nick-york
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 posted on 23/9/15 at 07:23 PM |
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mot fail. light problem. help needed
Hi! I've taken my kit for mot today and it failed on some silly little but annoying things. Fog light not working but I'm 99%sure
it's just the bulb. But the main beam doesn't come on when it should. In fact main beam doesn't work at all. The annoying thing is
that last time I drove in the dark the lights worked perfectly! The fuses are ok. Now I don't think it's that both main beam filaments
have blown. I suspect it is something to do with the wiring where it joins to the light / indicator stalk or maybe the stalk mechanism. If it's
the mechanism then would it be easier to fit an aftermarket one? It's not Sierra. I think it's escort. Has anybody else had this problem?
What's the best solution? Cheers - nick
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cliftyhanger
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| posted on 23/9/15 at 07:32 PM |
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First thing is to find what the issue is. Guessing is not helpful.
Well worth checking the bulbs first, easy enough especially if you have a meter (£5 very well spent, I find them essential) Then work your way
back.
It is possible you have a relay? if so check that, they do fail. Then back to the switch, check to see if you have current coming out. Then in.....
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HowardB
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| posted on 23/9/15 at 07:41 PM |
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I had the exact same problem, turns out that I had cunningly wired my car so that main beam and the fog light only work when the ignition is
on,....
hmmmmmm seemed so sensible at the time. 
Howard
Fisher Fury was 2000 Zetec - now a 1600 (it Lives again and goes zoom)
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SteveWalker
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| posted on 23/9/15 at 08:34 PM |
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I've had the stalk "fail" a couple of times. Switching on and off repeatedly has got it sort of working. Doing the same with switch
cleaner sprayed in has sorted it out for the next couple of years each time.
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Jon Ison
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| posted on 23/9/15 at 10:18 PM |
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Are they on a relay?
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snapper
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| posted on 24/9/15 at 06:22 AM |
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Most early Escort and some early Sierra ( square hazard switch version) were full load now relays.
Electrical fault finding, start easy, check fuses, check bulbs, check power to fuses and bulbs
If power to fuse and no power to bulb its in between.
Check switches, usually have connector plugs, if power found at plug it could be the switches, hot wire past switch to headlight feed, bulb comes on
its the switch
I eat to survive
I drink to forget
I breath to pi55 my ex wife off (and now my ex partner)
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adithorp
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| posted on 24/9/15 at 06:47 AM |
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Don't jump to conclusions. Check the bulds first and whether there's live feed to them.
"A witty saying proves nothing" Voltaire
http://jpsc.org.uk/forum/
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nick-york
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| posted on 24/9/15 at 07:36 PM |
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Well I'm very busy with work and everything at moment so decided to try the electrical contact cleaner since I was near motor save. Hey
presto!! It's worked! So it was obviously was the switch mechanism on the stalk. If it didn't fix it then next job would of be checking
the bulbs, circuits and the relay. Thanks everyone for the helpful advice. Oh put new bulb in fog light and still doesn't work but that wasntt
the main problem.
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snowy2
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| posted on 30/9/15 at 08:30 AM |
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Modern car column switches are generally not designed to take the full current of the switched load. rather they need relays to do the job
......however they will work fine without relays....the switches just won't last long that's all.
sometimes you are the pigeon, most of the time the statue.
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