My wife told me that my reverse lights don't work on my TL. What I found is the reverse lights don't work and also my right license plate light doesn't as well.
I did the following to trouble-shoot this problem:
1. searched this forum and learned about fuse #21 (cabin) and fuse #4 (engine) and both those fuses look good. I changed fuse #21 just in case though. I also see there is a acc/backup relay and looked at that too and it appears good as well. I don't know what other components feed off that relay though. All my interior lights and switches seem fine so I think the problem is isolated to the rear of the car.
2. removed the trunk lid liner and checked the reverse bulbs and they look fine. I checked voltage with my multi-meter and there is no voltage at the light socket. I tried continuity for ground and did not get any beeps like I had hoped by touching to each socket connection and having a pin on the body.
3. I then took the left plastic cover off the trunk hinge and inspected the wire bundle that services these lights. Another search in this forum mentioned the white clips might stress the wires. I saw no signs of stress anywhere along the trunk hinge.
4. I checked that my mirrors tilt when I go into reverse and they do. That should indicate the transmission sensor is functioning (I would hope).
5. I then double checked other lights in the rear. Markers work, tails work, brakes work- only the reverse and right license plate fail to work now.
In looking at my shop manual it looks like there is a ground harness behind the left trunk side liner. I guess that will be my next step next weekend.
I figure I have open/closed the trunk 4000+ times so I could see how the wires behind that liner could fracture if they are bound on a clip behind that liner- that's where the wires are going to move mostly is lower in the trunk assembly.
Has anyone had this problem or can offer some additional advice? I'll take the car to the dealer if needed, but am pretty handy so taking out the left trunk liner is not a huge deal for me. I figure I'll do one more attempt next weekend for fixing the problem before going to the dealer.
thanks!
I did the following to trouble-shoot this problem:
1. searched this forum and learned about fuse #21 (cabin) and fuse #4 (engine) and both those fuses look good. I changed fuse #21 just in case though. I also see there is a acc/backup relay and looked at that too and it appears good as well. I don't know what other components feed off that relay though. All my interior lights and switches seem fine so I think the problem is isolated to the rear of the car.
2. removed the trunk lid liner and checked the reverse bulbs and they look fine. I checked voltage with my multi-meter and there is no voltage at the light socket. I tried continuity for ground and did not get any beeps like I had hoped by touching to each socket connection and having a pin on the body.
3. I then took the left plastic cover off the trunk hinge and inspected the wire bundle that services these lights. Another search in this forum mentioned the white clips might stress the wires. I saw no signs of stress anywhere along the trunk hinge.
4. I checked that my mirrors tilt when I go into reverse and they do. That should indicate the transmission sensor is functioning (I would hope).
5. I then double checked other lights in the rear. Markers work, tails work, brakes work- only the reverse and right license plate fail to work now.
In looking at my shop manual it looks like there is a ground harness behind the left trunk side liner. I guess that will be my next step next weekend.
I figure I have open/closed the trunk 4000+ times so I could see how the wires behind that liner could fracture if they are bound on a clip behind that liner- that's where the wires are going to move mostly is lower in the trunk assembly.
Has anyone had this problem or can offer some additional advice? I'll take the car to the dealer if needed, but am pretty handy so taking out the left trunk liner is not a huge deal for me. I figure I'll do one more attempt next weekend for fixing the problem before going to the dealer.
thanks!