1998 Grand Vitara Tail Lights - Faulty?

[BMC]

Hi there,

I'm new to this forum and 4X4's. I have recently purchased a 1998 Grand Vitara and will add a few details in the "new forum member section" shortly.

I'm really enjoying the GV - but are a little bit confused by the rear light setup.

Is it correct to say the nice big flash red tail lights do no more than serve as a reverse light in the dark. My rear lights do not light up at night at all - (GV was given WOF with them like this)

The lower rear bumper lights do it all! - brake light, tail light and indicator light. Is this correct?

I did read on a UK forum the AUS/NZ GV's tail lights do not opperate due to WOF compliance and something to do with light reflection - not sure if this was correct as it was a UK site. But some guy made some device to hook them up and get them running in tandem with the bumper lights........

Anyway... Link to picture below so you can know what I'm on about (not my vitara in pic)

Cheers,

Blair

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/4033/grandvitra.jpg

[Jerry]

Is it correct to say the nice big flash red tail lights do no more than serve as a reverse light in the dark. My rear lights do not light up at night at all - (GV was given WOF with them like this)

The lower rear bumper lights do it all! - brake light, tail light and indicator light. Is this correct?

Yep thats how my 2000 Diesel one was.... my one had a rear fog light at the top right ... presumably as a lot of the diesels were uk spec

[meatc]

Import GU Patrols are the same and they dont even have the loom to connect the lights that sit in the gaurd. Mate tried

The reason........ some antiquated rule that says that tail/indicator/main stop lights can not be more than 1500mm (or 1200 ) from the ground on a passenger vehicle. Yet you have to have a high stop light cause they are easier to see higher up.

[Rotazuk]

Meatc is right.When looking for my GV one that was being sold had had the lights re instated in the body with factory parts ordered from suzuki ( he requested it when brought new ) . He still got a wof . Guess as he still had lights down in the bumper too .

Cheers
Chris

[lneil]

Yep. Brand new generation 1 & 2 Grand Vitara models didn't actually have the light fittings inside the body-mounted rear lens covers, the bumper-mounted lights do it all.

I got dozens of customer complaints after they bought their G/Vs and thought the lights had failed!