Xenon headlights problems - URGENT!!!

[James99]

I need to take my car to France this weekend and my lights aren't working!!!

I can only get parking lights and full beam to come on - no dipped beam. I thought it was the switch stalk unit so switched it over with a second hand one I bought, but the problem is still there. I took apart the original switch to see what it looked like and it did look quite gunged up, so I cleaned the points and will try putting it back on just in case I was unlucky enough to buy another unit with exactly the same problem (although I am thinking this will be unlikely).

I have checked the fuses to the right of the dash on the inside of the driver's door and they are all okay (I assume this is the right place?).

I have tried new bulbs but no joy. I think it would have been strange for them both to go at once, but I checked anyway.

I spoke to a garage today and they mentioned a "relay" which could be the problem. Can anyone expand on where thi sis located and whether it is likely to be the problem?

I did discover when buying new bulbs that they are actually Xenon headlights which I think where an extra when the car was new. Could this make a difference to what the likely problem might be?

Any help very much appreciated!!!

[mad-for-tar]

Assuming you have figured out orientation of fuses in that fusebox, fuses you need to check are Fuse 10, 5amp for automatic headlight adjustment (Xenon headlamp level controller). Fuse 20, 10amp for RH dip beam, Fuse 21, LH dip beam.

On the relay carrier up in the drivers footwell (13 relay carrier), relays 4 and 5 are the bulb monitoring devices, think they are actually diodes that inform the DIS if there is a bulb blown.

Dont know if they will be your problem though. Would suggest removing the connector from each headlight and with the dip beam switched on, check for voltage, with a multimeter, in pin 2 of each connector, for the RH light the wire colour is yellow/white and LH light wire colour is yellow/black. If you have voltage to these wires at the connector, then problem lies either with the Xenon bulbs themselves of the bulb controller which is mounted underneath the headlight unit.

HTH

[James99]

Thanks

I'll double check the fuses and get hold of a multimeter to check the connecters. Just hope I can find the problem - I'll let you know how I get on.

Regards

[James99]

Assuming you have figured out orientation of fuses in that fusebox, fuses you need to check are Fuse 10, 5amp for automatic headlight adjustment (Xenon headlamp level controller). Fuse 20, 10amp for RH dip beam, Fuse 21, LH dip beam.

On the relay carrier up in the drivers footwell (13 relay carrier), relays 4 and 5 are the bulb monitoring devices, think they are actually diodes that inform the DIS if there is a bulb blown.

Dont know if they will be your problem though. Would suggest removing the connector from each headlight and with the dip beam switched on, check for voltage, with a multimeter, in pin 2 of each connector, for the RH light the wire colour is yellow/white and LH light wire colour is yellow/black. If you have voltage to these wires at the connector, then problem lies either with the Xenon bulbs themselves of the bulb controller which is mounted underneath the headlight unit.

HTH

There is voltage at the connecters!

The bulbs are okay.

Can you expand more on the bulb contrller? Do I just need new one(s)? Is there one for each headlight? If so, does it seem strange that both would go together, or would one stop both from working?

I really appreciate the help!!!!

Many thanks

[James99]

Just to add, i have read up a bit on the headlight controller.

I am fairly sure I have the gas/xenon type bulbs as i went and bought a couple more from Halfords (they are called xenon bulbs) and mine were the same. However, Haynes manual says Xenon/gas type bulbs have an auto adjuster (controller) which automaticaly adjusts, but i don't know if mine has that as I also have the same white hex. adjusters for each healight which Haynes talk about for adjusting halogen bulbs???

My car is a 2001 B5 so would it still have this auto adjustment? I also have the small dial on the dash for headlight height.

I am getting desperate as I need to get this fixed.

Many thanks

[mad-for-tar]

Now that you mention about the headlight adjustment on the dash, you do NOT have Xenon factory fitted lights as standard. The factory fitted Xenons would normally have a yellow triangular sticker on the back cover of the light with a hazard warning symbol on it. If you took off that cover, the Xenon light would have a thick red cable coming up inside the lamp housing and a large silver connector on the end of it which is just pushed onto the end of the bulb. The Xenon bulbs should look like below if the car has Xenon headlights, otherwise they are standard halogen H7 bulbs.


Xenon headlights come with the manual adjusters in the lamp itself but NO internal dash adjuster.
Therefore you dont have any of the headlight levelling mechanism that the Xenon lights have.

In this case, wiring and relays are different. Fuses 20 and 21 are the dip beams so assuming these are ok, check the wires on the headlight connectors as follows then for voltage with them switched on:
LH dip beam: Pin 5, black/white wire
RH dip beam: Pin 5, yellow/black wire

The relays that control the dip beam circuit are as follows:

Somewhere around the 13 relay carrier there should be another bank of 4 relays (holds 6 maximum). Relay 2 here from the left is the X contact relief relay which provides primary power to the light switch and the other relays in the lighting circuit. I think this one should be OK though.

On that 13 relay carrier, there are 2 more relays, one in particular that needs to be checked, relay 9 (3rd one in on bottom row). This is the driving light relay and I suspect this could be your problem. The one to the left of it, relay 8 is daytime driving light relay but I am not completely sure of its function, think it is for countries where the lights come on when the ignition is switched on but this doesnt apply to the UK.

I would recommend concentrating in particular on relay 9 as this may be the problem of not having dip beams if everything else appears OK.

Failing all that, I am stumped for ideas, but one thing to note is never trust a new bulb works from the pack either, always try a known working bulb before tearing half the car apart!!

HTH