Code
B16A1
MITSUBISHI
B — Body
Tail lamp(LH) circuit open
Views:
UK: 5
EN: 9
RU: 5
AI status
Completed
Completed
100%
Causes
- Burned-out tail lamp bulb/filament
- Corroded or loose bulb socket/connector
- Open or damaged wiring/harness (cut, chafed, disconnected)
- Blown fuse or fusible link in lighting circuit
- Faulty BCM or lamp driver output
- Poor/loose ground connection
Symptoms
- Left tail/parking lamp inoperative (non-illuminated)
- Tail lights illuminate only on the right side (asymmetric)
- Possible dashboard lamp-out indicator or warning message
- Reduced rear vehicle visibility at night
- No change when switching light controls for tail/parking lights
What to check
- Visually inspect left rear lamp assembly, bulb, and socket for damage or corrosion
- Check tail lamp fuse(s) and related fusible links
- Swap bulb with the right side known-good bulb to verify bulb vs wiring
- Turn lights ON and measure voltage at bulb socket (between positive terminal and ground)
- Check continuity from bulb socket to fuse/BCM with connector(s) disconnected (expect low ohms)
- Inspect wiring harness along chassis for chafing, pinch points, or disconnected plugs
Signal parameters
- Expected socket voltage with lights ON: ~11–13 V (battery voltage minus small drop)
- Expected socket voltage with lights OFF: ~0 V (or near 0)
- Bulb filament continuity: low resistance (typically a few ohms); open = infinite resistance
- Continuity from socket positive to fused power source: near 0 ohms (allow a few ohms for connectors/wiring)
- Ground continuity from socket ground to chassis: < 1–2 ohms
Diagnostic algorithm
- Reproduce fault and confirm left tail lamp does not illuminate with parking/headlamps ON.
- Visually inspect left lamp assembly, lens, socket and wiring for damage or corrosion.
- Check related fuses; replace if blown and re-test. If fuse blows again, stop and investigate short.
- Remove bulb and test bulb continuity with a multimeter; or swap with right-side bulb. If bulb is defective, replace and re-test.
- With lights ON, measure voltage at bulb socket positive terminal to chassis ground. If ~12 V present, suspect bulb/socket or ground. If ~0 V, continue tracing supply side.
- If no supply voltage, check continuity from socket positive to fuse and to BCM output. Repair any open circuits (broken wire, bad connector).
- Check ground continuity between socket ground and chassis. Repair corroded or loose ground connections.
- Inspect intermediate connectors and wiring runs (behind bumper/fender) for open circuits; repair damaged wiring with proper crimp or solder and heat-shrink, secure routing.
- If wiring and bulb are good but BCM output shows open or no drive, verify BCM grounds/power and re-scan. Consider BCM replacement only after confirming open circuit is not caused by wiring/connectors.
- Clear DTC and test drive; confirm code does not return and lamp functions normally.
Likely causes
- Failed/weak bulb filament
- Corrosion or broken pin at the lamp connector preventing continuity
- Wiring harness abrasion/cut near lamp or behind bumper
- Blown fuse supplying the tail lamp circuit
- Connector pushed out or pin backed out at intermediate connector
- BCM lamp driver failure (less common)
Fault status
Status
Tail lamp (LH) circuit open — open circuit detected in left tail/parking lamp circuit. Left tail lamp may not illuminate.
Repair difficulty: Medium
Diagnostic time: 0.5-2.0 hours
Similar codes
Your experience will help others
+100 karma for a short comment :)
Was this AI description helpful?
Your feedback helps improve AI descriptions.
👍 Like
0
👎 Dislike
0
Send to email