High beam issue!

[TimboNZ]

OK, here's something a little different!

I went out the other night and used the lights for the first time, everything was fine until I pushed the stalk forward to engage high beam then ALL the lights went out! When I pulled the stalk back nothing happened, I had to turn the light switch on the centre panel off and then on again to get the lights working again. Strange thing is when I pull the stalk to flash the lights they work fine!

Any ideas anyone??

[Mr Tank]

Hi

Relays or diode, my bet the diode it's the cheapest thing to replace.

Andy

[TimboNZ]

Mr Tank said:

Hi

Relays or diode, my bet the diode it's the cheapest thing to replace.

Andy

Thanks Andy, where is it situated?? And the relays for that matter!

[Mr Tank]

Hi

Look in the passengers foot weel behind the carpet, you should find the relays and the diode is at the end of the relay panel, may even be two just depends on what set up you car has!

Andy

[TimboNZ]

Mr Tank said:

Hi

Look in the passengers foot weel behind the carpet, you should find the relays and the diode is at the end of the relay panel, may even be two just depends on what set up you car has!

Andy

Yes, bit of brain fade there, looking at it now......

[TimboNZ]

Just put a multimeter on it and it seems OK....

[Mr Tank]

Hi

Then it's your relays or the actual switch gear!

Andy

[gruffalo]

You should get a high resistance from the diode in one direction and then if you reverse the leads from the meter you should get a near short.

Not trying to teach to suck eggs just making sure.

[grahamw48]

Seem to remember a similar problem with mine on the 400, but it was in for MOT and the garage sorted it.

I'm sure it was the switch on the console...don't remember paying for any relays or diodes.

[jmorgan]

Would not mind betting it is a dodgy earth. Had a shed load of issues after the bump and the connectors were disturbed to put the new front on with lights etc. BUT, I would not want to split the connector until all else is ruled out, they aint pretty after all these years and that could make it worse.

[TimboNZ]

jmorgan said:

Would not mind betting it is a dodgy earth. Had a shed load of issues after the bump and the connectors were disturbed to put the new front on with lights etc. BUT, I would not want to split the connector until all else is ruled out, they aint pretty after all these years and that could make it worse.

If it was a dodgy earth then I wouldn't be able to flash the headlights would I as it's on the same circuit.

I've checked the diode and relay and they're fine so I'm begining to think it must be the stalk switchgear.

[blaineuk]

I would think the switch has gone.

[mrzigazaga]

Hi chaps..Mine did something similar the other day and i know my on/off switch is a bit naff as when i wiggled it they worked again...could be loose connections..Zig

[Wedg1e]

TimboNZ said:

I've checked the diode and relay and they're fine so I'm begining to think it must be the stalk switchgear.

The stalk switch has two feeds for the main beam: one is fed from the main lights switch to give you dip/main and the other is fed independently (as an ignition-switched rail) to allow you the flash function even with the lights switched off. So the 'output' to the main beams is switched betwen either of two contacts: sometimes the contacts arc or can even be bent by enthusiastic manipulation of the stalk. You can see and access the contacts without too much trouble, get in there and fix it man

[TimboNZ]

Wedg1e said:

TimboNZ said:

I've checked the diode and relay and they're fine so I'm begining to think it must be the stalk switchgear.

The stalk switch has two feeds for the main beam: one is fed from the main lights switch to give you dip/main and the other is fed independently (as an ignition-switched rail) to allow you the flash function even with the lights switched off. So the 'output' to the main beams is switched betwen either of two contacts: sometimes the contacts arc or can even be bent by enthusiastic manipulation of the stalk. You can see and access the contacts without too much trouble, get in there and fix it man

Thanks Wedg1e! I'm thinking you're on the money there, just need to find the time to do it now.........Xmas! Arrrgggghhhhh!