Technical Number plate light - just one side

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Technical Number plate light - just one side

Burgerbob

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Hi All

The offside number plate light on my daughter's 2008 500 has stopped working. I've had a good look at it and confirmed it is not the bulb. As the other side works fine I don't think it is the main wiring loom.

I did remove the chrome housing with both lights and the switch to see if there could be an issue with the internal wiring. But I couldn't figure out how to open the unit up to look inside (in a way that I knew could put it back together again!)

I know the car has the normal issue with the hatch wiring loom as the rear demister doesn't work and we've had issues with the wiper. However as one light works I didn't think this would be the issue.

The next option is to buy a new lighting unit but there are more expensive than she'd like.

Anyone got any ideas? Plus, does anyone know if it will fail an MOT with just one side not working?
 
Hi All



The offside number plate light on my daughter's 2008 500 has stopped working. I've had a good look at it and confirmed it is not the bulb. As the other side works fine I don't think it is the main wiring loom.



I did remove the chrome housing with both lights and the switch to see if there could be an issue with the internal wiring. But I couldn't figure out how to open the unit up to look inside (in a way that I knew could put it back together again!)



I know the car has the normal issue with the hatch wiring loom as the rear demister doesn't work and we've had issues with the wiper. However as one light works I didn't think this would be the issue.



The next option is to buy a new lighting unit but there are more expensive than she'd like.



Anyone got any ideas? Plus, does anyone know if it will fail an MOT with just one side not working?



I think it would fail an MoT. As you say, I would think that the same wire that serves one side would serve the other so it can’t really be the hatch wire. You can buys replacement handle on eBay for about £25-30. You may as well take it apart, if you can’t fix it just buy a second hand one.
 
It's lost the earth or feed, if you have a meter or known working bulb, you can work out which is the issue, crude but will work, once you know which wire is faulty just run a wire from the other side even externally under the handle taped in place, at least it would pass a mot? The black insert in clips from the chrome part but once fully unclipped I couldn't get it fully free so gave up, but this action did fix the boot release switch, the reason for removing it and has worked ever since on our 09 car.
 
Thanks all for the advice. It's definitely not the bulbs and after checking ebay the daughter can buy a used unit for £40.

I'll tell her that, but no doubt she won't get round to it so i'll be bodging it come MOT time!
 
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