Electrics: S40 Dodgy Headlight

[caprirob]

Originally Posted by ciaranr

Mine lasted 150,000 miles and 9 years, I really don't think it's worth bodging something up to potentially get a few more years out of it, while potentially causing another problem elsewhere!

CEM change to me is quite an extreme solution, if you have any chance of getting someone to have a go changing the relays first. I guess a good computer/mobile repair shop could do it.

Totally agree - if there is no evidence of previous bodgery and you can live without your dipped beams for a few days this is absolutely the way to go.

My point is if someone has tried to bodge it in the past as in my case by bridging one light to the other the CEM will almost certainly be fried and buying relays, waiting for them in the post and then the mega fiddly task of getting the old ones out without damaging the board ( there are 5 pins, very small, awkwards to get at - you WILL burn your fingers at some point ) and then putting the new ones in will be pointless - in my case all putting new relays in did was switch the dipped beams on permanently whether the headlamp switch was on or key in ignition. The only way to turn the dipped beams off then was to unplug that part of the loom from the CEM


Maybe headlight issues / CEM repair should be in the tech articles section as it is so common ?

[mikelan]

if one of the lights isn't coming on, whack the underside of the dash (under the steering wheel) as this is where the CEM is.
If the light comes on then you know it's the relay and not the bulb/connectors. Works for me every time, but I'm too lazy to solder out the relay until I absolutely have to.

[ciaranr]

Originally Posted by caprirob

My point is if someone has tried to bodge it in the past as in my case by bridging one light to the other the CEM will almost certainly be fried

Yeah, that's a very good point Caprirob, agree 100%