Well its MOT time and i've finally got to sort out my headlights - After only using the car in daylight hours this has been put off for rather too long!

Basically I cannot get my main headlights/full beam to work, only its rather strange.

Turning them on with no keys in the ignition I can get a weak light just by flicking the fog lights on! Yet when I turn on the ignition they go out.

Am I correct in assuming that this is likely to be a short circuit somewhere? Or could it be the headlight relay? If so how would I know or be able to test the relay?

Any thoughts?

Phil

Any more clues?
Does dip beam work ? Did main ever work? Does the fog light work when switched on normally?

Sounds like a poor earth on the fog/headlights

quote:

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Originally posted by russbost
Sounds like a poor earth on the fog/headlights

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Ditto... though could be a relay wired incorrectly.

I'm fairly sure that the relay is wired correctly as the headlights used to work fine.

I'll check the earth connection tonight.

Many thanks

Phil

You might get more suggestions for fixing the problem if you asked in "electrical".

David

BTW: My vote is for either a bad earth, or a loose/corroded connection.

I may not be great on springs but I am not too bad on earths and I am 99% sure that you have an earth problem here. Your headlights are earthing back through other components. Headlights draw a fair current so the earth must be able to carry that load. So I think the answer is to renew your headlight earths and fit to a terminal screwed into the chassis.

I hope that solves it.

Cheers

John

S O R T E D !!!

Great, thanks for all the advice......it was indeed a loose earth terminal. Funny thing is that I had checked this particular connection before, visually is looked fine. I just happened to touch it with a screwdriver and it sparked and voila.

I've replaced the terminal screw and all is now fine. I can't believe the amount of trouble that this little loose wire has coursed!!!!!!!


Phil