rear lights

[HF]

I have a 1988 8v turbo. The car runs fine, but a week ago my rear lights started acting weird. When I brake, the orange lights go on, and when I use the turningsignal, my brake light flashes. When braking and using the turningsignal at the same time, my turninglights don't work at all. If I use my rear foglights, all my rear lights go on, but very weak. You can imagine what it looks like when I reverse, brake, with turningsignal an rearfoglight on; it's like a complete disco!

Please help me if you think you know what the problem is, or have a clue!!
Thanks,
Haro Froger

[adam]

your problem is caused by bad earth connections to the rear light bulb holders.try disconnecting the multi pin plug on the back of the rear light cluster and cleaning up the terminals in the plug and the socket,also the bulbs get corroded were they fit into there holders. good luck.

[HF]

I cleaned the plugs and sockets, and checked all the bulbs, but that didn't solve my problem. Do you know what else could cause the problem?

Thanks, Haro

[adam]

I am sure your problem is an earthing fault ,try the main earthing point for the rear lights which is in the spare wheel well on the rear lower panel.Cut off the old terminals and replace with ring terminals, which you can bolt to the body.Have another look at your rear light plugs, because even if they look ok they often need the terminals tigthened so that they are a good tight fit on the pins in the rear light sockets.GOOD LUCK.

[HF]

The main earthing point was the problem. After cleaning it, everything is back to normal. THANKS

[Roger Matthews]

Bad earth.