I have a Fabia 1,2 TSi 105 hk Combi from 2011 - with approx. 82.000 km / 51.000 miles on the clock.

 

I have two problems:

 

1) My rear light often does not work (either one or both the bulbs in the left rear light). Tapping slightly on the light makes them work again. I have checked the bulbs and the connections inside the light house and all is fine. I hope someone has an electrical wiring diagram and suggestions on where to look for the loose connection.

 

2) Sometimes when I drive over a road bump (not the small one ones but the longer ones), I hear a 'clonky' sound which I initially thought was the sway bar links - looks something like this: http://www.auto-butikken.dk/images/fkkss01-p.jpg - (as I think they are called in English), but changing them helped nothing.

 

We tried to find a weak spot on the springs, but they are fine. We also tested the bushes on the control arms, but they also seem fine although a bit to the soft side.

 

I hope someone knows what else to look for...

1) Try bending the sprung contact for the offending bulbs so that it presses more firmly against the bulb contact (easy to show someone, but hard to describe more clearly).

1) Try bending the sprung contact for the offending bulbs so that it presses more firmly against the bulb contact (easy to show someone, but hard to describe more clearly).

Haha - yeah - hard to understand. The bulb is a squeeze-in type - but I'll have another look at it.

Haha - yeah - hard to understand. The bulb is a squeeze-in type - but I'll have another look at it.

What's the bulb type? I was expecting a 5W or 5/21W bayonet for a tail light.

What's the bulb type? I was expecting a 5W or 5/21W bayonet for a tail light.

There are two bulbs. I don't know why there are actually two for the tail light, as they seem to have the same function so maybe design?

The manual does not describe anything about tail light or which bulbs to be used (as least my version of the manual does not) - only thing is, that the two bulbs are described as "positioning light" - but they look like this:

 

http://images.esellerpro.com/3687/I/151/4/1514_1.JPG

 

EDIT: Other manual versions online says it is 2x W5W bulbs. And it is strange if both sockets/contacts should be bad at the same time...

 

/Kenneth

Edited 7 September, 20169 yr by NumZie

Check the grey/blue wire going into pin 3 of the 6-way wiring connector to the cluster. This feeds both bulbs, originally from the BCM/ Central electrics control unit under the dash.

Ah, I've never seen those bulbs used in tail lights before (but until I bought a Skoda I'd never seen them used as front position lights either).

 

I'd agree that the feed sounds like the most likely issue them, but I've been told that those bulbs can't be re-used, so you may need new bulbs?

Check the grey/blue wire going into pin 3 of the 6-way wiring connector to the cluster. This feeds both bulbs, originally from the BCM/ Central electrics control unit under the dash.

 

Grey/blue?

 

I'll check that later. Seems to me like it is the brown and black wires that go into these two bulbs if I remember correct.

 

But if the wiring seems okay it will then have to be a problem in the BCM unit? This sounds like something I don't have the ability to fix myself...

Grey/blue is what I'm seeing in the current flow diagram. It is a very big document though, so it's possible I'm not looking at the right diagram.

 

If physically tapping the light cluster makes things change, I'd be amazed if the problem isn't local to that area. Look for corrosion on the connector pin.

Grey/blue is what I'm seeing in the current flow diagram. It is a very big document though, so it's possible I'm not looking at the right diagram.

 

If physically tapping the light cluster makes things change, I'd be amazed if the problem isn't local to that area. Look for corrosion on the connector pin.

Likewise, and my previous experience is that the most likely thing is the bulb(s) being electrically loose but mechanically tight in the bulb holders.

Grey/blue is what I'm seeing in the current flow diagram. It is a very big document though, so it's possible I'm not looking at the right diagram.

 

If physically tapping the light cluster makes things change, I'd be amazed if the problem isn't local to that area. Look for corrosion on the connector pin.

I completely agree, but we checked it thorougly - it looks like new on the connecter pin - and it's still strange that it is BOTH bulbs that should be troublesome on the same time.

 

Now I'll try two new bulbs to start with...

Is it pin no.3 you checked? Is there a grey/blue wire at all?

Edited 7 September, 20169 yr by Wino

I have tried to take some photos.

 

It seems to me all wires and bulbs and contacts seem fine.

 

The problem did not occurwhen I took the pictures - but after assembling the light again - I started the car and the bottom bulb were out - I took a video of it.

 

You can see the pictures in this post.

 

I also uploaded a video of my tapping

 

https://www.dropbox.com/s/s6qewc2ki1ihxho/MOV_0625.mp4?dl=0

 

 

Looks like the connection of the bulbs in the holder that is the issue even though you have ruled that out.

(or actually the poor connection.)

Looks like the connection of the bulbs in the holder that is the issue even though you have ruled that out.

(or actually the poor connection.)

 

But what would you do solve the issue? Both the bulbs and the contact/holder seems free of any rust or anything else. I do not quite now how to clean them.

And still I think it is strange if both contacts/bulbs should be weak at the same time :/

Have you tried changing the bulb?

Have you tried changing the bulb?

No - didn't have time to buy them today but will get them tomorrow and change them. That's the cheapest and easiest way to start

Since both bulbs that are fed from one wire via ( I presume ) one connector pin maybe either the connector or some issue with the connections in the lamp body between the connector and the contacts for the bulb?

I changed both bulbs and the problem went away. Strange but solved

I changed both bulbs and the problem went away. Strange but solved

 

Ive had this issues with another car before.. golf mk4 i think. what happens is the bulbs blow and when you tap it the filament makes a connection and the current re-attaches the filament temporarily.

that was my findings anyway   

DamoR, once at work, when there was suddenly a supply issue with some strange model of bulbs, we did resort to turning the "blown" bulb round then tapping it with the DC supply ON, so that teh filiament re-attached for "a while" - to buy time!