.

Still got nothing working in the position that the bulb had blown on, stuck a meter on it there and its only getting 2.5v where as the other side (the working side) is getting 12v.

Hoping that the wd40 i skooshed into it has caused it to have a hissy fit and it will fix itself once it drys out.... not holding out much luck for that being the case tho...

Oh im also getting the error message again saying "check number plate light" which is a step in the right direction.

So anyone had to fix this before with a similar fault?

pvw10 · Post by **pvw10** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 9:09 am

[quote=""jaynana""][quote=""Sanj""]Daft ask - but did you try turning the one that didn't work around. Serious they are uni-directional. Put em in one way and they won't work, turn em around and voila![/quote]

normal filament bulbs - directional?? sounds odd...[/quote]

Says leds not normal bulbs, Sanj is right they only work one way round.

pvr · Post by **pvr** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 12:58 pm

2.5 Volt???? That is a very odd amount.

The LED direction has caught me out the first time as well

X5Sport · Post by **X5Sport** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 2:57 pm

For the uninitiated (or bored) a Diode is an electronic component that allows current to flow in one direction only. Hence they won't work if connected back to front. It's also why they are used to prevent 'backflow' through battery chargers which are left connected but turned off.

I'll get my coat....

pvr · Post by **pvr** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 3:04 pm

Ah, I am familiar with Diodes but did not know a LED had one

dirtymonkey29 · Post by **dirtymonkey29** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 4:14 pm

LED = Light Emitting Diode

pvr · Post by **pvr** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 5:21 pm

I guess there is a clue somewhere in there

Johnny chimpo · Post by **Johnny chimpo** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 7:32 pm

so anybody any suggestions?

Ended up with a flat battery this morning aswell after running the parking heater, so much for it cutting off if the voltage dropped too low

Just wondering if the two things are connected, im gona need to strip down the rear plate light assembly when I get home next week.... oh joy!

pvr · Post by **pvr** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 8:22 pm

You sure the bulb was blown out? You did test it in the other slot as well to prove that it is purely the connection (and the weird voltage)?

Johnny chimpo · Post by **Johnny chimpo** » Fri Jan 13, 2012 8:28 pm

Yeah the bulb was definately blown, also a bit corroded... I tested it in the other slot and it wasn't working, whatever I try in the slot of the blown bulb, doesnt work and I am getting the "check number plate light" message on the dash.

Johnny chimpo · Post by **Johnny chimpo** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 4:56 pm

Well finally got it sorted yesterday. Turned out that the cable giving the power to the non working numberplate light was corroded where it goes into the board.

Just fixed it by pulling it out the board and soldering it straight onto where the bulb clips into. Sorted

Even got my non folding auto folding mirror sorted aswell, quite a productive day yesterday despite the crappy weather!

pvr · Post by **pvr** » Mon Jan 23, 2012 5:05 pm

Good result

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