Car Number plate light

How to detect a license plate light failure

Generally a diagnosis of the license plate light does not raise any difficulties. First switch on the ignition, and then turn on the light. If neither the rear lights nor the headlights are working and the parking lights do not turn on either, the fuse must have blown or the switch in the passenger compartment has broken.

If only one of the license plate lights does not work, inspect it: cracks, scratches and glass turbidity, damaged fasteners or the contacts oxidation show that the part needs replacement. Then make sure the lamp filament has not burnt out, and check that the connectors are not loosened and the wiring is intact. Use a multimeter to see if the lights are powered. If you cannot find and fix the breakdown on your own, contact professionals for assistance.

You may identify that the license plate light inspection is required by the following symptoms:

• the light has become too dim;
• the lamp does not light in one of the lights;
• while driving, especially on poor-quality surfaced roads, the lights flicker;
• the license plate light indicator lamp on the instrument panel flashes.

Causes of the license plate light failures

In many cases, the inoperability of the license plate lights is caused by the burnout of filament lamps: they are consumables with a limited service life. Too frequent burnout of light bulbs is typically a result of their poor quality, bad contact in the lamp holder, or unstable voltage level in the electrical circuit.

Exposure to moisture, dirt and thawing chemicals causes the destruction of the wiring protective sheath and causes the contacts oxidation, which substantially enhances the risk of a short circuit. The wiring laid in the luggage compartment or under the car body can also break as a result of intense force impact or chafing.

An unstable voltage level in the circuit, installation of license plate bulbs with too high wattage, or fuses with too high amperage can result in melting of the light housing surface.

In cold seasons, all works related to the lights dismantling should be performed in a warm room to prevent cracking of components.

Repair and replacement of the license plate light

Repair of the license plate light comprises cleaning of contacts and replacement of defective components: switches, wires, connectors, lamps, or lenses. Installing new lights, replacing lamp holders or bulbs can be easily done independently. To do this, perform the following steps:

1. Disconnect the negative terminal from the battery.
2. Unscrew the light fasteners. Sometimes, to access the component, you need to dismantle the luggage compartment lining or its trim. On some cars, the light should be removed from the outside, by releasing the clips with a flat head screwdriver. In this case, you may have to dismantle the license plate.
3. Disconnect the wiring connector from the part and carefully remove the latter.
4. If the light is an assembled unit, install a new lamp or lamp holder, if it is one-piece, replace the complete part.
5. When installing new parts, you need to replace the seals and lubricate the bolts with a special silicone-based agent.

It is best to contact a professional for replacing wiring and connectors.