Coming home the other night, twilight falling rapidly, turned on lights and only one side came on, cant be bulbs as not even high beams came on on that side, totally dark, not low or high on outer bulb and nothing on inner high beam either.
Am i looking for a fuse? A ground? Or a relay?? Inevitably when i have the time to investigate this it will undoubtedly work, as this happened before, but went away by itself, fast forward 3 years and its done it again.
Where am i looking folks? Its always easier to find a.problem thats actually happening!! If they stay out i can find it.

 

Once found, one of the "easies" !!!


I've been there. Humour. One of the better pictures of my car was taken by me a few years ago near the shopping center that I use most. Lights on, full lock wheels, various views. One shot looked really good. I use it as a screen saver on two of my machines !!!


Joker: The left inboard and outboard lamps are dark!!!


Simple temporary fix: Just roll the fuses in their cradles.


Next. Use contact cleaner top side.


High level: remove the holder from it's mount. Scrub the back side clean a brush and solvent.


Super: Replace all of the original Lucas fuses with the paper inserts
with new SAE equivalents. Differing ways depicting value!!


Magnificent: Remove the fuse block. Use an after market blade fuse
box. Solder it in and attach in space formerly used by the glass fuse holder box.


Concours Folks: Ignore, merely roll the fuses when the lamps fail to light up!!


Kinda fun, Oddities and simple remedies.


Carl

 

Has the S3 got the small lamp fuse blocks on top of the radiator support panel, I dont remember????.

Also there is a multi loom connector just in front of that area on each side, maybe some Green growth going on??.

 

On my car, the fuse block is on the left wig wall, up toward the windshield washer tank.

 

Carl, you hit the nail on the head! Rolled fuses and everything came on, so i took them all out, cleaned the holders, and put back in with a dab if electrical grease!

 

Also found out why my cooling fan isnt coming on, fuse is blown and theres a hole in fuse cover where it got hot!

 

Issue found. Now the fix:


1. The fan is done for, electrics in dead short or mechanicly partly or completely seized.


2. The "hot" from the relay to the fan motor is shorted to ground.


Carl

 

Wow, you folks are awesome, Earlier this year, I was having headlight issues on my XJ6. Ended up replacing the relay and all lamps came back except one, the L/H high beam which is still out. I remembered while removing the lamps for testing, the wires came out of the socket. The lamp tested ok when 12V was applied to it outside its cavity I am afraid I might not have placed the wires back in the proper order causing the lamp not to come on. I guess my question is : does it really matter the order wires are in the socket? stop laughing..


john

 

I'm Not laughing, John.
No, of the 2 wires it makes no difference which wire is where; one is 12V hot, the other is grounded (negative, screwed to the body somewhere); or at least it should be.

In fact, I would bet that's your problem, as the ground wires are a bit hinky in the best circumstances.

When Nix came to me she only had one high beam, so I had to put new grounds on both lights (ring connectors screwed to the radiator mount) and haven't had any trouble since.
(';')

 

"........as the ground wires are a bit hinky......" thats an entry for the funny terminolgy thread :-)

 

I delight in word play. I can't think of a better descriptive word
for the ground method used here. Hinky, neat!!!


The only come to mind that might be better or at least equal are profane. Not used in my lexicon, any more. Never, can't say that...


Carl