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Headlight gremlins

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Old Apr 13th, 2019, 20:41   #1
colinstubbs
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Default Headlight gremlins

With the car running the lights function normal either on daylight dim or dipped beam but if i select main beam the drivers side dipped and side light go out and the indicator comes on faintly with NO main beam.

Im guessing there's a short to earth or something but whats the best/quickest way to problem solve the issue?

The bulb failure light has been on for months but then i noticed it was off again, but I don't know how recently!! Might not be connected? I just tried popping the relay out in the failing light but it seemed stuck fast - better attempt booked for later tomorrow as I intend to do the by-pass jump wiring thing, which might help although I'm not holding my breath!!

Also if I have the dipped beam on with fog lights and then select main beam the engine cuts out.....

I'm planning on whipping out the headlight switch for a contact clean too as the lights sometimes stay on when the ignition is turned off, probably need to do the contacts in the ignition switch too eh?!
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Old Apr 13th, 2019, 21:15   #2
Stephen Edwin
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Originally Posted by colinstubbs View Post
With the car running the lights function normal either on daylight dim or dipped beam but if i select main beam the drivers side dipped and side light go out and the indicator comes on faintly with NO main beam.

Im guessing there's a short to earth or something but whats the best/quickest way to problem solve the issue?

The bulb failure light has been on for months but then i noticed it was off again, but I don't know how recently!! Might not be connected? I just tried popping the relay out in the failing light but it seemed stuck fast - better attempt booked for later tomorrow as I intend to do the by-pass jump wiring thing, which might help although I'm not holding my breath!!

Also if I have the dipped beam on with fog lights and then select main beam the engine cuts out.....

I'm planning on whipping out the headlight switch for a contact clean too as the lights sometimes stay on when the ignition is turned off, probably need to do the contacts in the ignition switch too eh?!


That does sound very much like a short to earth.

And anyway. Also check and clean up all front light earth connections?

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Old Apr 13th, 2019, 22:15   #3
colinstubbs
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That does sound very much like a short to earth.
Also check and clean up all front light earth connections?

Busy tomorrow...
headlamp issue.jpg
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Old Apr 14th, 2019, 01:32   #4
Laird Scooby
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Busy tomorrow...
Attachment 119656
You've found the most likely answer.

It won't be a short to earth, it will be a bad or corroded earth so will need cleaning.

While you're cleaning the earths, clean all you can find including battery to body, battery to starter, alternator to engine (it's usually a short link wire and the ends get dirty/break off and all kinds of other things), don't ignore an earth in the cleaning process just because it doesn't seem relevant to the immediate problem, the others won't be far behind this one!

Using some silicone grease on the earth connections after cleaning will help prevent recurrence, sometimes also called battery grease or dielectric grease. Failing that Vaseline is a passable substitute but has drawbacks if it gets hot.
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Old Apr 16th, 2019, 09:57   #5
colinstubbs
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The earth was indeed the culprit. I also stripped and cleaned the headlamp and ignition switches.
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