Problem with headlights

[JayDee144]

Hi there,

I'm new to the forum and own a 71 Volvo 144 de lux and was wondering if anyone could help me with a fault i've got on my headlights.

The problem is the high beam is stuck on! the flasher no longer makes any difference but you can still just select side lights.

I did change part of the steering column a couple of months ago so were working in that area but the lights worked fine for about a month afterwards.

Any help would be much appreciated as electrics aren't really my bag and the Volvo is my daily driver.

Cheers, James.

[john h]

It sounds as though the flasher relay is stuck, or failed, or a wire has come off.

Not sure where it is located on a '71, but your workshop manual or someone on here will hopefully assist.

John

[Mike B]

Originally Posted by john h

It sounds as though the flasher relay is stuck, or failed, or a wire has come off.

Not sure where it is located on a '71, but your workshop manual or someone on here will hopefully assist.

John

Yep sounds like the relay . When you find it , carefully remove the cover and you will see the contacts , part them then pass some med wet and dry through them . I did this years ago and the worked for yonks.
Regards
Mike B

[JayDee144]

Thanks for the advice,

I had a look at the haynes manual but it doesn't say which of the relays is for the headlights (on my car the relays are mounted inside the passenger wing) if it still does look like the relays i could just do that thing with the wet and dry on all of them.

I did have a look at it yesterday though and something interesting happened, i removed the wire that goes into the flasher unit on the steering column (the wire that goes into the contact that touches when you flash the lights) and i accidentally touched the wire onto another while i had the lights switched on and it flicked back to low beam so i touched the wires again and it went back to high beam. so at least now i can drive the car at night without blinding any one!

Does this mean the relay is ok? also does that mean the actual flasher stalk could be at fault as the metal contacts inside the stalk are visibly touching when you pull the flasher back?

Sorry for all the Qs, i'm sure the answer is looking me in the face but just cant see it at the moment!

Cheers, James

[Mike B]

Originally Posted by JayDee144

Thanks for the advice,

I had a look at the haynes manual but it doesn't say which of the relays is for the headlights (on my car the relays are mounted inside the passenger wing) if it still does look like the relays i could just do that thing with the wet and dry on all of them.

I did have a look at it yesterday though and something interesting happened, i removed the wire that goes into the flasher unit on the steering column (the wire that goes into the contact that touches when you flash the lights) and i accidentally touched the wire onto another while i had the lights switched on and it flicked back to low beam so i touched the wires again and it went back to high beam. so at least now i can drive the car at night without blinding any one!

Does this mean the relay is ok? also does that mean the actual flasher stalk could be at fault as the metal contacts inside the stalk are visibly touching when you pull the flasher back?

Sorry for all the Qs, i'm sure the answer is looking me in the face but just cant see it at the moment!

Cheers, James

Yep the relay is OK or it would work , you probably have a loose wire around the column .
Rwgards
Mike B

[JayDee144]

Cheers for the reply,

Will have another look on the weekend with a volt meter and hopfully get to the bottom of it!

[john h]

If there is no obvious fault, try fitting a good used switch

John

[Volvorama]

Before anything else take the shroud off the steering column and check that the flasher function on the switch stalk is working. I believe it works by simply earthing the relay (black wire?).

[JayDee144]

Thought I had replied to this, but yes I turned out that the earth wire had sheared off so made a new one and all sorted!

Thanks for all the replies and advice,

Cheers, James.