20 replies to this topic

[Andrew O]

Rover Mini 30 998 1989
Halogen lights ( With the correct loom )

Basically my headlights won't work properly, I am at the end of my restoration and this is the only thing stopping the car from being on the road.

Sidelights - I turn them on and they are stupidly dim.
Dip - Both bulbs doing different things and are at different brightness.
Main Beam - Seems to work but it won't stay on main beam as the stalk is worn.
And this is all temperamental, it will do all this one day and then the next they will do different things.

Don't know if this helps but the other day I turned the lights on ( New rocker switch ) and the relay starting screaming at me ( Brand New Relay )
Also, my indicators can be temperamental. All other electrics on the car work fine ( Including dash lights )
And the original fog light is not wired in and a new one was wired from scratch.

Tried to give as much info as possible.
What am I doing wrong ?
Me and my Dad are at a loose end.

Thanks
Andrew.

[Old Bob]

First thing you need to check are the earth points.  The headlamp switch is probably past it (you can try cleaning the contacts first) and will need replacing.

 

Bob

Edited by Old Bob, 09 June 2013 - 11:17 AM.

[Andrew O]

If the earth points for the headlights are the ones that on the bulk head then I have done that, and as said before the headlamp switch is brand new.

Andrew

[Captain Mainwaring]

Get yourself a multimeter and see what volts you have floating around. My guess as above is earthing, but you'll never know unless you check. 

It does sound like you've managed to get some stuff in series instead of parallel - like the sidelights are ballasting some of the other lighting.

[Cerberus]

How does a relay scream?

 

Perhaps you've got a duff relay.

 

 

Could the worn stalk be causing problems, as you've got indicator troubles which also originate from the same stalk as the main/dip beam stalk?

[Andrew O]

I have a multimeter, don't know how but it was deffinatley making a loud screaming noise.

Andrew

[Captain Mainwaring]

What volts have you got floating around on the light feeds then? 

[Andrew O]

Not sure, my Dads been doing that
Could it be a short somewhere ?

Andrew

[Andrew O]

Help

[Daviewonder]

Have you tried the multimeter yet? That will show if you're getting the correct power everywhere.

[Andrew O]

Well I can see I'm not getting the correct power as the side lights are very very dim and the headlights are.

What I want is a list of things it could be so I can rule everything out.

Andrew

[Andy!]

I'm no expert but im pretty sure the multimeter is used so you can find out exactly where the problem is (high voltages in certain wires etc) and not just to tell you that there's a general fault. It does sound like an earth to me, have you check the earths?

Edited by Andy!, 09 June 2013 - 06:16 PM.

[Andrew O]

The battery earth is brand new same goes for the engine earth.

And the only other earths I know about are the ones on the bulk head on the left.
Any others ?

Andrew

[Captain Mainwaring]

Multimeter. Anything else (unless it is very obvious) is just speculation and guessing.

Use the right tool for the job and you'll solve your problem.

[Ethel]

What sort of relay are we talking about, the pink dim dip one? It could be a short/corrosion on the socket it plugs in to. Dim bulbs can be because their earths are poor adding resistance, or totally broken so the current is finding it's way to earth through another bulb, with it's added resistance.