Without Brights On

With Brights On

Hope everyone is having a great weekend.

The inside light on the driver's side (US) doesn't work unless the brights are on. It seems like the yellow (fog?) part of it isn't working. When the brights are on, there is a slight yellow tinge at the top of the functioning light & not on the nonfunctioning lamp.

I'm getting a code B1471 Current headlamp - open circuit/short to ground.

In researching other threads, I noticed that this code can also be related to the air shock system. By all appearances the shocks work well. When I recently had the bumper cover off, I cleaned 3 grounding posts, one on one side and two on the other. I believe this problem existed before I cleaned the posts.

Any ideas? I suspect it could be the lamp; however, they were changed recently. If the description doesn't point to the issue, I will replace the bulb just to be sure before I try something else.

Thanks for your help,

Steve S.

 

They are called PILOT LAMPS and there is a separate small bulb that illuminates with the side lights.
WEDGE BASE 5W C2S15074 (it's just a regular 'peanut' bulb)

 

Thanks, MotorCarMan. So, this small bulb is actually a side light & when it is out, the headlamp won't work on low beam?

Best,

Steve S.

 

I just turned on the parking lights and the amber side lights came on on both sides. The inside front light on the right side was on at the top, too, The defective light did not come on. It seems that this "peanut bulb" goes in the headlamp assembly? I think I can see it on the light that is working.

Thanks and best,

Steve S.

 

Hi Steve,
When the headlights are on the first click this is known as 'side lights' in UK and 'park lights' here in NZ. Only the tail lights and the small 5 watt bulbs tucked into the top of the inner headlights are on. These low power lights are just to show the car up when parked at night. As these are usually W5W incandescent bulbs, they can look more yellow than the headlights. The owner's manual has the instructions for changing these bulbs, and there are a number of threads on it as well. Many of us have changed these bulbs to LEDs for a whiter light.
On the second click of the headlight switch, the 'low beam' outer lights are on as well as the park lights. Some cars have HID light units, and some have Halogen bulbs. This is partially a function of the trim level of the car, with higher trim levels receiving HIDs, but can also be due to the market the car was sold into. Some countries do not allow HID or Halogen bulbs. The U.S DOT has history of doing things like that.
When the light control wand is pushed forward, the high beams ('brights') are powered on. These are in the inner headlights. The outer headlights on 'low' or 'dip' stay on, and the high beams just add to them. If the outer headlights are HID, they (except for early cars) have no 'high' beam function and are 'dip' only. If they are Halogen, then they have the usual two-filament bulb that can be either high or low. The inner headlights are always Halogen bulbs as standard, but LEDs can be fitted to them (H7 bulbs).
Looking at your problem, I would check that the headlight connector (on the bottom of the headlight unit) is free of corrosion. I think a faulty earth connection would give a problem like this where a light is on when it should not be. There are a number of threads dealing with this issue on this forum.

Pete M

 

Hi Steve,

as your car IS an early one, it should have the high beam function for the outer HID headlights, so called "Bi-Xenon".

Best reagrds,

Thomas

 

Thanks, Pete & Thomas!

My owners manual doesn't have replacement insructions. I thought that I replaced the bulbs; will look for the invoice to see what bulbs I ordered. I'm pretty sure I did not replace these based on the installation instructions.

Don B posted this in a previous thread:

"I assume you are describing the parking lamp bulb which fits into the top of the headlamp assembly. I agree that they are a major pain to replace, especially the first time. I managed to figure it out by using a flashlight and a small inspection mirror to study the location of the bulb.

The bulb is mounted in a plastic holder/electrical connector, and you can follow the wires with your fingers to touch the plastic holder. I think you are supposed to rotate the plastic holder counter-clockwise (as viewed from the driver's seat) to detach the holder from the headlamp assembly. Installation is the reverse, but it's not easy either, and has to be done by feel. You can watch the front of the headlamp assembly to help you get the bulb into position, and it may help to position your flashlight behind the headlamp so you can see how you need to position the bulb to get it into its proper place."

