Headlight failure, not a bulb or fuse though!

[martinrichardt]

I wonder if anyone has any ideas for this problem;

My 2006 Golf Plus with BKD engine, has a bulb failure showing on the dashboard, and the right headlight is failed in dipped beam, but full beam working.
Left headlight works in both full and dipped beam.
The engine fuse box has a 40A fuse for the headlights which is fine.
Connections at the bulb appear okay
No voltage at terminal 6(?if I remember rightly) of the Right side headlamps electrical connector in on or off position for dipped beam.

The electrics seem to split in two for main and dipped, after the 40A fuse, but the wires look okay where I can visualise.
I think there is an ECU / Relay between fuse and headlights possibly called J519 (?)

The secondary fusebox is on the right behind the storage drawer ( it is rectangular), and the relays (j519?) are above it.

Has anyone had experience of this, or knowledge about it?

It’s a nice car for 166,000 miles and I’ve just put new callipers, discs and pads on it - so I’m invested!
Your ideas will be gratefully received!

[Crasher]

If you have fitted a new bulb you will need to get into the central electrics system with a diagnostic computer.

[martinrichardt]

Thank you Crasher,
i have wondered about tracking the wiring back to the relay to see if I could find where the voltage dropped out.
I’m guessing that the fault is in the relay itself but would be nice to have confirmation. Would Vagcom pick this up? My code reader shows no faults, but it’s only basic.
i wonder about going to an auto electrician but would like to do what I can before shelling out my hard earned cash!
should I expect an auto electrician to have VW Diagnostic kit?

[Crasher]

The relay is one of many inside the central electrics box, I think it is solid state but I don’t bother venturing inside as it is not cost effective for my customers. You need full legal VCDS to communicate properly with the central electrics unit.

[martinrichard]

Thank you, so it probably/possibly means that the central electrics box will need replacing. Shame, I reckon that could cost a quarter of what the cars worth.

Would I need a VW specialist auto electrician and if so does anyone know someone in the High Wycombe (Bucks) area?

Also,(probably a silly question) is it possible to splice into the cables from the good headlight and run the other headlight in parallel - or would the extra load wreck the relays?

[Crasher]

If you doubled up, the central electrics unit would shut down. You should not balance a cars value against repair costs, it can get to the point a tank of fuel is the cars value. I told a chap with a 2014 S6 this the other week when my estimate of £7k for repairs was a third of what he paid for it but I told him the way I look at it is the car is an £85k car, an older £85k car but it still cost £85k to buy and cars don’t get cheaper to repair as they age...

Yes it will have to be coded into the car by someone who has the equipment and knowledge.