Help!! May have drilled into tailgate loom VW Caddy Maxi Lifee

[Jeff007]

So living in Melbourne lockdown I received my Van-X Tailgate curtains today (5 days from UK - amazing) and fitted them as specified.

All OK (drove the car to the shops).

Returned to fit the last two end rail stops on the top runner with 12mm screws.

then when I started the Caddy up again, I get a 'check your licence plate lights warning', with the associated warning light on the dash.

Sure enough licence plate lights are not working.

Agh. Face palm.

Anyone know how I can check for damage, besides taking it to an auto electrician.

I tried unattaching the battery as per a suggestion elsewhere but still not working.

Thanks for any advice in advance.

Jeff

[Doc]

Definitely sounds like you've drilled through a wire.
You'll need to pull the loom up to the hinge and get a look at it. That's not a simple task. It will need everything disconnected and all the mounting points freeing up. That should allow you to pull a foot or two up to the top to inspect for damage.

[Jeff007]

Thanks Doc.

You certainly don’t make it sound like an easy job!

I’ve got plenty of time on my hands in lockdown and I reckon I get everything disconnected. Not sure about the mounting points tho.

I noticed someone else did a similar thing. I’ve posted on his thread to see how he resolved it.

Don’t want to go to an auto electrician if I can help it.


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[BB13]

Can either pull it up as Doc said, or if you have a tester with the test function of testing continuity and some wiring diagrams to work out what pins are what you can test end to end to see if there’s a break in the cables that way too.

[Sydcad]

agree with ^^^ this guy. First thing to check is continuity using a multimeter set to continuity range.
Start with a simple process of elimination.
check the lamp, maybe it just chose that time to blow just to mess with ya.
check the associated fuse
insert test probes into fuse holder contacts to check for a short. If it's open circuit, it confirms a break in the wiring.

[Jeff007]

Thanks guys.
Great advice. Will go thru those processes.

Did think/hope it might be a unkind coincidence


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[Jeff007]

Got my lights fixed. The trunk light began playing up
too. Staying on when driving.

Took it to an auto electrician who ran a separate wire and fixed it the trunk light started working properly again.

The offending side was the left end cap screw when looking at the tailgate from outside.

Cost $220 AUD

I screwed in the rivets for holding the curtains closed but fashioned a plastic limiter on the drill so I only just pierced the tailgate metal. Then I screwed in by hand so limit the force going into any potential skewering of loom.

Job done.


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