Date: Fri, 04 Feb 2005 07:27:00 +0000 From: Pooh Bear <rabbitsfriendsandrelationsnospamail.com> Subject: Re: Silly headlamp problem on '93 9000
The Malt Hound wrote: > "Pooh Bear" <rabbitsfriendsandrelationsnospamail.com> wrote in message > news:420171A4.48EF9DF1nospamail.com... > > Hi all, > > > > I have had various headlight problems since purchase of my 'lemon' > > 9000 > > CSE 2.0 LPT. > > > > I fixed most of them by replacing / fixing the 'headlamp control > > unit' > > that detects bust filaments. > > > > For your info - said unit ( the orange one ) packs up due to > > vibration > > causing solder joints to fail. Wish I'd known that earlier ! Anyway > > I > > found a replacement ( also turned out to be defective long term but > > I > > was on the case by then and fixed both the original and replacement > > with > > a soldering iron ! ). > > > > Since then it's been better but occasionally one headlamp won't > > illuminate on dip beam ( normally the offside one - UK - but very > > occassionally the nearside one ). Full beam never seems to be a > > problem. > > When the bulb doesn't illuminate, the dash displays a fault so the > > 'control unit' is doing its job. > > > > A 'thump' to the headlamp glass normally fixes it - as does driving > > some > > distance - you normally hit a bump that encourages the unilluminated > > bulb to spring to life. > > > > Is there a known weak spot that accounts for this ? I'm really > > puzzled. > > Are you sure the bulb is not blown? Sometimes the broken filamnet > will remain attached to the poles and swing around in the bulb > envelope until the two ends touch together, temporarily welding > itself, only to beak apart at the next cooling cycle. I'm familar with the failure mode you mention. In fact I once had a bedside lamp that failed that way and I used to swing it around to re-make the contact just for fun ! The last time they played up it was the n/s lamp that was out. I guess both filaments could be bust ? I've got some high intensity Xenon ? replacements anyway so I guess I should simply swap them out. Never seen this with car lights before though. Ohhh - something that might provide another clue. When I first noticed the problem, adjusting the beam height control would sometimes fix it. Graham
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