Technical Just spent the last half hour in the back of a police car, over two bulbs

[onemanmade]

So as the title of the thread says I just spent the last half hour in the back of a police car because I have two bulbs out, the rear passenger side light (earth issue rearing its ugly head again I suspect) and my reverse light. The black wire that connects to the metal terminal at the back of the light cluster appears to become loose sometimes and this causes my passenger side light not to work (I thought I had fixed the issue two weeks ago when it seemed to press on more tightly than usual) I will need to check if this interferes with the reverse light too, though I suspect that may be a blown bulb. The officers also tried to see if my handbrake was working by attempting to pull the door by the frame of the open window. He was of course unsuccesful. He also tried to say one of my numberplate bulbs was blown which I pointed out he was incorrect. To be fair he apologised. And the reason all this took so long was because they asked me loads of questions about the car, and because their "new system" took ages to complete its checks etc

So my question is how do I stop this earth issue happening? Is there something I am doing wrong with this connector? There isnt any corrosion that I can see? Has anyone come across this before? Thanks in advance!

I have to take my car to an mot station within 21 days to have a form stamped and then posted to an office in Glasgow.

 

[panda1408]

Sounds like they were trying to find other faults to do you for, I'm glad they didn't find any, not sure why they would think your handbrake was not working The reverse light is a funny one also, it is not even an MOT item so wouldn't have thought they would have been bothered about checking it?

Make sure the connector is actually tight on the terminal in the light unit and check the other end which is bolted to the body inside the light aperature. You may need to replace the spade terminal or perhaps put in a complete new earth wire.

 

[onemanmade]

Sounds like they were trying to find other faults to do you for, I'm glad they didn't find any, not sure why they would think your handbrake was not working The reverse light is a funny one also, it is not even an MOT item so wouldn't have thought they would have been bothered about checking it?

Make sure the connector is actually tight on the terminal in the light unit and check the other end which is bolted to the body inside the light aperature. You may need to replace the spade terminal or perhaps put in a complete new earth wire.

Thanks mate, appreciate the quick reply.

And yeah I got the impression they were trying to get me done for something more than that, it is the nearing the end of the financial year!

 

[purple haze]

Had this on the ST and its was the bulb not connecting correctly even though it looked fine...rough up the contact.

The cop have got to be bored up there.

 

[Andy Monty]

is the reverse light subject to the VDRO? as its not a MOT tested lamp

 

[onemanmade]

Had this on the ST and its was the bulb not connecting correctly even though it looked fine...rough up the contact.

The cop have got to be bored up there.

Thanks PH

Yeah, they seemed to be, though they did seem genuinely interested in my car, and I got the usual "You dont see many of these anymore do you?"

 

[onemanmade]

is the reverse light subject to the VDRO? as its not a MOT tested lamp

Not sure, and the form they gave me only says "obligatory bulbs"

 

[Andy Monty]

Not sure, and the form they gave me only says "obligatory bulbs"

just the side light then


http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual/contents.htm


http://www.motinfo.gov.uk/htdocs/tgs0k000101.htm

 

[Alixcompo]

I would hate to join the "Shouldn't they be catching criminals" brigade; but it does make you wonder sometimes as they could have said "Get that light sorted mate".

Doesn't foster any kind of relationship with the public and makes us feel like we are simply all seen as criminals who haven't been caught yet:bang:

 

[Aston Martin]

My OSR light doesn't always work, so I slap it. It comes straight on.
It really does.

 

[Giacosa]

I think i'd be a bit miffed tbh. Its all very well that they were polite & just doing their job. They were also trying pretty hard to book you. Trying to test the cars handbrake by pulling on a window frame is a bit mickey mouse.

 

[homeward]

My OSR light doesn't always work, so I slap it. It comes straight on.
It really does.

I only 'liked' that because Hal and Pippin have the same tendencies.

I think Hal needs a whole new lamp unit, though....

 

[onemanmade]

I think i'd be a bit miffed tbh. Its all very well that they were polite & just doing their job. They were also trying pretty hard to book you. Trying to test the cars handbrake by pulling on a window frame is a bit mickey mouse.

