Luckily it was dry, and 16degrees, and I also had two other brake lights working.
I know that some may consider me as a bit of a dinosaur, who learnt to drive before they invented electric indicators. Lucky I remember how to use arm signals as indicators and brake warnings. Reaching a garage safely, I got a replacement bulb. Even more luckily, I had a suitable screwdriver in the car. Having replaced the bulb, I found that the brake light was still not working, nor was the indicator , nor was the reversing light. Hmmm....
A trip to the Ford garage resulted in my car being squeezed into a fully-booked workshop, to find out what the problem is.
When I bought the car, Bristol Street Ford very kindly agreed to wire my illuminated roofbox into the lighting cables at the back of the car, as an "off the record" favour. Unfortunately, ever since then, rainwater has been dripping along the cable, down into the wiring plug in the rear lighting assembly, corroding the plugs and bulb connections. When I replaced the bulb, I disturbed the
corrosion and it no longer works. The car will need a new bulb holder, and complete wiring plug. The roofbox wiring also needs to be "adapted" so that the water cannot drip into the lighting again.
Hopefully the parts will be delivered to Bristol Street Ford in Cheltenham first thing tomorrow, and the work carried out immediately.
Hopefully today's and tomorrow morning's clients can move their lessons to later on in the weekend, so as not to slow the progress they are making.
Despite the fact that the roofbox wiring is not
covered by Ford's warranty, Ford are replacing the bulb assembly, the wiring connection plug, and the roofbox wiring under the Ford warranty. It will be done as soon as the parts arrive tomorrow (hopefully).
Many thanks to the Service Team at Ford in Cheltenham for fantastic and prompt support, and to my clients who are able to change their plans to fit in with this problem.
http://www.bristolstreet.co.uk/find-a-dealer/ford-cheltenham/ford-fiesta-in-cheltenham/