MK1 headlights

[Munter]

I've got an intermittent issue here. The drivers side light will decide to go all dim (orange) on me some times. Not related to water (rain) as it worked ok the night before but not last night and no rain between.

What we have noticed is that the blue "main beam" light on the dash has a very faint glow at the same time that the light as decided to go dim.

Now I've had a go at cleaning the bulb contacts, the garage has had another go and a good poke around but didn't find anything.

Any problems common here that I can look for?

[MX-5 Lazza]

It does sound like a shorting earth somewhere. I can't help any more than that though.

[Munter]

What I think I'll do is get the garage to fit new light plugs. I note that MX5 parts sell them so I'm guessing there's some demand to replace them and it's those contacts showing corrosion.

[roverspeed]

Look for rust or charring on the headlight plug.

Both mine went like this on seperate occasions..........

[maser_spyder]

Wiring is more simple that you'd expect.

Power goes from battery to relay to headlight connector to bulb.

So check all possible connections.

If it's only one headlight, it's not the first bit....

Check relays for corrosion or bad connections, connector on the headlight both sides, and earth.

If it's none of those, you have a problem!

[Munter]

maser_spyder said:

If it's none of those, you have a problem!

Your talking to a man who broke physics at university building a graphics equaliser....took the lecturer 15 minutes to fix it.

Electrical engineering 101 and I didn't get along!