18 replies to this topic

[grahama]

Hi,

as far as I can tell the headlight switch rund the side lights direct through the bottom fuse and the main beam is dealt with via the steering column. The steering column also runs the flash and main beam settings.

What I am asking in a round about way is if the dipped headlights are run via the steering column, wiring wise, not functionality??

got the indicators and hazards sussed now after a day chasing wires about !!!

Graham

[Neil7744]

what?

[adam_93rio]

if you tell me the year and model mini you have ill just go ge tthe haynes,

from first thoughts, i would say it will go through to the stalk as it disconnects them and connects full beam when you flick it

[yorkshirechris]

I'm pretty sure the headlights are wired through the headlight switch, and also through the "switch" on the stalk... you move the stalk to alternate between main and dipped beams so there must be something in there to switch off the dipped beams when you switch to main beams, if that makes sense....

He beat me to it ^^

Edited by yorkshirechris, 31 May 2010 - 07:59 PM.

[adam_93rio]

I'm pretty sure the headlights are wired through the headlight switch, and also through the "switch" on the stalk... you move the stalk to alternate between main and dipped beams so there must be something in there to switch off the dipped beams when you switch to main beams, if that makes sense....

He beat me to it ^^

haha, im out of breathe from typing so fast and running for the haynes. i agree with you anyway!

Edited by adam_93rio, 31 May 2010 - 08:01 PM.

[yorkshirechris]

Theoretically the dipped beam wiring must run through there though if the stalk disconnects it...

[adam_93rio]

Theoretically the dipped beam wiring must run through there though if the stalk disconnects it...

si senior

[grahama]

83 mayfair,

the switch seems only to do the side lights and rear lights.

the steering column stalks do the main and flash beams but when in the middle setting (ie not main or flash) and the switch is on full headlights the power to the headlihts seems to run through the stalks.

any futher thoughts,

Graham

mini wiring is a funny old thing !!! On my indicator flasher power wiring it runs to the rear heated screen and reversing light!!!

[Scallywag630]

This is my take...maybe wrong so check....Light switch turns on side/parking lights in middle position. In the headlights on position it allows power to go to the stalk, which in the middle position makes dip beam work. When stalk is pushed away, the contact for dip is broken and the contact for high beam is made. In the "flash" position, both main and dip are lit.

[E-Tizzle]

i have just had a big problem with my lights that i have just sorted, they are all working fine now.
first of all, do you have a mutimeter?

test the switxh by sticking the positive in the back and earthing the negative on the bodywork somewhere.
the switch should be as follows...

brown (the bottom wire) - fuse-box / 12v ish (power)
red (the middle wire) - connect up with the side lights eventually in the loom / 0v (sidelights)
blue (top wire) - flasher stalk / 0v (headlights)

the red wire gives power to the switch and should only give power to the other wires when the switch is turned and makes a connection. what you can do is put your tester on the blue wire and put the switch on headlights (dont forget to earth it!)
if there is power there then theres is a problem further down the line going into the headlights. if there is no power there then the switch isnt working properly.

if there is power then go down to the front of the car and remove the grille. there should be some bullet connectors near the distributor (big black things with 3 wires). there are 4 of these - black/earth, red/sidelights, blue+white/main beam (i think), blue+red/ dip beam (i think). the last two may be the other way round i cant remember.
anyway. stick the tester into the connector and you should ever get either 12v or 0v with the switch on. if there is power then the problem is between this connector and the light, most probably the light, bulb or connections inside it. if there is no power then the problem is between this connector and the switch. and unfortunately this means that you have to trace it all through the loom and look for dodgy connections and keep testing any that relate to those colour wires.

hope you managed to read through that without falling asleep and hopefully it that helps

the problem i had was someone had wired the switch all up wrongly and messed around with the wires, so i had to do a load of detecting work of me own which took about a week- it allowed me to help others tho, so not all loss.

elliot

[adam_93rio]

83 mayfair,

the switch seems only to do the side lights and rear lights.

the steering column stalks do the main and flash beams but when in the middle setting (ie not main or flash) and the switch is on full headlights the power to the headlihts seems to run through the stalks.

any futher thoughts,

Graham

mini wiring is a funny old thing !!! On my indicator flasher power wiring it runs to the rear heated screen and reversing light!!!

this may sound really dense, but i cant work out which wiring diagram in the haynes is for your car. i think no.15 but cant decide.
basically when you turn full beam on, (pushing the stalk away from you) will turn off the headlights so therefore the supply for the headlights should run to the stalk.
what you have described above doesnt quite make sense to me,
you should have a 3 way switch on your switch panel, first is off, then sidelights, then headlights
then you should push the indicator stalk away from you to get full beam.

is this what you have? it sounds like your saying you have a on off switch for the headlights

[adam_93rio]

This is my take...maybe wrong so check....Light switch turns on side/parking lights in middle position. In the headlights on position it allows power to go to the stalk, which in the middle position makes dip beam work. When stalk is pushed away, the contact for dip is broken and the contact for high beam is made. In the "flash" position, both main and dip are lit.

thats correct!

[grahama]

Great replies as ever fellas, and ladies

the wiring after chasing it through does seem to chase the dipped beam feed into the stalk and the stalk then selects the flash and main beam. The switch only seems to switch on the side and rear lights. When dipped is required then the power to the headlights goes through the stalk.

I am doing this without any power or full circuits such was the bought state!!!

I will get there in the end, just want it right !!!

Graham

[E-Tizzle]

you could do a continuety test.
set the meter to 2000 ohm on the old multimeter.
place one end one the switch (blue wire) and the other end on the flasher stalk (blue wire)

if there is movement on the meter then you know the wires are atleast connected onto the stalk.

but i dont think your problem is with the stalk personally, seeing as the headlights dont actually come on anyway in the first place - i think you need to start by testing your switch.

[adam_93rio]

The switch only seems to switch on the side and rear lights. When dipped is required then the power to the headlights goes through the stalk.

it sounds like you are saying that your light switch (on the switch panel) only has off and on. is this correct?

could you put up a step by step of what you get when you go through the lights

like switch position 1: off
switch position 2: headlights (or dipped)
switch position 2 with stalk pushed back: full beam

that should be what you get. what do you get?

Edited by adam_93rio, 31 May 2010 - 09:30 PM.