One-eyed S3 - bit of an interesting one

[sleeptalker]

Hi All

Working on the S3 this weekend I noticed that my left (passenger-side) main headlight only switches the main light on once the alternator is charging the battery: So when I switch on my night lights when starting the car (not full beam, just main beam) the right side lamp comes on, but only the side light of my left lamp comes on. Only when I blip the throttle and the charge-warning light goes out does the left headlight then come into life.

Strange?!

I think all fuses and relays are working else it wouldn't work at all right?

Weird one this but i'm sure someone bright's got an idea as to what's the cause!

Any ideas?

A

[ketvrin]

Hi Anders

do you have a large yellow connector near the ignition switch by any chance ?

K

ETA : like this ...

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... Circuit/Fuse blows when turning ignition

Edited by ketvrin on Monday 8th February 11:49

[Gerald-TVR]

Sounds to me as if there might be a high resistance in the Headlight circiut to the LH side. I think a quick check with a meter might show the problem (or if you were me a quick trip to the autoelectrician)

Norman

[tozerman]

I would check the connectors in the wheelarch behind the headlamp itself, they can often get stted up or work loose, turn the lights on and give the connectors a good waggle and see what happens.
cheers.....Tony..

[orange_dodo]

tozerman said:

I would check the connectors in the wheelarch behind the headlamp itself, they can often get stted up or work loose, turn the lights on and give the connectors a good waggle and see what happens.
cheers.....Tony..

I replaced them and all kinds of weird electrical problems vanished, that and my headlights stopped turning off whenever I hit a bump!

[Gerald-TVR]

Do we know the outcome?

[sleeptalker]

Not yet no - spent the weekend redoing the door skin 'fake' wooden strips in a nice matt black (looks great!) and fitting all new sound system to the doors and rear compartment.

When it drys up a bit i'm going to pop the bonnet remove the wheel arch and see what the connectors are like leading to the headlight assembly. There's obviously contact but as one of you mentioned it's likely to be degraded in some way as it only lights when the extra omph from the alternator kicks into the electrical circuit.

[sleeptalker]

Just to close this thread - the service i've just had done has solved the problem by (as you suggested!) removing the standard wiring connector and replacing it with a new one. Sounds like there was extra resistance on that single headlight and replacing the dodgy connector sorted it!

Thanks all!