number plate bulb replacement

[pezzzer]

My 2011 XF recently passed an MOT so I know it was working previously. I found the right hand number plate Bulb had gone, dropped into Halfords picked one up, fitted it in the car park, still no joy?!!

 

Not a special breed of number plate Bulb are they guys?

[Old Peter]

My local Auto accessory shop supplies most things, and if I ask for something specific like a Bulb he will just loook in his catalogue and get one out  of a drawer.   Never let me down yet in 35 years.

Peter.

[Guest]

4 hours ago, pezzzer said:

Not a special breed of number plate bulb are they guys?

Not as far as I know BUT; a couple of months back I found a guy having a close look around Black Bess while she was resting in an out of the way spot in a supermarket car park. After re-assuring me that he was not a car thief he explained that he had recently given up his search for an S Type like mine and had purchased an XF 3.0D. On bumping into him again last week, we were exchanging notes on Jaguar models when he told me that he had to have a rear light cluster replaced at a cost of £350 plus labour. It transpires this was one of them new fangled LED things where failure of one Bulb (diode) is no big deal, purportedly, but if the whole unit goes the wallet moths are going to be evicted.

Hopefully Kevin your Number Plate Bulb is of the traditional variety of which I am now even fonder.

If you're confident the new Bulb was a good un; check its properly seated in the holder and is still in good condition - I've busted a few bulbs while fitting them but I'm told I'm heavy handed. Also, check the holder itself for an corrosion and a good connection to the wiring. Last thing to check would be the relevant fuse but this is probably shared by other lights I'd guess.

Peter - please note I have now made two separate attempts to recruit the guy I met at the super market. Has the position regarding a bounty on new members changed?

[Guest]

Just a thought - to remove the possibility of the Bulb being defective you could try swapping the bulbs around, and see if the one that doesn't light is in the same side..?

[pezzzer]

18 hours ago, cubist said:

Not as far as I know BUT; a couple of months back I found a guy having a close look around Black Bess while she was resting in an out of the way spot in a supermarket car park. After re-assuring me that he was not a car thief he explained that he had recently given up his search for an S Type like mine and had purchased an XF 3.0D. On bumping into him again last week, we were exchanging notes on Jaguar models when he told me that he had to have a rear light cluster replaced at a cost of £350 plus labour. It transpires this was one of them new fangled LED things where failure of one bulb (diode) is no big deal, purportedly, but if the whole unit goes the wallet moths are going to be evicted.

Hopefully Kevin your Number Plate Bulb is of the traditional variety of which I am now even fonder.

If you're confident the new bulb was a good un; check its properly seated in the holder and is still in good condition - I've busted a few bulbs while fitting them but I'm told I'm heavy handed. Also, check the holder itself for an corrosion and a good connection to the wiring. Last thing to check would be the relevant fuse but this is probably shared by other lights I'd guess.

Peter - please note I have now made two separate attempts to recruit the guy I met at the super market. Has the position regarding a bounty on new members changed?

That's a scary story lol

as far as I am aware its just a bog standard fitting Bulb not LED (cos the light emitted is a warm glow not a cold bright one). I have checked the fitting again and notice a browning (burnt) tarnish on the plastic holder, which I'm assuming isn't good news!

First thing first though, as Ian suggests go get another just to rule out I didn't buy a dud, failing that it may be auto electrician time. But it does seem like the holder may have something to do with it.

[pezzzer]

21 hours ago, Old Peter said:

My local Auto accessory shop supplies most things, and if I ask for something specific like a bulb he will just loook in his catalogue and get one out  of a drawer.   Never let me down yet in 35 years.

Peter.

That's good to know Pete, where in the midlands is the place?

[Old Peter]

Sutton Coldfield, Kevin.  B75 5AW.  Just a small shop but very helpful.  I live across the road!

Halfords quoted me £42 for fitting and supplying new Bosch windscreen wipers.  He supplied and fitted the same ones for £29.

Regards,

Peter.

[pezzzer]

wow, that's a good saving Pete, it may be worth my trip down there, hold on just checking the old maps...... yep just a quick fly down the A51.

Cheers Pete

[Old Peter]

Hi Kevin, Stoke-on-Trent?

Peter.

[pezzzer]

shh, I don't like admitting it but yes lol

[Old Peter]

Stoke-on-Trent is one of my favourite places, not for the scenery but for the people.  I was there frequently while Shelton Steelworks was open, and I had my retirement "do" at the Queens.  I told the management that  they would never have the guts to close the Steelworks while I was there. And they didn't. They did 5 months after I retired, though!

Peter.

 

[David6255]

hi kevin i had similar problem with mine..but converted them to led...2 number plate lights which came with leads to plug into your existing Bulb holders was bout  £12-13 from eBay...beenin there nearly a year now and problem now gone

[Guest]

9 hours ago, pezzzer said:

shh, I don't like admitting it but yes lol

Been drug up in Castle I qualify, just, as a Stokey. Theres nowt not to be proud of hailing from the Five(+2) Towns and if yer forgot how to towk rate I can len thee a book.

[pezzzer]

15 hours ago, cubist said:

Been drug up in Castle I qualify, just, as a Stokey. Theres nowt not to be proud of hailing from the Five(+2) Towns and if yer forgot how to towk rate I can len thee a book.

😆😆

[pezzzer]

16 hours ago, David6255 said:

hi kevin i had similar problem with mine..but converted them to led...2 number plate lights which came with leads to plug into your existing bulb holders was bout  £12-13 from ebay...beenin there nearly a year now and problem now gone

Cheers Dave i'll look into it

[pezzzer]

18 hours ago, Old Peter said:

Stoke-on-Trent is one of my favourite places, not for the scenery but for the people.  I was there frequently while Shelton Steelworks was open, and I had my retirement "do" at the Queens.  I told the management that  they would never have the guts to close the Steelworks while I was there. And they didn't. They did 5 months after I retired, though!

Peter.

 

Hi Pete,

I can remember you telling me that a few years ago.

I can remember having a visit to Shelton Works when I was looking at apprenticeships, I also interviewed at The Mich as well. I'm in engineering to this day working for a small firm that supply JCB with parts.

I'm not a mechanical engineer but quality based.

[pezzzer]

On ‎9‎/‎6‎/‎2018 at 11:32 AM, ee601 said:

Just a thought - to remove the possibility of the bulb being defective you could try swapping the bulbs around, and see if the one that doesn't light is in the same side..?

an update on the number plate Bulb issue, swapped them round at the weekend and still the same, so it must be the holder I thought. Washed the car on Sunday, now it thinks the boot is open all the time and wont let me lock it with the fob.

Quick call this morning (Monday) to be local independent and he says its more likely to be the wiring harness in the boot lid as they are renowned for wire breakages in the loom.

Its already booked in for some work on the headlights on the 24th so its another job on the current list, which now reads as:

Reverse the HID Headlight conversion a previous owner fitted. (now illegal and an MOT failure).

Passenger door doesn't always unlock with the fob. (irritates the wife immensely lol)

Number plate lights, boot open issue - new wiring loom.

Better go see the bank manager I think!😥