Headlight disco

[aerosam99]

Hi guys,

2 days ago the LX decided to throw yet another curve ball. Parked up with the headlights on, switched engine off, then the headlights. When i come back, headlights won't come on. Dipped beam (switch position 1) works fine, but when i switch to main beam (position 2 - fully left) the lights just go out. I tried changing the headlight relay to no avail. The switch appears to be ok, as high beam still works correctly.

I need to sort this asap as I was late for work this morning as i had to wait till it was light enough to drive safely with only sidelights on.

Help?

Cheers in advance guys.

[Maria]

It could well be the switch. I'd guess yours is a Mk2 dash, which I haven't fiddled with much, but my VP tried a similar trick once. If you had sidelights on, they were fine, but the interior was dark. On dipped beam, there were no headlights, but the dashboard lit up. I had to dismantle the switch, give it a clean up and bend some of the contacts back into place.

[SimonR]

There's not a separate fuse for main beam is there?

[E_T_V]

If it is the earlier dash with the switch on the colum then it is almost certainly the switch. They are a know weak spot as they tend to overheat and melt.

If it is a Mk2 or 3 dash then try the dim dip relay aswell as the headlamp relay (I think there are two). If not it may well be the stalk switch, I think these have a tendancy for the wires to become unsoldered. It might be worth doing a forum search as there was someone with a similar problem I'm sure.

[aerosam99]

Have tried searching but couldn't find anything relevant. It's a G reg with the headlight switch in the left stalk.

The dim dip relay is a large pink lucas item, can these still be bought new?

I'll try this next as i don't fancy taking the stalk to bits, i usually break plastic things like that.

Thanks

[F690OTF(RIP)]

Take the left-hand cowling off the steering column and see if there are any wires coming out of the stalk which have become disconnected from their terminals on the steering column.

As Dan says, this has been the cause of several problems in the past (relating to both lights and wipers), and I know I've posted a more detailed explanation at least once before.

Hope this helps.

[www.triple-m.co.uk]

get a new switch from a scrapper £5 problem sorted!

[skipweasel]

The switch appears to be ok, as high beam still works correctly.But I can bet you it ain't.
As someone else said - they melt inside - the sliding contacts which swap between dip/main melt. If you're not averse to plastic surgery you can fix 'em, but it's fiddly. I did mine last week.
Also check the three wires that come from the arm and are soldered onto tags on the switch body - they sometimes break.

[aerosam99]

ok, the soldered connections are all ok, and the switch seems fine too.

I pulled the dim dip unit out to take away to try and find a replacement, which i couldn't. (The only one i could find was £15 from Lucas with a 2 week wait - screw that) Anyway, i put the dim dip unit back in and now it all works perfectly again! But for how long?

I don't know what's going on.

[e692wtt]

OK... if you've taken electrical connections apart and remade them (eg, you removed and later refitted the column stalk for the lights/indicators), but done nothing else at all , and the thing then works ok, then you've found the problem ;) . Dodgy connection, either to the wiring to the left hand column stalk or to the dim-dip unit (do you mean the relay??? or the resistor itself, located behind the nearside headlamp?).

If it happens again, then break and remake just one electrical connection at a time, so as to ascertain where the 'dodgy' connection is... and when I say 'dodgy' I mean that it's been together for 10 or 15 years and has a tiny bit of corrosion on one of the pins, that's all. Nothing serious, just the effects of time. All old cars do it Sir! :) Remaking the connection is all that is required in the medium term here.


Main thing is - like working on an engine that won't work properly, just 'do' one thing at a time or you'll never know what the original fault was ;) .

Glad it's sorted anyway.

[BIGLAD]

ok, the soldered connections are all ok, and the switch seems fine too.

I pulled the dim dip unit out to take away to try and find a replacement, which i couldn't. (The only one i could find was £15 from Lucas with a 2 week wait - screw that) Anyway, i put the dim dip unit back in and now it all works perfectly again! But for how long?

I don't know what's going on.

Is it the Pinky colured relay you need?- I cant remember the part number ath the moment (but i think it starts with YWC ......).
If so i have a spare one/two, so if it plays up again let me know and you can have one for the cost of the postage.
:)

[aerosam99]

Fixed, finally!

Had the switch apart and cleaned up the connections, no joy, tried a new headlamp relay, no joy. Finally gave up and bought a dim dip relay from Rover today (20 quid i might add!) and they finally work again.

thanks guys!

[polly1]

HI ,i know its a long shot but you do you have a spare pink relay still as im after one for my maestro van dip/dimmer relay.thanks tony

[Russ]

Quite often if its the dim-dip relay at fault its a short which damages the PCB in the relay, take the cover off then resolder (sometimes with abit off wire ) the broken PCB and it should work

[BIGLAD]

HI ,i know its a long shot but you do you have a spare pink relay still as im after one for my maestro van dip/dimmer relay.thanks tony

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