On our '04 the bulb is a W5W / 2825 type. Our car has HID headlamps, and the standard W5W bulbs were very yellow compared to the headlight, so I tried a few LED bulbs and found one with a 5000K color temperature that is close to the color of the headlamp. I bought them from an eBay seller and they look like this: &

 

Hi Steve,
I just checked, and the manual instructions for the parking light bulbs is wrong. It mentions turning the holder, but that is incorrect, at least for my car.
After removing the circular cap with the bayonet-type lock... The bulb holder is a long plastic tube with the bulb socket at the forward end. At the back end of it, toward the inside of the car there is a plastic tab underneath that clicks into a groove on the bottom of the bulb holder. To extract the bulb, locate the two black wires that go into the bulb holder. Grasp them lightly and pull them gently to the rear. At the same time reach in with the longest finger of the other hand and gently lift the tab that is at the bottom rear of the bulb holder. The bulb holder should then release and be pulled out by the wires. Refitting is the reverse, making sure that the tab is at the bottom. You can look in the front of the headlight to ensure the bulb is in the right place behind the decorative cover of the parking light inside the headlight.
It's only tricky the first time because a. The manual is wrong, and b. You can't see what you're doing.

Pete M

 

Using my new-found endoscopy skills

Thanks, Pete. The tab you mentioned is clearly visible. There must have been a few changes along the way as to how the receptacle is attached.

Best,

Steve S.

 

Philips H7 12 V 55U DOT

I'm beginning to think that I may have replaced this bulb already. I put in another bulb with the same result: no light on low beam; works on high beam.

I will check the connector as suggested by Pete.

Thanks and best,

Steve S.

 

https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...my-car-269552/

The above thread that I originated last year covered exactly the same ground as this one is covering with the same conclusion! I was then distracted & you know the rest of the story! I guess the best part about old age is that it doesn't last very long!

I had replaced the originals made in Poland with ones made in Germany. You fellows were helpful then as you are now!! So, obviously it is something else. I recall that after I replaced them last year, for a short while, everything seemed to work. So, I will reinspect the ground posts and the connector. I think Thomas mentioned that he had replaced the ballasts. Is this something I should consider?

As always, your excellent help is so much appreciated!

Best,

Steve S.

Thanks & best,

Steve

 

For many folks it lasts longer than the "career" or "working" years.
Three generations at that, my line, WEF about a month ago.

Much the same, earlier generations, but formal retirement plans were not common prior to 1900.

In any case "fixing" vintage Jaguars over and over again because one has forgotten, is akin to perpetually ingenue sex.

Who cares if it is the first time or hundred and first? So long as it is a pleasant exercise and gains a favourable outcome!

"The expense is damnable", as Chesterton put it. But that was going to be the case, regardless.

 

That bulb you picture above is not the bulb that you say is not working. That is the main high-beam bulb, which in your initial post does work. Your description of "no light on low beam, work on high beam" is absolutely correct. The inner headlight main bulb is high beam only.

There is a much smaller bulb at the very top of the reflector for the parking light. American cars use the amber running light as the parking light, but many, if not most, European cars do not. I can't tell you how to access it, as I've not needed to.

 

Bill, you are a very witty guy! What you said is profound!

Wfooshe! Thank you! Starting to make sense I purchased the type mentioned by Don B in an older post which looked exactly like the one you have pictured. I returned them because I thought they didn't fit. Come to find out they are a different bulb all together.

Now, to find the little bugger!!

Best,

Steve S.

 

A picture taken with the endoscope. It is above the bulb that I had removed and pictured above. It looks easy enough to remove, but my hand is too large & my wife refuses to... When I get the time, I fear that if I try to use forceps, I will break something. I will pull the headlamp fixture and remove it from workbench.

 

Hi Steve ,
Great! You found it. Now look back at post #8 for removal instructions. The tab at the right which is on the bottom just needs to be lifted while pulling the wires.

Pete M

 

Pete, you saved the day!! As did all of the other fine gents helping!!

I removed the headlamp assembly. Really helped that I reread my thread from last year that I posted above. On it, AiX pointed out that to remove the headlamp assemblies, you don't have to remove the bumper cover completely, just the top.

Bulbs are Peak 2825 from Batteries+ two bulbs for 6 bucks.

Cylindrical tube is a bit intuitive as to how it goes in & out. I needed a long pair of needle nose to remove & replace. On my car both of the "ears " of the tube needed to be squeezed together.

Thanks again for all the excellent help!!

Steve S.

 

Hi Steve,
Well done! Next time you will be able to change bulbs without removing the light units.
I replaced those glass wedge bulbs with LEDs. I also replaced the inner (high beam) lights with LEDs of 35w.
The result is excellent lights and harmonious appearance with all the lights the same white color.


Pete M

 

Thanks, Pete. The 35W bulbs really look good! If there is a "next time", I will make the change. In the interim, a transmission fluid/pan change is planned for the New Year.
Carpe diem,
Steve