S3 headlight issues

Hi all,

I know this has been posted before but i cant find the answers im looking for.

The other day my headlights gave up whilst driving. Ive checked the fuses and they dont appear to be blown.

The only earths i can find for this are on the panel in front of the radiator. Am i missing any?

Before a shell out for a new indicator stalk or headlight switch is there a best way to test each? I have a multimeter and a vague idea onnhow to use one but it doesnt have continuity function.

Ive already removed the headlight and tested for power but nothing seems to be getting through.

Any help is welcome

....must be the time of year - I had exactly the same yesterday evening - took the fuses out (none blown) put them back in and gave them a bit of a spin in their holders and just like magic they worked - who needs a multimeter...just magic fingers

First check for power at the fuse box,contact corrosion here often a problem.

Beat me to it ozawoza.

tottot said:

First check for power at the fuse box,contact corrosion here often a problem.

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Thanks tottot. Am i just looking for power or should they be at specific volts?

Picked a lovley day to be playing with electrics its p***ing down in brum

You should have 12v at the box,the problem with using a multimeter is it will give you a reading of the volts even when the connection is so poor the lights will not work. I find a side lamp unit makes a handy tester with a croc clip on one wire and a probe on the other. Its also chucking it down and blowing a hooly here at the edge of the world. [ west west wales]

tottot said:

You should have 12v at the box,the problem with using a multimeter is it will give you a reading of the volts even when the connection is so poor the lights will not work. I find a side lamp unit makes a handy tester with a croc clip on one wire and a probe on the other. Its also chucking it down and blowing a hooly here at the edge of the world. [ west west wales]

Click to expand...

Thanks Totton. I'll have a play around

Original wiring for series 3 headlights does not have a fuse in circuit.

Yeah No fuse to the main beam, but I think the dipped lights are...That's what pointed me in the direction of fiddling with fuses, cos main beam was working but dipped weren't - Have you tried main beam on bigal89?

Sounds like the light switch (toggle switch) to me.

The light switch is probably gone, but the reason will be a short circuit. £4.00 for a replacement switch.

Yeah but the £4 switches are the work of the devil very poor quality. My money is on the indicator stalk, replace it and add relays to the headlamps so that the new one does not get fried.

Finally got it sorted. Turned out to be indicator stalk even though is test ok with multimeter (mabe i need to go to school).

I got a chepo one to fault find but the quality is awful. Feels like in gonna break the dam thing.

As im guessing with most landies ive fixed one fault but now have another. Anybody else had the red warning light flash when you use the indicators? Have i damaged or touched somthing i souldnt?

If it is a series three clean the fuses, all sorts of things glow when they are dodgy. Did you fit relays to the dip/main circuits ? The cheap indicator stalk switches get fried if you don't but you may get a year from it first.

divie said:

If it is a series three clean the fuses, all sorts of things glow when they are dodgy. Did you fit relays to the dip/main circuits ? The cheap indicator stalk switches get fried if you don't but you may get a year from it first.

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Hi divie
No there isnt any relays other than thee indicator. Any recommendations for which relay to use?

Ill have a play with the fuses tomorrow if i get chance.

Do you know what the red light if for? Its right next to the fuel light.

Sounds like a trailer repeater lamp.