Intermittent Taillight issue

[chrisvarns]

I wonder if anyone has had a similar problem and can point me in the right direction with it.

I've just bought my 1.4 16v sport, and have done a bit of work to it already nothing major, just water pump and cam belt. Seems to be a great motor except for this taillight problem. I didn't leave it long enough before installing my ICE to be sure if this is caused by that installation, or was a latent problem that would've surfaced anyway.

Basically, some nights I'll put the key in, and the stereo will be displaying a red power light, which is always coupled with either, or both of the taillights being out. It seems to be random which of the lights goes out. It's definately not the bulbs or the fuses, and after a drive or two they start working again, and by the next day the powerlight on the stereo has sorted itself aswell. I mention the red power light on the stereo as it seems to be a symptom of the same issue that causes the taillight problem and both occur together.

I'm completely stumped by this, and it seems like it might be one of those problems that takes a month of trial and error to work out. It's definately not the battery as that's only a year old. Could easily be the ICE that's causing it by draining too much power perhaps (1000w amp, 2x 500w 6x9's and a kicker sub, god knows what watt). I'm getting around it at the moment by running the rear fogs whenever the problem comes up.

Anyone had a similar problem and know a fix?

[dandadan]

try taking the ICE out (disconnect it) and see if the problem persists check all the wiring aswel just incase some of the wires are touching that shouldnt be.

we had a problem on our work van and it was the wiring to the back lights wernt insulated and the wires kept touching causing the rear lights to stop working then hit a bump and the next time the van was started the lights would work (if the bulbs hadnt blown) lol

[chrisvarns]

Awesome, thanks mate next time it happens il disconnect the radio first and see if that fixes it. The head unit was given to me by a mate and is older than time itself so I wouldnt be surprised if that was causing the problem.

[jordyp]

it shouldnt be the radio unless someone has done a cowboy job on it before with wires under the dash and there touching, check the rear lights if everything is the way it should be, trace the wires back to the front of the car and see if theres anything noticably wrong with wires, on the fiat brava the indicator stalk goes on them and cause headlights to go out and indicators to come on and flash and horn and all that lol, but try disconnecting the ice first cause thatl prob be the main culprit