No lights & MOT Tueday

[mph.52]

It was 5.00am and I was off sprinting in Notts - I say was because my dip, main beam and instrument lights wouldn't work. side lights were ok though. So here's the question: the bible refers to a headlamp system fuse, but I haven't got a clue where to find it on my 93 chimaera - Any ideas?

[Cider Andy]

Both dipped and main beams for the headlamps have a fuse and a relay, both located above the battery box in the nearside footwell. As both dipped and main beams each have a separate fuse and relay, it would appear unlikely that this is where the fault lies.

However, the indicator stalk controls the switching between beams, so I would suggest that is where the problem is. On certain Ford units (without relays) the contacts used to heat up and melt the housing or just simply wear out. This may have happened, although it's not a Ford unit. It's a Vauxhall unit off the Cavalier (1988 - 1995) plus a few other cars (including the Calibra up to 1997) so a replacement could be found at the scrapyard for pence.

[mph.52]

Thanks Andy but I forgot to mention that the headlamp flasher works ok.

[Cider Andy]

That would show that the main beam fuse and relay are working ok. In that case I would suspect the main light switch was more likely.

Without checking the circuit diagram, I would assume the main light switch feeds the indicator stalk. Depending on whether it is switched to main beam or dipped, it would switch the feed to either the dipped beam relay/fuse circuit or the main beam relay/fuse circuit.

The main beam flasher would be fed independently of the switch: as this is working, it makes the main switch, or the supply to or from it most likely.