Saab Number Plate Light

[brainiac]

I've had to replace the right-side number plate light on my Saab 900 - the whole thing, not just the bulb. Found one easily on the internet and it should be such an easy fix, but I've fiddled about with it for ages and I can't get it to work, though the new one works in the left housing so there's nothing wrong with the product. I've checked the fuse, so can anyone think of anything else that it might be? I assume just having one number plate light working is an MoT fail, which is so frustrating as it's due quite soon. Thanks

[tonyav]

Check this out, you may need a multimeter to check for power at the terminals though.

http://www.saabscene.com/forum/threads/150023-saab-93-reg-plate-lights-not-working.

[brainiac]

Thanks for that, Tony. From what I can glean online, I think it must be a wiring issue, but it's very tricky to get at. Soooo annoyed about it, as it should take about two minutes to fit!

[tonyav]

Definitely a wiring issue I'd say, brainiac. Might be a simple fix though.

[brainiac]

I feel a weekend of fiddling looming....and just when I was feeling good, having successfully ordered and fitted two new boot gas struts last week!

[tonyav]

If I were you I'd try and trace the wiring back from the non working light, inspect it for any damage / chaffing.
Well done with the boot struts. If it's a 900 it's a few years old now then ?.

[brainiac]

1995, only 54,000 miles. But, oh, how I dread the MoT - there's always something! Never know whether to sit there trying to read the paper, or go for a walk, fretting, then slowly wend my way back to the garage. Think Id rather go to the dentist

[tonyav]

Don't fret, brainiac. It might be something that you spot straight away.
If one of the rear number plate lights isn't working then that's not to bad for a 1995 car.

[brainiac]

Well, Tony, you know that weekend of fiddling I mentioned? It was only about an hour today and I bleeping fixed the thing! Having tried in vain to reach the electrics, I pressed the two terminals that the new light fits into quite hard towards each other and......hey presto. Very relieved I don't have to ask the garage to do it before the MoT, and am going to try a garage in a different village, see if their customer relations are any better than the last lot.

[RobNorth]

Brainiac,
Think about your MOT like this: you're on the Motorway, it's raining, you're being sucked along at 75 in traffic, it's dark and you've got family on board - there's an emergency and all the traffic stops suddenly......think of this and you'll hope that the tester finds anything there is to find - he or she has to think this way...

[brainiac]

Absolutely agree, Rob, safety is non-negotiable. My problem is with the garage I've used for the last few MoTs. The car failed the last one because of a problem with the rear of the exhaust - and they'd fitted two new pipes at the rear the previous year to get it through the MoT! When I pointed this out to them, they didn't even apologize (they hadn't fitted the clamps properly), though they did fix it without charge. I've had other issues with their customer service which I shan't bore you with, so time to try somewhere new - limited choice as I live in the country.

By the way, do you think anyone actually stands in the 'Viewing Area' (which I guess they have to provide) and watch it taking place? Would be like torture!

[RobNorth]

Yes, I watched the first couple of times at the place I use, to ensure it was being done thoroughly! at the time I was still doing 25k a year.
Now I have a coffee and do the crossword...

[brainiac]

I do about 2,500 miles a year, so tell myself there can't be much wrong!

[brainiac]

It passed - phew! Just needed new windscreen wipers, which the very good new garage I took it to fitted without going through the rigmarole of failing it first. What a relief.

[tonyav]

Well done, brainiac. You can forget about it for another year now.

[brainiac]

I was thinking as I nervously went for a walk (including sitting on a bench in the village churchyard!) while the MoT was being done, that as there are over 30 million cars on the roads in UK, and, say, 20 million are 3 years old or more so need an MoT at around £50 - that's £1 BILLION every year - and the government takes a cut of it all!

[tonyav]

Yep, the government make mucho money out of motorists in one form or another.