What have I broken, or is it just a fuse?

[Architex_mA8tey]

sounds like an earth problem maybe, have you tried a tester on any of the affected lamps? also what is the condition of the battery like and is the effect the same with or without the engine started?

[HPsauce]

Battery is fine and it's all the same with or without the engine running. I'll check the contacts for voltages as I guess there could be a short somewhere in the wiring.
Odd that the interior (cabin) lights are affected as well as I didn't touch them (just the boot) - is there some sort of central controller somewhere?

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by Architex_mA8tey

have you tried a tester on any of the affected lamps?

What specifically would you be looking for? My electrical/electronic logic isn't too good tonight, especially as I don't know where the power for them comes from and how they're switched.
The cabin lights for example would fade out normally so there must be some sort of electronics doing that and it's been disabled so they don't work at all, not even with the switch "on". I have no idea what the boot lights do but fading seems irrelevant so unlikely.

Anyone got circuit diagrams showing where/how the boot lights are powered and switched? Or even just where the relevant fuse is?

[HPsauce]

This thread looks relevant: http://forum.a8parts.co.uk/showthread.php?t=346 But where is the fuse referred to there?
(my central locking works fine apart from the flash of the indicators)

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by HPsauce

where is the fuse referred to there?

Right I think I've identified which that is: Front right footwell fuse panel, carrier 5 (brown), Fuse 1, 10A
The Owners Manual says - Pump for central locking, anti-theft alarm diode, interior lights.

And the alarm diode is no longer flashing when the car is locked.
So it all sounds very plausible. I'll be in there in the morning.

Originally Posted by HPsauce

There's no relevant references in my drivers handbook

Well it turns out there was, but I missed it.

[RanjS8]

The central locking pump in the boot around the area where you were working maybe there is a loose wire or some moisture getting in somewhere that made it blow....dont know why I thought of that....maybe wildly wrong!!!!

I have to say always sounded like a fuse...I remember when I lost power to the instrument cluster when I was doing the rns e fit.....I had blown a fuse but it was a totally random one which took me ages to find as the fuse diagram was no help....so first thing I always do in these situations is do a continuity test across all the fuses in the drivers footwell just for my own sanity.

Then I go from there.

[HPsauce]

Sorted.

Fuse had blown as predicted. Main fuse panel, carrier 5 (brown, well orange really), Fuse 1, 10A.

Looking at the wiring of the 3 lights in the boot, the 2 in the roof have only one insulated connector, presumably on the basis that the other is earthed to the chassis anyway. But the sill one has both insulated, don't know why.
That was the one I was playing with and I was using a screwdriver to lever things out, so I probably shorted it out. I'll be more careful next time.

Funny things was, some of the LED's worked dimly for a short while then faded. I can only assume there was some residual charge in capacitors in the controller - enough for LED's but probably not filament bulbs.

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by HPsauce

so I probably shorted it out

And I've figured out how.
One of the LED festoon bulbs I was using was an unusual design; instead of the usual plastic tube with metal caps it had a solid metal body like this:

The contacts are very tight and you have to spring them apart quite a way to fit it, so very easy to short on the body.
On the plus side they are VERY bright.