xenon lights issues

[QuiteQuietCerb]

HI I have had main beam xenon lights for a couple of years now, a few months back they started playing up, so after following advice on these forums I disconnected one of the wires that go into the control box. this solved the problem for a few months, but now I am getting flickering again, and sometimes the lights switch off, which leaves me only with the full beam.

any ideas?

[gruffalo]

I had this and it was the alternator voltage regulator breaking down, the going off of the lights is the ballast pack shutting down to protect itself from over voltage issues.

I take it your main beam lights are not Xenon and are normal tungsten bulbs?

One way to check this is start the car and turn the side lights on and watch the instrument lights, if they pulse then it is the alternator on it's way out.

Edited by gruffalo on Friday 23 May 17:34

[QuiteQuietCerb]

thanks i checked that, the clock and fuel gauge were pulsing i think until i blipped the revs, the rest of the dials were ok, ut more strange things are happening, i.e the lights will turn off, i ll press the main beam hold the button down and then switch to xenons again for 10 mins before it recurs. also the aircon light wont turn on with the lights on.

perplexed

[gruffalo]

QuiteQuietCerb said:

thanks i checked that, the clock and fuel gauge were pulsing i think until i blipped the revs, the rest of the dials were ok, ut more strange things are happening, i.e the lights will turn off, i ll press the main beam hold the button down and then switch to xenons again for 10 mins before it recurs. also the aircon light wont turn on with the lights on.

perplexed

Ok it sounds like the voltage isn't stable, or that is how it sounds, just like mine.

What you describe is the first simpsoms I had, next the mil light started coming on every now and then, then it wouldn't start one day, the battery had been fried due to overcharging, jump started and checked the ecu and the stored fault was a voltage alarm, that is common but with the pulsing light it was enough to make an educated guess.

No need to replace the alternator, just change the voltage regulator, the cost 15 off fleabag and takes 10 min to fit once you have access to the back of the alternator.

[QuiteQuietCerb]

many thanks for that, do you remember any part numbers etc, so i can get the right one?

[gruffalo]

Sorry, I am away at the moment and can't access Ebay to find my history but I think this is the right one.

eBay item 221361138730.



I will be able to find it for you after the 2nd.

Edited by gruffalo on Sunday 25th May 20:21

[QuiteQuietCerb]

i really appreciate your help with this. also do you remember if the alternator needs to come out for this to be replaced, or can be done in situ? my car is a 4.5 with aircon and removing it will be a total pain

[gruffalo]

I have only done it with the alternator out of the car, you need full access to the rear of the alternator probably best out of the car as you will have to take the fuel rail off at the very least so getting the alternator out is not much extra work really.

[gruffalo]

I have only done it with the alternator out of the car, you need full access to the rear of the alternator probably best out of the car as you will have to take the fuel rail off at the very least so getting the alternator out is not much extra work really.