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Headlights acting paranormally??

Axl Rose

Axl Rose

New member
I just noticed a few days ago that one of my popup lights has gone out - ok..no big deal,just a matter of changing a bulb..WRONG..
After trying 2 new bulbs i figured that there must be a bad connection somewhere.For some reason i tried to switch between main and full beams berore digging in - well..if i switch to main beam the right popup is out..if i switch to full beam the left popup is out???

Has anyone experienced something like that?
 
Not seen it personally, but generally faults like this point to a bad earth somewhere - time to get the continuity tester out.
 
Once, yes.

A friend's golf's headlights had stopped working on main beam. Dip - fine. Main - not fine.

Checked fuse - fine. Checked switch - fine. Checked the wiring as much as I could - fine.

2 1/2 hours later, after much head-scratching, I listened to his son (aged 6) who suggested that maybe both bulbs had blown at the same time ... they had.

I felt a fool. And the kid was too small to hit.

(This may not have been much help to you, but relating mu stupidity in a public place makes me feel better!)
Oli.
 
Had something similar with mine several years ago and could not trace the problem initially. Turned out that the wiring had been chaffed through by the raising/lowering of the headlights. Would have been an easy fix with some insulting tape, only I had left it with a main dealer to sort £££££££ ouch.
 
Wot Garth said - [:)] Those wires often wear due to all the popping up and down over the years.

Try to arrange for them to fail spectacularly when Tony or Oli are around (they carry gas powered soldering irons, shrink wrap, wires etc as a matter of course [:D])
 
I actually doubt that the wires are worn - they both work..it's just that one of them works on dip and the other one on main beam..maybe it's the relay..(i've not checked yet if there is one for headlights but i sure will do as soon as the sun comes upa again..well..if it's not dark anyway..[:D])
 
I know the feeeling ! I cant figure out whats going on with mine either the left one either sticks on full beam or becomes as bright as a candle [:mad:] . In an earlier post a continuity meter was mentioned, apologies for my ignorance, but can someone let me know how this works so I can try to sort this out. Yours hopefully .
 
I'd go with the wires or the dual bulb blowing personally. Non-standard wiring can cause very odd things to happen and if one wire has fractured it's become non standard.
 
ORIGINAL: andymorris
In an earlier post a continuity meter was mentioned, apologies for my ignorance, but can someone let me know how this works so I can try to sort this out.
Click to expand...
Continuity Tester: Maplin sell a meter that will do this for you:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=-172&criteria=continuity%20tester&doy=3m2
Basically, it can check to see if there is a break in a circuit.
The way I do it is to set the meter to read Ohms / resistance, and put the black lead to a good earth on the car.
Next, put the red lead to the contacts where bulb would fit (with the headlights turned off). One of the contacts will give a reading to indicate an open circuit, the other will either read open circuit or a very low resistance of just a few ohms. If both readings give open circuit, then there is a break in the earth cable and it needs to be fixed.
If not, then switch the meter to volts, turn the headlights on, and repeat, one contact should give 12 volts or thereabouts, the other should give 0 volts. If both give 0 volts, then there is a break in the live wire to the bulb. Obviously, be very careful here as the fuses could easily blow.
This might not be the quickest or easiest way to find the fault, but it has always worked for me. The meter can also be used to check the bulb by setting it to Ohms / resistance and putting the leads to the contacts on the bulb.
Hope that helps.
 
Just had a look at the dodgy headlight and compared the wiring to the other side. There is an additional wire on the "dodgy" side that is connected to what I think is the live headlight wire with the other end connected to the body work (is that to earth it ?) I would guess somebody has had a play to get it too work.Any ideas or suggestions please.
 
ORIGINAL: Diver944

Wot Garth said - [:)] Those wires often wear due to all the popping up and down over the years.

Try to arrange for them to fail spectacularly when Tony or Oli are around (they carry gas powered soldering irons, shrink wrap, wires etc as a matter of course [:D])
Click to expand...

Actually I dont, it was just the hotel gave me the room at the far end of the coridoor and I had a lot of more expensive tools and test equipment with me. After the second trip the small tool box with the gas iron in it stayed in the car - luckily for LIL [:)]

Tony
 
I've sorted out the problem half way by now - both dips are working - that was a bad fuse connection..
Still the other half remains..only right side works on main beam..looks like it's time to bring out the big guns and test my electrical skills..
 
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