View Full Version : No dipped beam
Basically, switch sidelights on, they come on. Switch dipped beam on, nothing happens. Switch main beam on, they look quiet dim, possibly dipped?
It's only recently happened, worked fine until about a week ago.
Tried several different bulbs.
Honestly not checked as i though all the lights would be under the same fuse?
fastcar1cars
21-11-10, 07:11 PM
stalk?
General Baxter
21-11-10, 07:11 PM
mk1 or mk2?
stalk?
Its on the dash control knob thing.
no won't all be on the same fuse.
General Baxter
21-11-10, 07:45 PM
remove the dip/dim relay attched to the shelf
Could that stop just the dipped beam working?
General Baxter
21-11-10, 07:52 PM
no what it does it when you put your side lights on, it puts the dim beam on very dim,
the relay ****s up and screws everything over, just remove it, wont do no harm
if its allready removed start earth wire hunting
No its definitely still in there. I'll pull it out tomorrow.
Any idea which it is? haha.
General Baxter
21-11-10, 08:34 PM
its screwed on to the back of the shelf under the dash, big black box, will smell of smoke lol
Theres a metal kind of box which i've never been sure on what it is?
Or is it a normal style relay? lol
General Baxter
21-11-10, 08:38 PM
it will be the top one lol
looks like a box with a plug on it
Theres a metal kind of box which i've never been sure on what it is?
Or is it a normal style relay? lol
metal kind of box.
Pulled out the metal box with screw fixings, nothing.
Pulled out the quite hot black relay, nothing.
Ideas?
Right this is getting mad now. It's all backwards to before!!
Turn sidelights on, dipped beam come on
Turn dipped on, dipped stay on.
Turn main on, nothing.
What the hell is happening!
well, it could be the dip switch in the stalk, or the light switch
Would that stop the main beam working as well?
General Baxter
22-11-10, 05:38 PM
try the earths
in the boot and attached to the steering coloum
first
Will do.
Never seen the one on tr steering column.
C612DNM
22-11-10, 10:09 PM
What happens if you pull the stalk to "flash". Does main come on now (as well as dip)?????
Nova Baz
22-11-10, 10:41 PM
have a look at the earths for the head light and make sure there not corred
Peanut_119
22-11-10, 10:50 PM
havent posted on here for a while but my friend had this problem with his mk1 saloon, he mentioned it being a relay like up and under the dash that he had caught, hope this is some help, sorry if it isn't
What happens if you pull the stalk to "flash". Does main come on now (as well as dip)?????
Nothing at all. No lighta from the front and no light on the dash.
C612DNM
24-11-10, 02:01 PM
OK, if the earth was faulty at the lights, I wouldn't expect them to work properly even in either main or dip beam because the bulbs have three terminals - ground, dip, main. But make sure - check the earths just in case it's earthing through a strange tortuous route (it can happen if an earth has gone open circuit).
You've removed (you're sure you've unplugged the right unit?) the dim-dip "relay", and still nothing. You've checked the fuses I assume. There should be two for dip, and two for main.
Do you have, or have access to a multimeter? Or even a bulb with holder and a few feet of wire (so you have use it as a test lamp).
You need to see if the indicator/dip/main switch is doing what it should be.
With the lights on (dip) you really need to check the voltage at the steering column switch measured against chassis earth. If you use a 21W bulb (fog), you'll know if it's good as it'll be nice and bright, if it's dim, you gotta problemo! Or if using a multimeter, you should expect to see the same voltage as your battery within a gnats.
Check for the same in main beam position.
If all is rosy in the garden there, then your fault is elsewhere.
Go to the headlamp unit and measure the voltages on the bulb holder. If you see correct voltages there, then measure between the bulb earth tag and battery earth. If you read a voltage here, your earth(s) is(are) faulty.
And, finally, did you check the earths?
Thes are "old" cars now, and many of the faults are often down to earths failing due to corrosion (or not being put back on after it was in a million bits to have yet another different engine fitted).
My No.1 tip to anyone who has a car that wants to look after or play with it themselves is go and buy a simple multimeter - off eBay, whoever.
Took off and cleaned all the earths i can find. 1 behind the headlight, 1 behind the dash at the top, 1 in the boot and 1 behind the drivers kick plate on the right.
Can't seem to find one of the sterring column and nothing i have done has solved the problem??
Still can't find the problem?? And still can't find the earth on the column.
Anybody???
C612DNM
03-12-10, 01:25 PM
From memory, the column earth is under the bonnet - on my Mk1's it's on one of the rack mounts.
If the column earth is fubar'd, the horn won't work.
If your honker works, then the earth is OK.
You need to get a meter and measure some voltages.
Have you tried swapping the ind/flash switch? or the light switch with a known good working one?
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