Holden VN Electrical Manual??

[anarklov3r]

Hey guys, just wondering if anybody out there has a Holden VN/VP/VR/VS electrical manual of some sort...

My problem is that the rear light does not work when the tail gate is opened. All the fuses are OK, brand new globe that works, it just doesnt work.. I cant see a switch of any kind (like on the front doors) that detects if the door is opened or not in order to turn on the light.. So im confused on how this is meant to work.. also turning on the interior lights does not activate it... If i cant figure it out, im so tempted to just join it with my main interior light so they both turn on!

[Morton]

From memory, when the boot opens, something down one of the boot arms rests against a switch, turning on the boot light. Follow the wires around, and see if they lead you anywhere Get right in there with a torch and have a good geeze ^^

[anarklov3r]

Thats the thing, since is a Wagon, all the wires are in the roof... Which would mean i have to take off the roof trim! I took off a section and had a peek, but wires actually go INTO the roof.. not just under the trim. Id like to leave ripping apart the roof trim until i know where wires go, how far i need to go etc.

Also, there is no switch around the tailgate. thats the thing.. only thing i can think of is that when the tailgate is opened, something inside the door flicks (as the catch is now open on the lock...)

[Cheap6]

I think that the tailgate switch on wagons is a mercury switch - a silver metal tube about 25mm long by 6mm dia. wired to the earth side of the light.

That the light doesn't work with the main interior light suggests to me that the problem lies elswhere though. I'll have a look at a wiring diagram tonight and post back.

[anarklov3r]

Thanks for that it would be a huge help if you could have a look What wiring diagram do you have? Theres a few other bits and pieces that i want to have to have a look at, but i havent been able to find a good electrical manual!

[88GreenVN]

I have the electrical diagrams in the book at home - I can grab it and scan the page for you tomorrow.

[anarklov3r]

Awsome thanks guys! Btw whats this book called? i might see if i can get myself a copy

[88GreenVN]

Awsome thanks guys! Btw whats this book called? i might see if i can get myself a copy

Looks like this one (V8 engine) but may be No 7 from memory

Try Compupost (I think thats it) on the net - better still try a google search.

[anarklov3r]

Oh cool. I think i may have to get a VN one and a VP one possibably.. seeing as my engine and transmission is from a VP and the rest is a VN Vacationer

[SweetWagon]

I think that the tailgate switch on wagons is a mercury switch - a silver metal tube about 25mm long by 6mm dia. wired to the earth side of the light.

That the light doesn't work with the main interior light suggests to me that the problem lies elswhere though. I'll have a look at a wiring diagram tonight and post back.

I think your right about the mercury switch, I just had a look at my Gregories but it has me confused as it appears the tailgate lamp works independant of the main lamp, yet i know both the lamps light up when I open my tailgate or door.

anarklov3r; So are you saying the main lamp still lights up when the tailgate is opened? Try running a test lamp across the terminals to eliminate a faulty globe.

[anarklov3r]

The main lamp works when doors are opened. The main lamp does not work when tail gate is opened ( i dont expect it to.)

My problem is, that i can not get the rear lamp working at all, be it with the tail gate opened, or the interior light switch enabled. The globe is fine, as i tested it in the main lamp and it lights up wonderfully. Im guessing either the trigger mechanism that detects the tail gate is opened is shot, or the wiring is screwed up somewhere, but i have no idea where it leads and how. Thats why i want a wiring diagram

[SweetWagon]

The main lamp works when doors are opened. The main lamp does not work when tail gate is opened ( i dont expect it to.)

My problem is, that i can not get the rear lamp working at all, be it with the tail gate opened, or the interior light switch enabled. The globe is fine, as i tested it in the main lamp and it lights up wonderfully. Im guessing either the trigger mechanism that detects the tail gate is opened is shot, or the wiring is screwed up somewhere, but i have no idea where it leads and how. Thats why i want a wiring diagram

I put my money on the mercury switch inside the tailgate. remove the trim and have a look the main lamp is suppossed to work when the tailgate is opened too, so the switch is not triggering at all.

[anarklov3r]

Ive just opened up the tail gate trim and I cant find any switch of any kind? Only thing i found that looked sus was a metal cylinder with another black plastic cylinder inside, connected to a wire, which was cut. But the metal piece did nothing.

Does anybody have an image of what these "mercury switches" look like?

[88GreenVN]

Ive just opened up the tail gate trim and I cant find any switch of any kind? Only thing i found that looked sus was a metal cylinder with another black plastic cylinder inside, connected to a wire, which was cut. But the metal piece did nothing.

Does anybody have an image of what these "mercury switches" look like?

Here is where the switch is located. I'd say connect the wire and see what happends.

[anarklov3r]

Ok, this is the little metal thingy i was talking about that does nothing, it doesnt move around, its just a metal stick with a connector and a disconnected wire. i tried connecting the wire it still does nothing. the lamp doesnt go on.. i think i might need a new one?

[88GreenVN]

Ok, this is the little metal thingy i was talking about that does nothing, it doesnt move around, its just a metal stick with a connector and a disconnected wire. i tried connecting the wire it still does nothing. the lamp doesnt go on.. i think i might need a new one?

Odd that it's been cut - why not just unplug it if it was giving problems - like blowing fuses.

[anarklov3r]

Yer ill never understand it.. a few other things were "cleanly cut", like the power mirrors.
I fixed the problem though! I shook it around a whole heap because i couldn't hear anything happening inside, then i re connected it and taped it up, and VOILA! it works!

the rear light still doesnt light up with interior light switch, but that's not a problem

[Cheap6]

The metal and plastic bit in the images in post #15 is the mercury switch. It may have been disconnected for a reason, like maybe it stays on and flattens the battery, so it's probably good to look for that for a few days until you can be sure that it works OK.

The rear light is separate to the main one (but on the same fuse). I was wrong about that.

The mercury switch provides the earth for the light switch. It needs to make good contact with the car body through the bolt that holds it on, so if it wasn't, removing and reinstalling it a couple of times may have fixed that.

Another common fault with wiring that passes between a door or tailgate is that the wires break inside the insulation and provide intermittent contact. Just opening and closing the tailgate can make or break the connection. If it stops working again, that would be something to look for.

The wiring path for the tailgate light, starting at the 'end gate harness connector', is:

orange/black into 'EGHC', orange out, up to tailgate light via tailgate, then into the pass through grommet/conduit into cavity between roof lining and roof, out with the white/black wire back through the pass through grommet then down to the mercury switch.