Taxi Driver Online

Carbodies Fairway FX4 1996 N reg
The interior light above the driver stopped working, so being an optimistic fool I thought a simple bulb change would be the answer. Unswcrewed, bulb looked darkened, fitted new bulb. Turned on, Hooray that was a doddle!

About a minute later, bing! Bulb gone out. No interior lighting front or back. Hmm must just be a fuse. However, I have replaced all the fuses in the fuse box (including a melted one, which I think was the rear window heater so probably unrelated) and nothing seems to work. Oh and my fuse box doesn't seem to match the fuse box layout I have from the handbook - there's 1-9 instead of 7 for a start! Please note I know nothing of electrics as may be apparent , so apologies, just keen to learn!

I currently have no interior lights (front or back, or any of the door lights etc all of which worked before) . The For Hire and rooftop light (previously fine ) now don't work. Cigarette lighter does work (even though on supposedly on same fuse as hire sign) . Dash lights etc all still work -possibly a back electric window switch stopped too, though not sure if this was something I hadn't noticed before?

The weird bit - When I press the dash switch to turn on the light above the driver when it is depressed, I get the 'door is open' beeping noise and those corresponding lights come on the dash. Aargh no light and somehow wired to the door open system?? Weird.

Had a quick check around the light unit above head where I changed the bulb, tried replacing old bulb to see if that might bring back some of my other losses, but I am stumped.

Is there somewhere else that I should be looking? Other fuses, relays etc? Are the interior lights on the same circuit as the hire sign? Did changing the bulb really take them all down (maybe it was too high a wattage bulb?) Why is the door open noise happening when I try and turn on a light??? I read some stuff about dodgy bodges done on taxis to do with the meter where fuse systems were changed?

I appreciate it may be difficult to answer as every car will have complicated wiring and Fairways are notorious, but this is a cry for help and wondered if anyone had experienced similar? Thanks

Hi mate check the fuses in the bottom row not sure which one as i have not got the card handy take them out and check each one i think it should be a 20A.

Sounds more than likely a fuse problem,have you got a tester to test the fuses ? They have a tendancy to get wet and dirty and start playing havock with the electrics.The connections get loose and can blow the fuses.Anyway without going on to much the interior light fuse is second in from left, bottom row if memory serves me right.It probally does have the top sign or something attached to it.Depending which other fuse has blown its hard to diagnose without seeing but the door open noise/lights with beep constantly with a fuse gone.If replacing a blown fuse try and make sure its not too loose,if the terminals have worn,i usually slightly bend the fuse prongs so its a snug fit. If youve not got a diagram of fuses give us a shout and ill have a look later for you and write them down,regards blackpool

Spray the fuse box with a water repellant and clean all the terminals.Water corroding the back of the fuse box can give all sorts of strange maladies on the fairways.

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Selling Imperial tools for old cars.

Sometimes replace the fuse box and move it up where the speaker was if its to far gone,but a fiddly job

Thanks guys - I appreciate your advice and have tried hard to sort things.

I tried cleaning the fuse box and replacing all the fuses to no avail, and generous with the wd40, but I guess I might need to make some of them a more snug fit and they do seem a bit loose. Will try this next.

Prior to getting my new front windscreen fixed and sealed up, there was a lot of water coming in onto the fusebox so I am guessing a few years of corrosion may be the problem. But then it all worked prior to the bulb change? hmm.

Still it does seem weird what is working and what isn't - according to the fuse diagram in the handbook (I don't have the full workshop manual but thinking of getting one and then distributing it for a much less rip-off price than some available) the 'interior lights & meter' is at C1 bottom left, next to 'hire sign & cig lighter' at C2 (hire sign stopped working, cig lighter still works) fog lamps c3 (stopped working) c4 Radios door mirrors (still working) and c6 (hazards still working) . Could it be that this bottom left corner is screwed where the water got in? Any other ideas on how to save it/clean it?

Is there no chance that up at the bulb end the circuit wires got burnt out or something, or would this not knock out the other features?

Thanks again.

Its all possible if its got water penetration in the fuse box.Did u not try fuses with a tester to see if you have power there ? Maybe ger yourself some fuses and go through them one by one and test with lamp.good luck