wtf is going on with my tail lights v. help

[Grid_Lock]

So someone told me that one of my break lights was out, so i just went out and checked it. it was a lot worse than that. heres whats going on
the lights have 3 sections, right?
bulb on top (running lights?)
bulb in middle (break lights?)
bulb on bottom (reverse lights.)

when lights are on:
left side: bulb on top is glowing red
right side: bulb on top is glowing red

when breaks are on:
left side: bulb on top goes out, middle bulb is very dimly lit, reverse light is dimly lit
right side: bulb on top gets mildly brighter, bulb in middle is still out, reverse light is dimly lit

when in reverse:
left side: running light is on
right side: running light is on, reverse light is on - and VERY bright

WTF is going on with my rover?!??!

blinkers are both bumper fixtures, as are the rear fog lights.

[Baldrick]

Sounds like it may be an earth problem. or at least part of the problem. if the earth to the chassis is lifted or high resistance the current will backfeed through the earth on other globes on the same light fitting or circuit. instead of dropping 12 volts across one filament, the voltage goes across 2 globes thereby dropping 6v across each (Hence the dim glow on each globe. i would recommend checking the earths first and see what problems are left after that. it may fix them all or show different symptoms which will make it easier to find. on the other hand it might do nothing at all. Electrons have a habit of doing strange things sometimes, even to the point of appearing to defy Ohms Law.

Cheers

[Grid_Lock]

Originally Posted by Baldrick

Sounds like it may be an earth problem. or at least part of the problem. if the earth to the chassis is lifted or high resistance the current will backfeed through the earth on other globes on the same light fitting or circuit. instead of dropping 12 volts across one filament, the voltage goes across 2 globes thereby dropping 6v across each (Hence the dim glow on each globe. i would recommend checking the earths first and see what problems are left after that. it may fix them all or show different symptoms which will make it easier to find. on the other hand it might do nothing at all. Electrons have a habit of doing strange things sometimes, even to the point of appearing to defy Ohms Law.

Cheers

Alright. Thanks for the advice. I'll see what i can find.

[auwesman]

What year is your Rover? My '00 has two on the top for when the lights are on. Sometimes if one light burns out others "kick in" to compensate so you could have a bulb here and there out.