8 replies to this topic

[onlymelloyd]

Hi all, Not sure where to start here so I hope this makes sense.

Car is a 1991 checkmate

Everything was working when I took it off the road in February. I have since fitted a new front end but I have not touched or damaged the wiring and did not remove the switch or dip beam stalk. I did of course remove the headlights but I was careful when disconnecting and have put all the wires back where they came from.

I have fitted all of the lights back to the car, the tail lights work fine, the dash lights work fine and clicking from dip beam to high beam shows the blue light on the dash, but, I have no front side lights, dip beam or high beam?

The fact that the rear lights work and the dash lights work suggest it is not the one fuse I know about or the switch. Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks in advance!

[KernowCooper]

Test the bullet connections behind the grill for power/earth the info is all here if that helps http://www.theminifo...ttach_id=155892

Red/green is sidelights

Blue/red is dip

Blue/white is main beam

Black is earth

[RedRuby]

If the above does not fix the fault there are four online fuses behind the dash just above the steering column bracket, 1 each for front dipped beam and1 each for front main beam, but more probably a loose or dirty connection at the front as Kerno says.

[KernowCooper]

You will only have a fuse on the headlights (Dip/Main) if you have the later cars 24fusebox, I have not seen any 1991 cars with one, so it will have the bulkhead mounted 4 fusebox and no fuses on the headlight circuit.

[Dan]

Given the scope of the failure I'd suggest it's most likely the light units aren't earthed.

[onlymelloyd]

Thanks for everyone's help. I'm going to check all these things tonight.
The only thing I'm not sure how to do is how to check that I have a good earth with the voltage meter?

[Dan]

You ideally need a multi meter for simplicity, not a plain volt meter. A continuity test will give you a rough idea about the earth but measuring the resistance is best.

[onlymelloyd]

Sorry, that's what I meant, a multi meter. I have one but not sure which setting I use for a resistance test or where I put the cables?

[KernowCooper]

Do a resistance test by putting the meter on ohms and touch each side of the earth wire, so one side of bullet connector to the other side and idealy the reading should be "0" ohms, if you have a reading of 4ohms you have a dirth earth point so strip investigate and clean.

 

To do a volt drop test on a non working circuit is a bit more difficult as you need current flow to test for volt drop, if you place your Red + multimeter probe on the earth stud, and the Black - probe on the terminal then you can read volt drop 0v is perfect 0.5v is acceptible but bigger voltages show a bad connection. But the circuit need to be working and drawing current for this test. If you volt drop a circuit where there is no connection as its dirty/broken and there is 10a circuit (2 x55w headligh bulbs) and you make the circuit completly with the meter and depending on how good the protection circuit is (some cheap ones have none) , your meter will see the amperage as your using the meter probes to make the circuit and most likely fry!

 

Volt Drop is explained herehttp://www.theminifo...ring-volt-drop/