Just thought I'd throw this out to see if anyone else has suffered this

Took the car for MoT today and it failed, front sidelights not working

When I last used the car they were fine

Dipped beam, main beam, indicators are working fine, just seems strange that both sidelights have decided not to play ball at the same time

If anyone else has encountered this could you please let me know what the problem was?

Any assistance gratefully received

is this not working or bulbs popped?

 

It does sound odd but its possible both bulbs popped at the same time

is this not working or bulbs popped?

It does sound odd but its possible both bulbs popped at the same time

Two sets of bulbs tried, still no joy

No Brisky electricians about?

Bulb failure light on?

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Bulb failure light on?

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I didn't think it worked on sidelights????

In any event, it's been on for some time since I changed indicator bulbs (which are working fine)

No fault codes coming up either (except indicators)

I've ruled out any potential fuse issue, since they cover each side of the car, and the rears are OK

I'm guessing it can't be the switch because the rears are working

So I can only assume it's some sort of wiring issue

The switch should give an error. Mine did when I swapped the auto light switch for the original switch.

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A coding error that you just haven't spotted since you made it?  Have you a history of codings for the central electrics module?

Any recent work done?  A quick fumble behind the dash?  Any other coding changes? 

If you only noticed because it was brought to your attention by the nice MOT man, it could have been like it for a while.

Sorry Bryan, can't put my finger on an obvious or logical reason which has not already been put forward.

Hope you get it sorted.

An issue with the CCM or central electrics? Can't remember which controls the lights.

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A coding error that you just haven't spotted since you made it? Have you a history of codings for the central electrics module?

I'm not sure that sidelights can be coded out, so I don't think it's coding

The front W5W side lights are monitored by the blown-bulb warning system, so their failure should be throwing a fault code together with the on dash warning.

 

When you say the new indicator bulbs are generating the on-dash warning are they LED's? It might be worth swapping these back to normal incandescent bulbs to see if this brings the sidelights back to life. It may be that the LED's are affecting the BCM...

If it is a pre FL, unless it is a VRS LE then it will have separate CCM and central electrics rather than a BCM.

The front W5W side lights are monitored by the blown-bulb warning system, so their failure should be throwing a fault code together with the on dash warning.

 

When you say the new indicator bulbs are generating the on-dash warning are they LED's? It might be worth swapping these back to normal incandescent bulbs to see if this brings the sidelights back to life. It may be that the LED's are affecting the BCM...

The indicator bulbs are merely chrome bulbs, not LEDs

The indicator bulbs are merely chrome bulbs, not LEDs

 

In that case why is the warning light on? Could this be another symptom of the same problem?

Hmm, that is strange, chromed P21W indicator bulbs shouldn't be triggering a blown-bulb warning.

 

You have the Dectane LED rear light clusters too right? Although these have been fitted for quite some time?

Edited 15 February, 201511 yr by silver1011

Hmm, that is strange, chromed P21W indicator bulbs shouldn't be triggering a blown-bulb warning.

 

You have the Dectane LED rear light clusters too right? Although these have been fitted for quite some time?

 

Yes, I've also had HIDs fitted and working correctly - they were actually on the car when it failed

I'm with Trundlenut then, thinking a duff CCM?

 

Quite a common complaint on the facelift vRS, but not heard of any issues on a pre-FL before.

 

A scan with VCDS might help track down the issue?

I'm with Trundlenut then, thinking a duff CCM?

 

Quite a common complaint on the facelift vRS, but not heard of any issues on a pre-FL before.

 

A scan with VCDS might help track down the issue?

 

Probably worth trawling through the measuring blocks to see what the CCM thinks is happening with the lights.

With the grateful assistance of Eddie_NL at the end of a phone, I managed to change the central electronics control module yesterday for one obtained from Motorsinmotion at Worksop for £72 delivered

All lights now up and running again as they should, and have now coded front fogs to run at 50% as DRLs

Not being technically minded I'm pretty pleased to have got it fixed without resorting to other means, there's no telling how much a dealer woild have charged for a new part plus fitting

Once again, many thanks to Eddie for being available to give me his invaluable assistance when needed

Interested. I wonder what caused it to fail.

 

I also have my front fogs as DRLs at 50%.

 

Eddie is a very knowledgeable chap!

 

Dealer would have probably charge more than double for the part then a couple of hours labour I reckon!

 

Phil