Headlight problem and repair
10-19-2009, 09:51 PM
#1
Racer
Thread Starter
Headlight problem and repair
This does not warrant a picture write up , but thought I would share.
1986.5 MY
On Saturday as I was set to leave a local car show turned on the headlight switch to position 2 with car running. All running lights came on headlights pop up but no headlights both sides.
Operate stalk to high beam both come on but no high beam indicator on dash.
Use stalk to return to low beam both go out. Flash with stalk both light up but dash highbeam indicator does not light.
Drive home with both lights on in high beam position dash indicator unlit and I can tell you this is low beam that is operative in this position.
This morning I check operation is the same as Saturday and it is.
Check all four high and low beam fuses, they are intact and corrosion free on holder and fuse. Check operation same as before.
Pull headlight double relay mmm blades look dirty clean with some deoxit and replug a couple times. Check operation and voilà all functions normal including dash highbeam indicator in high and flash.
Problem solved
It does appear we have a default safety feature in the 86.5 giving low beams with the switch in high bypassing the relay. Have never seen mention of this so I thought it worth posting.
Also took the time to eliminate the annoying rattle from the door lock guard. ( just had to tighten the 13mm bolt behind the lock motor) good thing I have small hands!
After all this hard work I just had to reward myself by terrorizing the neighbours with a few high speed laps.....
1986.5 MY
On Saturday as I was set to leave a local car show turned on the headlight switch to position 2 with car running. All running lights came on headlights pop up but no headlights both sides.
Operate stalk to high beam both come on but no high beam indicator on dash.
Use stalk to return to low beam both go out. Flash with stalk both light up but dash highbeam indicator does not light.
Drive home with both lights on in high beam position dash indicator unlit and I can tell you this is low beam that is operative in this position.
This morning I check operation is the same as Saturday and it is.
Check all four high and low beam fuses, they are intact and corrosion free on holder and fuse. Check operation same as before.
Pull headlight double relay mmm blades look dirty clean with some deoxit and replug a couple times. Check operation and voilà all functions normal including dash highbeam indicator in high and flash.
Problem solved
It does appear we have a default safety feature in the 86.5 giving low beams with the switch in high bypassing the relay. Have never seen mention of this so I thought it worth posting.
Also took the time to eliminate the annoying rattle from the door lock guard. ( just had to tighten the 13mm bolt behind the lock motor) good thing I have small hands!
After all this hard work I just had to reward myself by terrorizing the neighbours with a few high speed laps.....
10-20-2009, 09:22 AM
#3
Burning Brakes
That's exactly what I do after "fixing" something, no matter how easy it is, like changing a fuse or an interior lamp....
Just to check everything works after the fix lol!
Regards
10-20-2009, 10:22 PM
#4
Electron Wrangler
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Sorry - may have seemed that way but its not a feature - seems like it was a relay connection problem - but there is no bypass mechanism - the pop-up headlights only ever come on via the relay in either low or high beam mode - no relay no headlights....
Hopefully your terminal cleaning solved a problem - if not maybe just handling the relay got it working again... I'd keep a close eye on it...
Alan
Hopefully your terminal cleaning solved a problem - if not maybe just handling the relay got it working again... I'd keep a close eye on it...
Alan
