Hi,

I have just bought an RB5 and when I bought it the dipped beam headlights weren't working. *The previous owner said it was a fuse, but I was sceptical because if it was, surely he would have just replaced the fuse.

So, earlier this evening I did a bit of investigation and here are my findings...

The H4 bulbs look brand new (probably been replaced by previous owner as a first port of call!)
The sidelights work
The main (full beam works)
The fog lights work
Neither left hand or right hand 15A fuses are blown
The relays "click" when the headlights are turned from the sidelight position on the indicator stalk
There is no power at the plug the the headlight fits onto (multi meter tested it).

So, with the above, it seems like the switch inside the car is working as it should (because the relays are clicking), but what seems to be the problem is something isn't switching over to provide power to to the dipped beam...?

A strange one! Anyone have any ideas?

Thanks in advance.

Luke

 

If you have main/high beam (HU) then its probably a problem with the stalk connection for dip (HL).

 

It's very difficult to check at the connector, since Scoobs use a switched earth, rather than a switched feed. It does sound like a stalk problem.

BUT: DO check the bulbs thoroughly. WITHOUT touching the glass, and using a short length of wire to help, splash the contacts briefly across a battery. It should light up using both pairs of connectors, or you should get roughly the same resisitance using both pairs. If not, the bulbs are suspect. Believe it or not, it''s certainly NOT rare to get both going at once.

 

Does your RB5 have the PIAA driving lamps?

IIRC a broken earth on the feed to these can cause this issue

 

I have PIAA's. And the spade connector, the earth one, disconnected on mine. It didn't affect the headlights though.

 

Yes it does have PIAA's.

 

And have you checked the earth on the feed?

 

Got my car back earlier and the headlights have been fixed.... Embarrassingly, the only thing that was wrong was both bulbs had blown!!!! I can't believe I missed that! The bulbs looked brand new!!

 

Ta daaaaaaaaaaaa!