Jimny tail lights not working

some (new) cars got a small switch inside the trailer socket that switch off the lights when the trailer lights are supposed to do the job. Haven't seen this on a jimny though. when there is a adapter from 7 to 13 pin connection in the socket the lights might be disabled.
(not sure if you got the two types of trailer sockets in UK)
Had to fix a switch like this on a VW Amarok once..

Anyways on my car the trailer wiring loom is plug and play into the original sockets inside the car out of the weather.

This has just happened to my 2008 too.

When I put the lights on, the 2 small tail lights in the bumper work, the brake light at the top of the rear window works but the tail lights themselves are not. 

When I bought the car I remember the guy saying one of the rear number plate lights wasn't working but it's not a bulb issue.

I'm guessing this is not an easy fix for a muppet?

if you have tail lights (park) in the bumper, the rear lights higher up will have the reverse lights(?) and no park/tail. maybe the rear fog lamp is up there too.

Depending on market and year model this varies. Here in Norway there was a change in 2004/2005 and we tend to follow EU-rules.

From memory my 2005 got the park/tail/brake and reverse upstairs, Blinkers and fog downstairs.

Yeah I just took it to the garage and the mechanic advised that the higher up lights don't actually come on. They're just for brake, reverse and fog.

What a wally. So this is what it feels like to be a woman.

God knows why 3 cars flashed me from behind the other night. Fog light definitely wasn't on and my driving isn't that bad   

Much of that upper light cluster is just for show.  Fashions must have changed, since the gen4 only has bumper light clusters.

It was never about fashion, but about what the law requires, different countries have different laws, some have a "minimum height" requirement which means the "bumper light clusters" are not always acceptable, some have a requirement that turn signals must be visible from all angles which presents a problem when a vehicle has a tail gate mounted spare which the Jimny does, which means the "upper cluster" is not always acceptable.

Yes here it was the spare. But then EU or someone decided it was OK. Or the aspect angle changed or who knows..

With the Jimny it was also to do with the lights being visible with the tailgate open. The door covers the pillar lights on one side when the door is open

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