light issues

Hey Guys

i have a 95" 300tdi 90 and i seem to have lost the ability for the stalk to stay in the full beam position it seems to cut all lights if i push the stalk in the forward position!

This started last week, but now by main beams decide to flicker and even go off for a second or so (bit of a brown pant moment on a country road last night)

is this most likely a stalk issue? I also have recently change my bulbs for slightly brighter one and didn't know if this could be overloading them?

I'm going to put the old bulbs in as a precaution but it will be difficult to test until this evening..

Many Thanks

I'd try a meter across the bulb plug to start with & make sure you have a good earth.
Then work back from there, relay, switch & supply

ok, I whiped off the steering wheel and the cowel

I noticed some loose connections and burned plastic on the full beam contact..re-connected the loose connections and replaced the stalk just in case..all seems to be working but won't find out for sure until it get darkish and I can test driving in the driveway.

You say you fitted brighter bulbs, are these a higher wattage or just 'brighter'?
Higher wattage bulbs draw a higher current than the switchgear was designed for whereas 30%, 50% or 90% 'brigher' bulbs are the same wattage but produce more light.

Personally I like the Osram 90% brighter 55/60W bulbs, have been running them for a couple of years and am very impressed. Had Phillips 30% brighter for 8-years before that and while they were very good the Osram units perform much better (as they should).

these are +30%, 60/50w

hope they are ok, wouldn't want to melt the switchgear..

+30, +60 or +90 are all ok if they are 55/60W. Do not go above 60W as they illegal for on-road use.

yu have to differntiate between higher light output and higher wattage - the first use different gases and filaments to give more light - the latter just put more current through the bulb, and are more likely to blow fuses/ melt wiring.

No they are the same as original (actually 55/60W I should think) so they should be fine. That said, LR switchgear is known to be a bit fragile so I seem to recall that I bypassed mine and fitted relays 11-years ago even for the normal lighting circuits as this removes ALL load from the switch.