Thread: Power to tail gate failure. And 2 unknown switchs?

Rather than spend time pulling brittle plastic trims off I thought I'd ask you good folk some questions.

1..I have no power for the tail gate solinoid so it doesn't work with the central locking.
....Is there a common failure poit for them? Maybe a spot they rub the wire or a fuse ect..
2..I have found a switch under the Passenger front seat.
....When the switch is pulled up it exposes a red shaft.
....What is it for?
3.. I also found a switch under the drivers seat.
....Small square push switch, wired to a black box(@40x20x75mm) with a fuse also.
....What is it for? Kill switch maybe or programed ECU? Scotch locked to wiring so may not be genuine.
4..I have cracked lenses on the fog lamps.
What do you guys fit? Thinking of some spread driving lights for bush work.

Can you tell I am new to the Clasics?
Every thing else workes as it should
A few hose under the bonnet to do soon as no one picked they were rubbing

Thank in advance.

1..I have no power for the tail gate solinoid so it doesn't work with the central locking.
....Is there a common failure poit for them? Maybe a spot they rub the wire or a fuse ect..

have you checked with a multimeter or listened to the solonoid? The usual failure is that dust makes the catch sticky and a little plastic bit falls out of position on the shaft of the actuating rod. The cover comes off easily and is generally not brittle.

2..I have found a switch under the Passenger front seat.
....When the switch is pulled up it exposes a red shaft.
....What is it for?

On my 92 it is the inertia switch which cuts off the fuel pump in teh event of a rollover or crash.

3.. I also found a switch under the drivers seat.
....Small square push switch, wired to a black box(@40x20x75mm) with a fuse also.
....What is it for? Kill switch maybe or programed ECU? Scotch locked to wiring so may not be genuine.

My guess is an anti theft switch to cut of the fuel pump as that is where the fuel pump relay is.

4..I have cracked lenses on the fog lamps.
What do you guys fit? Thinking of some spread driving lights for bush work.

On my 92 they are driving lights which only come on high beam. I understand this changes year to year and there are other wires behind the switch plate ( on the old hard dash like a 92) so that the lights can be fogs or driving lights. They are really pretty useless as driving lights as they are too low and therefore very hard to set. I have put HID bulbs in my latest set of Hella 180s, but I am considering putting them on the bumper. they also fill with water after any sort of crossing.