An earth problem?

[Raider]

On my new 2000 the headlights weren't working other than on flash when the o/s inner and the n/s outer came on.

After cleaning the contacts on all the sealed beams and the earth on the horn I now have main beam on the headlamps (apart from the nearside inner which clearly needs replacing) but no dip beam.

Would you all think this is still an earthing problem?

I didn't want to spend too much time out in the cold to work on it any further!

Oh, and the amber light on the door pillar - can the lens be purchesed from anywhere?

[Richard B]

Can be the contacts in the column light switch. (3 screws to remove the binnacle)

[thescrapman]

Raider wrote:

Oh, and the amber light on the door pillar - can the lens be purchesed from anywhere?

You got a spare kidney?????

[Lord Sorbington]

Start with the basics.  Are you getting power at the connector plugs when the dipped beams should be working?

The outer lights on the 2000 have both dipped and main beam filaments.  It's possible that your dipped beam filaments have blown.

If the sealed beam light units are fubared, consider swapping them for units with replaceable bulbs.

As for the side repeater indicator lights, I think early mk2s use the same lenses as mk1 cars?  Can you fit later lenses?

If it becomes an MOT issue, then cars of that age don't need side repeaters anyway.

[kenv8pi]

Oh, and the amber light on the door pillar - can the lens be purchesed from anywhere?

   chris witor has some of them but only domed   he has new and used

regards  Ken

[Raider]

Thanks Ken ;)

Some more time spent today means I at least know where I am with the headlights.

When I started the wouldn't work on dip or main but 2 out of 4 would work on headlamp flash.

Cleaning connections at the lamps and the earths brought back full beam on 3 out of 4 (near side inner clearly gone).

After advice here I cleaned the contacts st the light switch and the main./dip - checked for current and there's electric going into the switch and back out again to the dip/main switch and that works fine. Back to the lamps and there's power at the connections for dip beam so really it's down to 3 sealed beams gone (2 outer on dip and one inner on main).

As I have bought the car for a continental trip which will involve overnight drving I'll look at halogen conversions.

Thanks for all the advice :)

[beefertoo]

:B :B.... they was working,i was out in it on monday night... guess i should have checked them before you came over

craig

[Raider]

Yeah, discgraceful isn't it - I buy a 40 year old car and look what happens  ;D ;D ;D

No worries Craig. I really like the car and I am very confident it's going to do a great job for me 8)

[kenv8pi]

Hi raider
  
  if you are putting in halogens in put some relays in or the indecator swicth will melt. its ok for short trips but longer one the points get very hot and the lights will go out well your driving. not good on yer way home on a fast b road

  regards Ken

[Raider]

Thanks Ken - I have had that happen before (on a TR7 and on a Toledo) so you are rigth, I should add the relays to the list of jobs to do