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

[HPsauce]

I went to change a bulb in the boot, the forward-facing one in the rear sill, intending to put a "better" LED in as I have a couple spare.

While I was at it I checked the 2 in the boot roof to see what they were, but left them alone. Just popped the holders out, had a look and put them back.

While trying different bulbs in the sill holder I realised they had all gone dim and eventually went off, apart from the one I was changing which was just very dim.
Then going into the car I realised all the courtesy lights were dead too, only the map lights would come on at all, again dimly.

I figured I must have done something, but what?

And finally the indicators didn't flash when locking or unlocking the car.
It starts and runs OK and the indicators work normally.
And the puddle lights and footwell lights are OK too, as are the mirror lights in the sun visors.

There's no relevant references in my drivers handbook so I'm guessing it's something in the footwell "box of tricks"

Thoughts anyone?
(moved here from wrong area if you see a duplicate )

[HPsauce]

Just to be sure I did a VCDS scan, expecting to find nothing as I assume this is "below the radar" simple stuff. I wasn't disappointed.

[PsYcHe]

Maybe you have a short now. Reseat them and see how they go.

[HPsauce]

Tried that already, I even took all the bulbs out in the boot. No joy.

[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.