I know, they seemed a bit disarmed that I knew exactly how to deal with police. I was polite at all times, insisted on calling them officer, kept both hands on the steering wheel until told to do otherwise etc They seemed a little disarmed by my politeness but also formality and that I had the answers to all their questions about my car. They actually told me I didn't have to be so formal but I insisted.

I really wish they hadnt pulled on my window frame though, that was the only bit that really annoyed me.

 

[Alixcompo]

Unless testing a cars handbrake by pulling on a window frame is in the police manual, they would be on very dodgey ground had they bent or damaged anything.

 

[Didge3]

My OSR light doesn't always work, so I slap it. It comes straight on.
It really does.

I only 'liked' that because Hal and Pippin have the same tendencies.

I think Hal needs a whole new lamp unit, though....

:yeahthat:
Char' does the exact same from time to time, give it a whack and it comes back on. This was sometime last summer but I did ask how to fix it, bending the tabs forward that the bulb presses against was suggested, this helps but it still occasionally doesn't work dependant on about 1000 different factors.

I do think Char' has an electrical gremlin somewhere (bad earth I'm guessing) as when turning the lights on the petrol gauge jumps up to full and then goes back to the actual level in the tank....

 

[Alixcompo]

:yeahthat:
Char' does the exact same from time to time, give it a whack and it comes back on.

To be honest I've owned Pandas on and off for the last 20 or so years and I honestly thought the back lights were supposed to do that.......!

 

[Palio]

Sorry to hear that.

I'd have been pretty annoyed with them too & also would have expected a "sort it out chap" sort of response. They clearly should have been doing something more useful & I'd have had to firmly slap myself to avoid telling them that!

Lights and bad connections are always a problem on the older cars. Panda's are bad, but mere amateurs compared to a 127 - I'm always thumping lights! I really don't know what the Police expect if a bulb goes on your journey anyway.......

Go and catch the people driving uninsured, unlicenced, on their mobiles, or generally off their heads - that should keep em busy! :idea:

 

[JamieK]

That's annoying for you! I hope the door was closed when he tried pulling the car backwards with the lights not working I'd clean up all the connectors, positive and negative as they can sometimes oxidise and fur up a bit. Even new bulbs can stop working fairly quickly. Also try and crimp up any connectors that seem a bit loose.

 

[homeward]

I was stopped for the very same reason, many moons ago (on the way back from the third Harry Potter film, in fact...); and the young sergeant who stopped me explained that they had to do ten of these a night, or they got a good rollicking when they got back to the station.

It was raining heavily, though: so he didn't go looking for any other faults....

He was a nice guy: very polite and open about the whole thing -- but it does seem crazy to spend so long (and have to complete so much paperwork) on something so minor -- as Palio has said -- when they could be out filming action scenes for Road Wars....

 

[onemanmade]

Sorry to hear that.

I'd have been pretty annoyed with them too & also would have expected a "sort it out chap" sort of response. They clearly should have been doing something more useful & I'd have had to firmly slap myself to avoid telling them that!

Lights and bad connections are always a problem on the older cars. Panda's are bad, but mere amateurs compared to a 127 - I'm always thumping lights! I really don't know what the Police expect if a bulb goes on your journey anyway.......

Go and catch the people driving uninsured, unlicenced, on their mobiles, or generally off their heads - that should keep em busy! :idea:

They were polite enough, probably because I was so polite with them, I did get the feeling that they felt they had to give me a ticket/form rather than wanted to.

That's annoying for you! I hope the door was closed when he tried pulling the car backwards with the lights not working I'd clean up all the connectors, positive and negative as they can sometimes oxidise and fur up a bit. Even new bulbs can stop working fairly quickly. Also try and crimp up any connectors that seem a bit loose.

Thanks, I will give them a good going over asap, I wish he had told me that he was going to pull the car though, I hate that

I was stopped for the very same reason, many moons ago (on the way back from the third Harry Potter film, in fact...); and the young sergeant who stopped me explained that they had to do ten of these a night, or they got a good rollicking when they got back to the station.

It was raining heavily, though: so he didn't go looking for any other faults....

He was a nice guy: very polite and open about the whole thing -- but it does seem crazy to spend so long (and have to complete so much paperwork) on something so minor -- as @Palio has said -- when they could be out filming action scenes for Road Wars....

Yeah I got that impression