Number plate lights not working!

Michael Downing · Apr 3, 2006

Hi there - long time no post! Sorry about that ... suddenly I had plenty of work to do [:'(]. Oh well.

Anyway, this post is a special request by my father-in-law with regard to his 2002 Boxster 2.7. Yes, I've told him to join and will keep pressing him! Anyway, it has just failed its MOT for lack of illumination of the rear numberplate. They've replaced the bulb, obviously, but no joy. He's tested the bulb socket and there is no power to the bulb, suggesting that the problem is elsewhere.

He's less than keen to go to the nearest OPC for open-wallet surgery and is handy with these things. Can anyone suggest a likely line of enquiry? Anyone had this before?

TIA.

Fred Hindle · Apr 3, 2006

Run a feed from a rear sidelight to the wiring for the number plate lights.
Cheers,

Black80XSA · Apr 4, 2006

Not sure what fuse they are on, and would hope the MOT station at least checked this but maybe worth a try. After that i think you'll have to remove the rear luggage carpet to start investigating

Michael Downing · Apr 4, 2006

Update:

The dashboard light is also not working and both lights are on the same circuit. Helpful service staff at two OPCs point the finger at the dash switch being faulty.

He's partially removed the panel that has the switch on it, but is having some difficulty disengaging the top edge*. If anyone has dismantled that bit of a Boxster/996 or has a picture then we'd love to hear from you!

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*Apologies for the poor description, but:

(a) I'm not there to see it
(b) I don't have a Boxster I can look at, and
(c) My 996 is no doubt very similar but is under a cover behind a locked gate while we have building work done that needs use of the garage (boo hoo sniff sniff whinge [:'(])

So I'm at a slight disadvantage here.

Black80XSA · Apr 5, 2006

The horshoe spaced plastic on the cetre console (around the aircon/hifi) can be prised off from the bottom corners with a blunt knife - it just pulls out towards the rear of the car. The individual switches within this panel are a tight fit and are held in place by two lugs on either side of the switch (about 2mm in size). The switches i think push in from the rear.

you can just about see the securing lugs o n the top edge of the switch in the picture above