Fault in boot wiring! the problems never end :(

[Barney]

Well second MOT taken today in the space of two weeks (after over £500 spent) and second fail. This time on the rear boot wiring. the lights above the license plate dont come on apparently (though this wasn't picked up in the first MOT).

I think there is an intermittent fault with the wiring to the boot as sometimes my rear wiper doesn't work and I have once or twice had issues with locking/unlocking my boot with the central locking.

I will get a multimeter to it when I get home and look for any obvious breaks which I can sort myself (I'm actually fairly handy with a soldering iron, just not with mechanical stuff :) ). Worst case scenario though how much is this likely to cost to get fixed? Does the cable route through the car (under seats or in the roof) or is it under the car?

Sorry seems the only time I get to post on here is when I have an issue with the car :(

[Adam]

If I remember rightly, the wiring runs up the drivers side of the boot hatch, through the rubber connector between the hatch and body (drivers side as the passenger side is the washer pipe), then down the drivers side 'C' pillar to around where the rear lights are and then along the floor on the drivers side to underneath the dashboard.

[Fast Alan]

If I remember rightly, the wiring runs up the drivers side of the boot hatch, through the rubber connector between the hatch and body (drivers side as the passenger side is the washer pipe), then down the drivers side 'C' pillar to around where the rear lights are and then along the floor on the drivers side to underneath the dashboard.

Dont call me mr bodge here but to get it through the MOT quickly you can always crimp a piggy back connector to your rear light wiring and connect to your number plate lights till you have time to do it all properly

[Adam]

Not a bad idea Alan, a reasonably easy bypass that way. I would hazard a guess that the short is occuring at the rubber grommit between hatch and body, that's what usually happens.

[BRMark]

Not a bad idea Alan, a reasonably easy bypass that way. I would hazard a guess that the short is occuring at the rubber grommit between hatch and body, that's what usually happens.

Bang on! it's a common stress point at which the wires break - if you peel back the rubber grommet chances are the plastic around the wires has split

[Bornunder Dutchess]

Bang on! it's a common stress point at which the wires break - if you peel back the rubber grommet chances are the plastic around the wires has split

Yep, Ive had that problem..

[Seabart]

Yep, Ive had that problem..

Which (BRM-related) problem haven't you had??

[Barney]

Sorry all I never did come back to say thanks. I was running short on time to sort that problem out so got an auto electrician out after spending about 2 hours trying to find where the break was in the wire.

A/E comes out pulls up a bit of carpet in the boot and shows me where the connector is that is corroded then charges me £60 to cut it out and soldier the 6 wires together :(

So frustrating as if I had known where it was I could easily have fixed it myself. Guess £60 wasn't bad as he came out of hours and did it on my driveway but was £60 I didn't have at the time.

Anyway thanks for the help all, was appreciated.

[DarthRaiden]

Bang on! it's a common stress point at which the wires break - if you peel back the rubber grommet chances are the plastic around the wires has split

I had that when I first got my BRM, fixed and no problems since, though I can't push the gromit back in, but the cables are wrapped up with green tape.