dead dipped beam

[Robertjp]

not i nice journey home from a night out with work. No dipped beam 4 40 miles! Have side, rear, full, everything else but dipped. Hoping its a fuse? I shouldnt really have driven home i guess. anyone had the Same? Or any ideas?

[collingbroon]

Yes i have had the same happen to mine a few times. Each time the fuse was blown, i think the reason is a loose connection at the o/s bulb. I was nearly in the same position as you a couple of weeks ago but just managed to get where i was going before it got to dark.

[Robertjp]

thank, was going to look at the fuses and relays. It wasnt good, most of a45 is unlit, i had her on main beam but too much traffic to leave on so slotted in behind a taxi with just my sidelights, god know what he must have thought was behind him! My car is black with black wheels, so it must have looked v sinister! You dont realise just how much difference they make until you have to drive without! Can u remember which fuse? I think the box layout it on mytuscan If not

[nawarne]

Rob,
Dipped beam = Fuse No:10 - 20Amp.

I'd spray some contact cleaner into the fuse receptacle and remove the cover and do the same to the dipped beam lamps/holders. Sounds like you have a bit of corrosion causing a higher current draw.
Nick

[Robertjp]

nawarne said:

Rob,
Dipped beam = Fuse No:10 - 20Amp.

I'd spray some contact cleaner into the fuse receptacle and remove the cover and do the same to the dipped beam lamps/holders. Sounds like you have a bit of corrosion causing a higher current draw.
Nick

thanks, will do. My car doesnt get much use
in the wet this may be a consequence of my visit to chatsworth in the monsoon!

[Robertjp]

thanks gents, fuse 10 had blown. I have 10, 15 and 25 amp spare but no 20 sods law! Want to clean the contacts down first anyway, as nick suggested as its prob high resistance. Bonnet has to come off for that and i now have all my bits for the bonnet conversion so i will prob end up doing that too! ! !

[collingbroon]

Glad it was an easy fix mate, yes probably best to check the connection first as when mine went the first time and i changed the fuse but it just kept blowing until i sorted the connection.

[Robertjp]

Well, after a few weeks of messing with other things i finally got round to replacing the fuse.

Then a bulb went out immediately, so i assumed it was a bulb going that caused the fuse to blow.

Replaced the bulb...nothing happened!

Traced the fault to the wiring loom – it was rubbing against the corner of the rad and two wires were virtually through, sheath completely gone.

Have had to use bullet connectors and insulation tape to repair as its difficult to get a soldering iron in there, but hopefully when i connect up this will have solved the problem.

Its one to check gents – i had a little warning puff of smoke before the fuse blew – so it is a fire risk.