Headlamp On/off Switch Playing Tricks, Now you see....now you dont!

A hair raising trip home last night with headlamps that had a mind of their own.

Switching the dip headlamps on past the sidelight detent failed to illuminate them. Two or three slides of the switch still failed.

I used the full beam flash mode and they then came on. Relief, until approaching a bend they went out onto the side lights.

I dont know if the fault lies with the relay or the switch, can anyone help? Which and where is the most suspect relay?

Covered nearly 2000 miles since I bought the car and have been a total convert. Planning a trip to the south of France at Easter, reliable headlamps would be a plus!

MC

I found the relay above the right headlamp.

Picture of the problem here -

http://www.flickr.com/groups/xm_on_flickr/

Steve.

I took out all the relays above each headlamp. The three above the right lamp (facing the car) all had terminals which were corroded. I removed each cleaned them up and used an electrical cleaner to clean all the connections. I did the same with the single relay on the left hand side. Sadly, it hasnt really made any difference. Its still a bit hit or miss whether the headlights come on or not.

Which leads me to believe the problem may lie at the switch on the steering column.

Are there any other tests I could do to isolate the source of the problem?

MC

I probably have a spare switch if you are prepared to drop the steering shaft cowling to try a change of switch. As you have not signed off with your model (S1 or S2 etc.), I can't be sure it is the correct one.

Its a series 2. Is that the most likely source of the problem?

MC

I would think so, although it is not a common fault. It is usually the indicator part of the switch that gives the problems with ticking when it's should be off and yet does not illuminate the indicators.. It can be dismantled and cleaned and regreased internally, but beware! it is what is colloquially known as a pingfukit job. Brian

Love the description of that job. We have all had those. I was looking at the stubborn retractor system on the CX's seatbelt on the weekend Mrs UFO asked later where this large (8mm) ball bearing sitting at the front of the car had come from. You guessed it, inside the seatbelt mechanism! I knew a white plastic piece had fallen out but not the BB as it quietly rolled from the right side of the car to the front left.