Main Beam

[Sandgrounder]

Drove home from Leyland last night, and as I was on country roads, tried using main beam. Never tried it since I bought the car last year.

The control lever pulls forward, and main beam activates, but when I release the lever, the main beam goes back to dipped.

I tried pushing the stork towards the dashboard, but doesn't seem to go that way.

So, questions are as follows:

1. Is it an MOT failure to have no permamant main beam (ie. I can only flash it)?
2. If it is required, does it sound like the switch on the stork is broken?
3. Are replacements readily available (presume it is a ford escort part?)

Thankyou in advance.

[GadgeS3C]

Sandgrounder said:

Drove home from Leyland last night, and as I was on country roads, tried using main beam. Never tried it since I bought the car last year.

The control lever pulls forward, and main beam activates, but when I release the lever, the main beam goes back to dipped.

I tried pushing the stork towards the dashboard, but doesn't seem to go that way.

So, questions are as follows:

1. Is it an MOT failure to have no permamant main beam (ie. I can only flash it)?
2. If it is required, does it sound like the switch on the stork is broken?
3. Are replacements readily available (presume it is a ford escort part?)

Thankyou in advance.

The stalk should push forwards to have permanent main beam, they do feel a bit sticky so might be worth trying to push a bit harder (but not TOO hard!).

If not then I'd suspect the switch. Available from New Ford Parts Online at £34.99 inc.

Not sure but I'd be amazed if that isn't an MOT failing problem.

Edit - the switches do sometimes (on TVRs and Escorts!) respond to a squirt with WD40 (or your choice of contact cleaner) and a bit of j-j-j-jiggling
But I'd also make sure I had one on the shelf just in case...

[S2Mike]

I agree with all that GadgeS3c says...!!
The pull flash is a correct function!

[GadgeS3C]

S2Mike said:

I agree with all that GadgeS3c says...!!

Bloody 'ell - that's never happened to me before

[Longers]

Like above I thought mine was broken the first time I went to use it on my previous S, which was quite a while after buying the car. I found the plastic cowl over the steering column had moved very slightly and was preventing the stalk from going far enough forward to click into place. Perhaps try the switch with the cowl off first before spending £s on a new one?

[phillpot]

Sandgrounder said:

presume it is a ford escort part?

Ford Sierra (could be same?)

[Scoobimax]

Longers said:

Like above I thought mine was broken the first time I went to use it on my previous S, which was quite a while after buying the car. I found the plastic cowl over the steering column had moved very slightly and was preventing the stalk from going far enough forward to click into place. Perhaps try the switch with the cowl off first before spending £s on a new one?

Technical Tony - i'm impressed!!!

[HvdWeerden]

Scoobimax said:

Technical Tony - i'm impressed!!!

And it's not the first time ! ;-)

In case you need to buy a new one : I think TVR used variants with/without intermittent wipers

[seb400]

I've got the intermittent wipers - sometimes they work, sometimes they don't!

[Elfit]

I've been there ~ see here

In the end I fitted a couple of relays which meant that not so much current had to pass through the switch which had been burning it out.

Tim

[Gerald-TVR]

this might help

[Sandgrounder]

Wow, what a response! Many thanks guys! I'll take the cowling off at the weekend and give the switch a squirt of WD-40.

Excellent service, as ever ;-)

[Longers]

Scoobimax said:

Longers said:

Like above I thought mine was broken the first time I went to use it on my previous S, which was quite a while after buying the car. I found the plastic cowl over the steering column had moved very slightly and was preventing the stalk from going far enough forward to click into place. Perhaps try the switch with the cowl off first before spending £s on a new one?

Technical Tony - i'm impressed!!!

Practical advice coming from my user name? I think someone must have hacked into my a/c. I'm off to report it to the mods

[Sandgrounder]

Finally found time to have a look at the problem. Quick squirt of wd-40 and hey presto, full beam as advertised!! Lever does touch dashboard though, but I'm not concerened about that.

Thanks for the advice guys,

Graham