Next.. Headlights flickering.

[Jhonno]

The Cerbera has a new trick I discovered last night.

The headlights (pre-facelift) have started flickering off dipped beam to sidelights.. Fiddle with the headlight knob and they come back. Very very intermittent atm, but would rather catch it before it gets worse.

[Boatbuoy]

Check the plug and it's contacts to the light control module (it's one of the little black boxes on top of the fuel tank in the boot). I had flickering headlights then all of a sudden I lost them, on a country lane, at night!

I found that one of the contacts had been arcing and the resulting carbon deposits had made the contact dirty. A bit of careful cleaning and the issue went away. It's now something I keep an eye on!

[gerradiuk]

Ah you must still have the cheaper candles in

[Jhonno]

I will check there first, cheers Boatbuoy!!

When they are working, my 'candles' provide more than adequate light. ;-)

[gruffalo]

Jhonno said:

I will check there first, cheers Boatbuoy!!

When they are working, my 'candles' provide more than adequate light. ;-)

You must have fitted HiD's then;-)

[PuffsBack]

Mine flickered after I replaced the Alternator - the replacement was a duff as the original - teach me for buying secondhand parts from eBay. A new alternator sorted the problem

[gruffalo]

PuffsBack said:

Mine flickered after I replaced the Alternator - the replacement was a duff as the original - teach me for buying secondhand parts from eBay. A new alternator sorted the problem

If you have HID lights this is not unusual, as the voltage regulator in the alternater breaks down it allows over charging, the ballast packs shut down to protect themselves making the headlight flash on and off or flicker.

Quite useful really as it stops you frying every thing else as well as a possible fire.

[Jhonno]

When I say flickering.. I mean dipped beam switching to sidelights.. I think it is something to do with the dash knob itself as fiddling can cure it.

[ukkid35]

Boatbuoy said:

Check the plug and it's contacts to the light control module

Gets my vote too.

[Boatbuoy]

Jhonno said:

I think it is something to do with the dash knob itself as fiddling can cure it.

If you havn'talready checked the control box contacts as I previously stated I'd still go there first. It really is a quick and simple task, and cheaper than buying a new switch. Just remember some circuits on TVR's don't use relays like normal cars, so the high(er) current loading causes arcing and crustyness at the contacts. Of course the same could be happening at the dash switch contacts.

[tejr]

If they are both going out at the same time its most likely the light control unit in the boot(clean the connections) or the relay (if one was fitted).. Its probably not been fitted with a relay and HIDs pull a lot of current in the first 30secs so I'd be looking at the light box unit in the boot and you'll probably find some charred wires/connections...

[Jhonno]

Apologies.. I should have said, I did look at the box, no obvious arcing on the contacts.. Need to get some contact cleaner to make sure. Other than the 2 burnt out ones that have been hardwired to the PCB already (common thing I believe).

[Boatbuoy]

Have you got to the bottom of it yet?

[Jhonno]

Not yet.. I spent Sunday washing and waxing it instead.. Tucked under cover now till the weekend.

[Boatbuoy]

The reason I asked was that after posting my earlier responses I went to check my own light control box connector. All looked fine, however since then the main beam (only) had developed a simultaneous flickering in both lamps. This morning I went back and adjusted the one tab in the connector that gave me the initial trouble last summer and hey-presto it's sorted (I think/hope).

[gerradiuk]

Boatbuoy said:

hey-presto it's sorted (I think/hope).

Lol I love this , its typical TVR ownership !! Thanks for making me smile Boatboy

[Boatbuoy]

gerradiuk said:

Boatbuoy said:

hey-presto it's sorted (I think/hope).

Lol I love this , its typical TVR ownership !! Thanks for making me smile Boatboy

Typical in a positive or negative way? Either way, you're welcome!

[Boatbuoy]

Boatbuoy said:

hey-presto it's sorted (I think/hope).

I spoke too soon! Turns out it's all down to a conector on another module. Shoddy loom wirring I must say!

[BCA]

Yup, the connectors aren't up to the job. Replace with more heavy duty connectors and be done with it. Small fire above the petrol tank? Nah, I'm ok thanks...