Headlights failure

[taylormj4]

Hi all,
Have any of you fine chaps diagnosed a headlamp failure - likely suspects?
Both headlamps failed simultaneously. Main beam and dipped do not work but the headlamp flasher does, so bulbs are Ok.
Have checked fuses, relays and the rotary switch in the lower dashboard. I have also noticed that the green surround of the rotary switch does not light up anymore. Fog lamp also not working (goes with headlamps I suppose).
Anyone with a wiring diagram? I have the one in Steve Heath's Edition 2 but its not printed very well and doesn't seem to quite match up with my electrics.
Thanks,
Matt

[chimyellow]

Are the back lights, sidelights and dashboard lights working or is it just the headlights?

[taylormj4]

Yes, all other lights seem to be working correctly, indicators, rear, tail and stop, front sidelights, and beam headlights on the flasher switch only (i.e. not on permanent latched setting).
Matt

[chimyellow]

I have now had a chance to look at my car to give me more ideas (bearing in mind that mine is a 95 Chimaera with the two buttons instead of a rotory switch, but I suspect that this is a cosmetic change and the workings are the same, if anyone know different please let me know).

When you switch from side lights to dipped headlights a relay should fire. Can you hear this?
In mine this is a noticable click from under the top left of the dashboard. Does this happen when you switch yours on.
When you 'flash' the main beam you can also hear a relay fire which will give you some idea of what to listen for if you have not heard one before.

[ardvaark]

I had both headlamps fail on me last year. Both dipped beam and high beams had failed. I assumed that it would be a fuse/relay problem but it turned out that both bulbs had failed simultaneously. Sidelights still worked though. I never managed to diagnose why it happened but thought I may have switched the lights on before firing the engine and maybe spiked the voltage and popped them. It hasn't done it again which is just as well because the front wheels need to come off to change the bulbs.

[taylormj4]

Hi all,
Have found the cause of the problem, and it's a bit worrying! I pulled out a large metal box from the lower dashboard area marked "Chimaera Dashboard switches unit" and opened it up to look at the printed circuit board. I found that one of the circuit tracks had become so hot that it had detached from the circuit board and burnt through
I have replaced the track with a wire for now and all headlamps (dip and beam) are now working again.
Question is what could have caused this to happen without the main fuses blowing. Maybe relay contacts sticking on and leaving beam and dip bulbs on at the same time?
I'm just glad it didn't catch fire in there!
Still at least I can see what vehicles I'm overtaking now!
Matt