headlight not working but bulb ok - fuse?

[paynes1]

Set off home this evening and warning came up on dash for light fault. The driver side headlight was not working.
Got home and changed bulb, but still not working, so tried bulb from other side (working) and still did not work on driver side. Main beam and side light ok.
Could this be a fuse issue? Tried finding the relevant fuse according to the manual, but neither the fuse box in the engine bay or the 2 internal fuse boxes looked like those in the handbook.
Can someone please tell me if it may be a blown single fuse, and if so, where will I find it?
Many Thanks

Steve P

2006 Passat 2.0L TDi

[RichardSEL]

Advise whether you tested the original RHS dipped beam bulb in the LHS bulb holder? I'm assuming you've got Halogen bulbs.
Fuses for dipped beams are combined with full beam so as you report full beams working it's not a fuse issue
(according to 201/1 ed. 10/2006. PM me an email address for return attach, remind me what it's for)

Do your headlamps have the rubber cap on their rears?

A blown headlamp bulb should not need the line restoring in VCDS after changing for good. Some circuits do switch off their supply in the event of a faulty component. But usually, after IGN off, key out, waiting a few minutes, key back in and IGN on, the line is restored, re-tested and only if line is still faulty does it register an error with bulb out icon on dash.

VW have lost the plot as far as fuses are concerned. Few years back I blew the cig lighter line. Even main agent service dept. said they have to go plonking around with a testmeter to find which fuse does what. Course that does pump up the bill. They tried getting me to sign to "book it in".

[RichardSEL]

You told me that you have the rubber caps at the back of the light units. And that the bulb from the not working driver side in the ok passenger side was ok.

Seems the fault has progressed as you tell that now neither side has a working headlight, even with new bulbs. Main beams work ok both sides. Also, the side light (middle unit) on driver side does not work now...

Check for water ingress by damp on carpets. See what's being reported in a VCDS Autoscan.
Confirm the bulbs you're changing to are the same as the ones you're taking out. i.e. Watts

Get a copy of the fuse list I mentioned, you have PM. It's not unknown for water ingress to run down the back of the fuse panels too
Check your bottom of windscreen gutters (under the grill) are free from leaves which can cause water block and overflow

[paynes1]

Many thanks for help and advice.

Tried all of the above, but still no joy. Finally had to resort to the local (friendly) garage. They checked all of the fittings but still no lights. They took out all of the bulbs from all of the light fittings and checked them and replaced one of the new bulbs I had fitted then reset 'something' on the computer.

I now have working lights again Still not sure what the actual problem was, they think that either one or both of the new (Halfords) bulbs may have been faulty. They only charged £10 so well worth the money. They weren't sure which fuse did what either .....

It is great to know that a non-techie can always turn to helpful people on forums like this for help and ideas.

[RichardSEL]

If you got the correct bulb for your car from Halfords then it couldn't have been a Lucas or decent equivalent but some Chinese-made cheeep rubbish they sell to the unwary.

The fault should've reset itself once bulbs within spec are fitted. Tenner, yes very helpful garage...
Hope the listing helps anyways...