MR2 Roadster Owners Club

The Workshop => Audio / Security / Electrical => Topic started by: gaz147 on August 13, 2009, 08:33

Title: Operation of rear lights!
Post by: gaz147 on August 13, 2009, 08:33
I have a facelift car (I believe!) which appears to have had the pre facelift lights and bumper fitted at the rear.

The lights operate as follows: outside and inside red lights come on when I put the lights on, outside red lights perform brake light function by going brighter.

When I operate the rear fogs, the right hand side inner light becomes brighter, but not the left.

Can somebody please confirm if this is how the car should operate? I have looked at the wiring to the lights and on the right hand side there are three wires entering the outside (brake) light, presumably controlling the dual functions of tail light and brake light, and three lights entering the inside (fog) light, also presumably for the tail and fog light functions. However, there are three wires entering the left hand side outside light, but only two entering the left hand side inside light (which perhaps would confirm only the right hand side operates as fog?

Any advice anybody could offer would be appreciated as I'm confused!

Regards, Gary.
Title: Re: Operation of rear lights!
Post by: aaronjb on August 13, 2009, 09:03
I think - though I'd have to go downstairs to check - that UK cars only have one tail light each side which doubles as the brake light.  The inner light does not light up at all and is only a single function (fog lamp)

Imports had two tail lights (inner & outer) and two brake lights (inner & outer), and it sounds like one side of yours has been modified to work as a fog lamp instead to pass an MOT (in an understanding MOT center - some places fail that as a fog lamp is meant to only have one function - fog lamp)
Title: Re: Operation of rear lights!
Post by: spit on August 13, 2009, 09:55
I'd go along with that. Many importers use this trick rather than fit an aftermarket foglamp (which is not required by law in Japan... but is a requirement of both SVA and MOT over here.

So, i'm guessing you have an imported MR-S, yes?
Title: Re: Operation of rear lights!
Post by: uktotty on August 13, 2009, 10:18
My guess would be its an import too.
Installing the fog light in the cluster is better looking than one of those square ones hanging off the bottom of the bumper!
Title: Re: Operation of rear lights!
Post by: inert2k3 on August 13, 2009, 10:56
Quote from: "uktotty"My guess would be its an import too.
Installing the fog light in the cluster is better looking than one of those square ones hanging off the bottom of the bumper!

Defo +1
Title: Re: Operation of rear lights!
Post by: gaz147 on August 13, 2009, 12:48
Now I'm really confused! I know my car was written off at some point, something I didn't know at the time of purchase, and it looks as though they've fixed the rear end with the pre facelift stuff, but nothing else appears to suggest import.

Would the main wiring be different, or just the looms for the rear lights on the import - i.e. is it that maybe the looms they have attached have come from an import?

I was hoping this was going to be simple!

Gary.
Title: Re: Operation of rear lights!
Post by: Ilogik on August 13, 2009, 12:56
Do your sun visors have japanese writing on them, and inside your petrol flap?
Title: Re: Operation of rear lights!
Post by: wbarrwebster on August 13, 2009, 13:31
Quote from: "gaz147"Now I'm really confused! I know my car was written off at some point, something I didn't know at the time of purchase, and it looks as though they've fixed the rear end with the pre facelift stuff, but nothing else appears to suggest import.

Would the main wiring be different, or just the looms for the rear lights on the import - i.e. is it that maybe the looms they have attached have come from an import?

I was hoping this was going to be simple!

Gary.

Hi,

Suggest you meet another member, do a comparision, sort out your wiring loom and anything else that's obviously bothering you.

Where are you based?

B
Title: Re: Operation of rear lights!
Post by: roger on August 13, 2009, 13:35
Quote from: "wbarrwebster"Where are you based?

A good reason to amend your profile.   s:wink: :wink: s:wink:
Title: Re: Operation of rear lights!
Post by: gaz147 on August 13, 2009, 13:39
Sun visors have an airbag warning message in English / French / German; petrol flap has nothing.

Thinking about it there has been some modifying of wiring for the fog light on the offside, with a wire being cut as it comes out of the connector plug and connected to the bulbholder as the 3rd wire I mentioned. The bulb is a standard bayonet one rather than the push fit type on the other side.

If this does turn out to be an import, reregistered as UK using the reg of a car that was written off, what are the implications for me? Should I go back to the garage?

ps sorry, location edited!
Title: Re: Operation of rear lights!
Post by: Ilogik on August 13, 2009, 13:42
Quote from: "gaz147"Sun visors have an airbag warning message in English / French / German; petrol flap has nothing.

Thinking about it there has been some modifying of wiring for the fog light on the offside, with a wire being cut as it comes out of the connector plug and connected to the bulbholder as the 3rd wire I mentioned. The bulb is a standard bayonet one rather than the push fit type on the other side.

If this does turn out to be an import, reregistered as UK using the reg of a car that was written off, what are the implications for me? Should I go back to the garage?

I would go back to the garage, I thought a RAC check would tell you if it was an import to.  Sounds like a UK car to me as far as im aware. Jap cars have a fair amount of japanese labels over them.
Title: Re: Operation of rear lights!
Post by: roger on August 13, 2009, 16:56
One of our committee Ste (spit) must be fairly close to you (depending on how big Manchester is   s:flame: :flame: s:flame:  ), and he has an import.

Give him a PM, I'm sure he will let you drive over and you can discuss.
Title: Re: Operation of rear lights!
Post by: onion86 on August 13, 2009, 17:11
Quote from: "Ilogik"I would go back to the garage, I thought a RAC check would tell you if it was an import to.  Sounds like a UK car to me as far as Im aware. Jap cars have a fair amount of japanese labels over them.

The one thing that's most likely to still be there is the tyre pressures inside the driver's door. Jap they'll be in Japenese writing and in Bar, UK they'll be in English and PSI.

Also the chance this could be a European import if it has all those languages on the sun visor (or not as would it be left hand drive?)?
Title: Re: Operation of rear lights!
Post by: DannyN on August 13, 2009, 17:15
Could be a euro import, I believe mine is (steering wheel is in the correct place tho)
Title: Re: Operation of rear lights!
Post by: wbarrwebster on August 13, 2009, 19:28
Quote from: "DannyN"Could be a euro import, I believe mine is (steering wheel is in the correct place though)


Methinks mine is too.....no official Alarm and colour brown top on black!

Cost me lots to fry any bad guys that want to try out the new alarm, did I say before, the Scythe accessory was an additional £100!!   s:D :D s:D  

B