Headlights Gone

[Marty Dolomite]

Originally Posted by Daim

Have you tried the fuses? I know it sounds too easy, but tried them? Iirc there were two fuses: 1x low 1x high

If you have not yet solved the fault i secound the fuse comment, cheaper fuses will not blow out but instead can partily melt so they still look okay and will check okay on a meter but will not allow the voltage through.

[RealEstate]

Yes I've tried swapping the fuses around to no effect, but maybe I should try some new ones.

I've cleaned the earths near the headlights.

Also cleaned all the fuses & sockets.

Also cleaned some of the relays and their sockets, but couldn't shift the circular bulb failure relay.

Any help appreciated.

[Steve940estate]

The fact you can't get the faliure relay out is a bit suspicious. Can you see from underneath what state the wiring terminals are in ?

I wonder if the bulb faliure feature can be done away with. Like a lot of things it's useful but just complicates the wiring.

[RealEstate]

Originally Posted by Steve940estate

The fact you can't get the faliure relay out is a bit suspicious. Can you see from underneath what state the wiring terminals are in ?

I wonder if the bulb faliure feature can be done away with. Like a lot of things it's useful but just complicates the wiring.

+1 to both!

The bulb failure relay is hard to get at, unless I remove the radio or pull the whole fuse board into the cabin, something I don't enjoy doing.

Are we sure that the bulb failure relay could cause the low beams (or indeed the high beams) not to work?

[Steve940estate]

I can't help any more really. Unless someone has any better ideas the only way you will sort it out is to trace where the problem is. If you can rule out individual components it must be a broken wire of bad connection somewhere. I think it must be before the fuse box as it affects both lights. If it isn't the light switch itself then go looking at the relays and connections on the fuse box.

[RealEstate]

Originally Posted by Steve940estate

Should you have dimmed dipped headlamps with the ignition on ? My UK spec car has an ignition controlled relay which is situated above the ECU. Not sure if LHD cars are the same (assuming yours is), it might be the other side.
If there is a fault with the relay it could cause a problem. Disconnecting it will mean the headlamps only come on using the switch.

Steve,

Can you confirm that your car is a '91 GLE? If so it's the same as mine!

Is this relay^ (for the day time running lights?) under the driver's side kickpanel, or by the steering column, ie above which ECU?

Thanks for your help

[Steve940estate]

My car is a 94, I think the wiring was the same until 95.

The relay is fitted on the a panel (same as the Injection ecu ) but higher up above the bonnet release lever.

Someone took a good picture of it and put it on here, worth searching.

[RealEstate]

Took my car to Castle (Castell) Garage Harlech, where Aled Griffiths found the problem in minutes - yes it was the infamous Bulb Failure Relay!

But not the relay itself, it was significant burning of the sockets under the 'fuse' box into which the relay fits. Mr Griffiths repaired my fuse box making new sockets. Whilst he was in there, he cleaned and greased every socket and pin for all the others relays, ie a complete service of the fuse box - that's service!

Mr Griffiths loves tracking down those nasty electrical problems, not just on Volvos but other makes too. The man is a wizard!!

The moral of this story - don't let your car sit around unused in the winter damp. Do service your fuse box every winter, cleaning and greasing all those pins.