49 replies to this topic

[evilpen14]

Hi I have just checked the forum and I haven't seen this problem yet. I just upgraded my sealed units. I now don't have full beams it turns off my headlights to side lights only. Does anyone know how to solve this problem. I am not that good with electrics. 

Edited by evilpen14, 23 February 2014 - 12:16 PM.

[Ethel]

See if they flash, it's separate apart from the headlight end. Also be careful that you haven't shorted the bulb holder on the headlamp bowl - the light unit is probably deeper than the sealed beam one, test them before full assembly.

[evilpen14]

Well it doesn't flash. What will I need to do if I have shorted the bulb holder?

[HUBBA.HUBBA]

Check the fuse

[Ethel]

If it's the A reg in his profile piccy there aren't any. Well ok, there is one on the flasher, which can be tested with the horn.

 

Start by removing the light units. There are 3 wires - black (earth), blue/red (dip beam), blue/white (main beam). If dip beam works you must have at least one good earth, but test them all individually with the other headlight bulb removed, and your known good bulb as a test light by plugging in the dip beam spade on the bulb to the wire to test and touching the bulb's earth terminal to earth a good earth. You can find the earth using the bulb from your known good blue/red.

[evilpen14]

Cool will try this as soon as I can.

[evilpen14]

The spot lights don't come on either. They are meant to come on when the full beam is on to.

[KernowCooper]

Have you accidentally disturbed the Blue/White in the bullet connectors behind the grill, check there with a multimeter for  a 12v feed with the main beam on.

[sledgehammer]

was going to say bullet connector behind front panel

 

they always corrode / mess about

[Ethel]

I'm wondering how the spots were wired up. If there's no relay you might have melted something if the new headlamps are uprated.

[evilpen14]

No there is a relay for the spots. :). 

[KernowCooper]

So have you checked the feed in on relay terminal 85 from the main beam circuit when you switch full beam on ? and then back track from there on the wiring to the Blue/white wire

[tiger99]

Why, why, why does someone, every single time that a headlight problem occurs, say "check the fuse" or something similar? It is ILLEGAL and DANGEROUS to have one single fuse that, if blown, can cause both headlights to fail, and a moment's thought, before posting a stupid and unhelpful answer, would show why. If I had £1 for every time I had to say something like this, I could afford to retire....

 

As has been correctly stated by several people with, in at least one case a very high standard of electrical knowledge, a lack of main beams is most likely, indeed almost certainly, down to problems with the blue/white wire from dip switch to front centre bullet connectors, and from there to each light.

[sledgehammer]

As the wiring on a mini can be over 50 years old - who knows what has been cobbled together by previous owners

 

I can certainly imagine someone taking a feed from the fuse box , when a lighting feed failed

 

or even putting in a relay with a fuse built in , when up grading the lights

 

just because it isn't correct , it doesn't mean it hasn't been done

 

when ever I encounter an electrical fault on a car - the first place I look is the fuse box

 

I would say checking the fuses is a valid comment & not stupid at all

Edited by sledgehammer, 27 February 2014 - 09:19 PM.

[KernowCooper]

The problem is all down to a understanding of how the Mini and other classic cars wiring was designed, with many of the owners half the age of the cars they drive, and being brought up in the era of modern cars with multi row fuse boxes.

 

Because the people who understand wiring of older cars and experience of working/repairing wiring faults then to those people, the comments of checking fuses on the headlight circuit is incorrect advice, when there is none. But thats down to experience and the only way gain knowledge is either to be trained, read about it or study the wiring diagrams.

 

Its the same in the tyre trade with stick a tube in that boy !

 

I understand your comment about there are cars with fuses on headlight circuits out there, I have seen every lash up under the sun, I don't want to get into a debate on if its good practice to check the fuses if you have headlight issues, I would advise people to get a wiring diagram and look at the circuit, this will give people a better understanding of their cars electrics, and if you need help just shout.

Edited by KernowCooper, 27 February 2014 - 09:47 PM.