Fiesta Mk6 Headlights question

[Mister G]

I have a Fiesta Mk6 Zetec.

When I put the main beam up (by a pull on pull off mechanism - slow and annoying) the dipped headlights go off. I assume that the car is designed like this.

However, the main beam points into the distance (obviously) and the near peripheral vision is lost.

This is bad in two ways. 1. It just doesn't feel right and seems not to balance the view out of the car. 2. It is difficult to see the condition/changes in the road surface right in front of the car.

It is easier and better with the front fogs on but I don't like doing this in normal conditions.

Can anyone tell me is this standard on all of these cars or is it maybe a fault?

Cheers.

[mdotd]

Probably a design fault; I used to have a 00/W clio (bubble shape) with the twin optic headlights, and when switching to full beam the dips would switch off, giving the same problem as you descibe. It's very annoying, particularly in stormy weather and you couldn't see standing water that well!

[DennisTheMenace]

Its not a design fault , The car uses a H4 bulb's .

[Mister G]

Cheers.

What does that mean when the car uses H4 bulbs?

[David87]

It's just how H4 bulbs work. My mk5 Fiesta's the same. The bulb has two filaments, one for dipped and one for high beam.

[Z4monster]

AFAIK H4 bulbs are twin element bulbs and they use one element for dipped and one for high beam. Might explain why your dipped light goes out when on high beam. Sounds daft to me if that's so.

[dave4959]

yeh mine was the same

usually just use the front fogs

[SamHH]

The dipped beam going off when the main beam switches on isn't unique to H4 bulb lamps.

[Chris_w666]

Its not broke, mine does the same thing. Try adjusting your headlamp levelling if you want the beam closer.

[Mister G]

There's another weird issue. The lights on dipped go from really bright to no light in a very defined line. So when close I can't see very far and when levelled higher up people coming towards me flash me as it blinds them. If I use the adjuster to raise them to full height and lower to lowest setting then reset them, usually the bulbs split to give a stepped beam from double brightness to medium brightness to dark, which is probably how it's meant to be

Not a disaster, just surprising as have never has these frustrations with a ford before!