problem with MR2 lights (having a mind of their own)
Discussion
Good Evening
I have a 1997 MR2 which is throwing up a few electrical gremlins.
The first problem occurred last Sunday, when I turned my headlights off the bulbs went out but the pop up headlights didn't retract. When this happened I thought maybe a faulty relay or earth problem.
This problem hasn't occurred since but a few more have popped up, around 2 hours after this problem I was driving home and every time I put my indicators on the headlights would then go out. After a few minutes this problem stopped and hasn't happened since.
Now when I open the door the hazards start flashing for a few seconds (probably around 30 seconds), once this stops there isn't a problem again until the doors are opened again. Although the hazards are flashing the hazard light on the dash isn't flashing.
I am a trained mechanic, although haven't put this in practice for around 10 years - and when I say trained, only until the end of an apprenticeship.
My thought process on this is that: it can't be a switch fault as the hazard switch and head light switch are separate and also it would't explain the head lights not going down as this would indicate a relay?
Could it be a faulty earth? or a corroded connection somewhere?
The fault seems to lay in a circuit or area of the car involving the head lights, indicators and interior light circuit? - if this car had an alarm fitted then that would be my first port of call, but it doesn't appear to have or ever had an alarm fitted.
Any ideas on where to start poking around would be great, I haven't actually started trying to diagnose the fault myself yet as the car has been getting some bodywork done this week and only been in my possession for a short space of time.
I have a 1997 MR2 which is throwing up a few electrical gremlins.
The first problem occurred last Sunday, when I turned my headlights off the bulbs went out but the pop up headlights didn't retract. When this happened I thought maybe a faulty relay or earth problem.
This problem hasn't occurred since but a few more have popped up, around 2 hours after this problem I was driving home and every time I put my indicators on the headlights would then go out. After a few minutes this problem stopped and hasn't happened since.
Now when I open the door the hazards start flashing for a few seconds (probably around 30 seconds), once this stops there isn't a problem again until the doors are opened again. Although the hazards are flashing the hazard light on the dash isn't flashing.
I am a trained mechanic, although haven't put this in practice for around 10 years - and when I say trained, only until the end of an apprenticeship.
My thought process on this is that: it can't be a switch fault as the hazard switch and head light switch are separate and also it would't explain the head lights not going down as this would indicate a relay?
Could it be a faulty earth? or a corroded connection somewhere?
The fault seems to lay in a circuit or area of the car involving the head lights, indicators and interior light circuit? - if this car had an alarm fitted then that would be my first port of call, but it doesn't appear to have or ever had an alarm fitted.
Any ideas on where to start poking around would be great, I haven't actually started trying to diagnose the fault myself yet as the car has been getting some bodywork done this week and only been in my possession for a short space of time.
Thanks for the replies - the indicator is on the headlight stalk, but I don't think that would add up with the lights not retracting back? and the indicators going off once the interior light is triggered?
I haven't had time to strip the car down this weekend, but looked at a few wiring diagrams on Friday evening and it looks like all these circuits share the same earth point which is behind the centre console.
The vehicle doesn't have an alarm fitted, but I will have a poke around and see if there is any old wiring that might be causing the problem.
I found an old owners thread for the vehicle, and it looks like the guy before hand had wired in a tablet in place of the head unit (the original tape player is currently fitted) - so their might be some wiring behind there causing the issue.
I haven't had time to strip the car down this weekend, but looked at a few wiring diagrams on Friday evening and it looks like all these circuits share the same earth point which is behind the centre console.
The vehicle doesn't have an alarm fitted, but I will have a poke around and see if there is any old wiring that might be causing the problem.
I found an old owners thread for the vehicle, and it looks like the guy before hand had wired in a tablet in place of the head unit (the original tape player is currently fitted) - so their might be some wiring behind there causing the issue.
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