Headlights not going down properly

[poprock]

Here's a strange one: I had the headlights on yesterday and when I switched 'em off again they wouldn't pop down properly. The headlights lowered, then popped back up, then down, then up "¦ you get the idea.

They eventually shut down properly, but only after quite a few attempts.

Does anyone have a clue what could have caused that? Bad connection somewhere? Relay in need of replacement?

 

[zcacogp]

Probably a bad connection somewhere. Possibly in a relay.

I'm sure you are already on the case, but it's worth looking into sooner or later. Bad connections don't tend to get better of their own accord, and a repeatedly blinking 944 would look daft. And probably flatten the battery fairly quickly if left for any period of time. (And may injure any small children standing nearby. Although that could be a good thing, depending upon your point of view.)


Oli.

 

[poprock]

That's actually why I'm worried about the problem. I'm concerned that children may be attracted to the "˜happy blinking car' and would rather keep them away.

I'll start by checking the relay, since I have a set of replacements on hand. If that doesn't help I suppose I'll need to go purchase a multimeter.

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: poprock
I'll need to go purchase a multimeter.

THE most-used tool in my toolkit. How people do pretty much any electrical fault-finding without one is beyond me ...

Only cost a fiver or so for a cheap one. And worth every single penny.


Oli.

 

[edh]

Also check the mechanism isn't catching anywhere (and be careful of your fingers [] ) -maybe disconnect the battery first...

I had a similar problem on the 924 where one of the water hoses was jamming the lights mechanism.

 

[Northern924]

+1 on that I had a trig stuck under one of them once, drove me mad for nearly half an hour!

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: Northern924

+1 on that I had a trig stuck under one of them once, drove me mad for nearly half an hour!

Hmmm. I remember struggling for hours when I was stuck with trig problems at school. And I was meant to be good at maths too!


Oli.

 

[poprock]

A quick check in the garage seems to show bugger all wrong with them. Hopefully it was a freak occurance, maybe caused by debris (I was out on a hoon at the time). I'll replace the relay anyway out of paranoia.

 

[peanut]

+1 with disconnecting the battery before shoving your hands down there.

I would remove and clean the earthing point and connectors. I believe they are down the front passenger H/lamp well with the horn and lighting ground points.

 

[xenon]

It's a dirty position wheel on the motor - a simple contacting strip that keeps the motor moving until the lights reach one or other of their positions. A bit fiddly but easy enough with some contact cleaner.

I wouldn't faf around disconnecting the battery, the motor is separately fused so just pull that.

 

[zcacogp]

ORIGINAL: xenon
I wouldn't faf around disconnecting the battery, the motor is separately fused so just pull that.

Indeed. Fuse 2. Always worth pulling it if doing anything on or behind the headlight pods.


Oli.