delay in headlights coming on?, random brake light failure warning?

[simonxm21]

hi all,
on the home this morning ( i do nights) i stopped at tesco to fill up, but when i went to leave and put my headlights on they wouldn't come on for a few minutes or they were dim? then suddenly they came on? is this the relay that i've been reading about?

also in the last few days i have been getting the rear brake light warning comeing on randomly (the one where you have to press the brake pedal when you start up) is this a loose connection, where should i start look?

i can see my volvo, top gear challenge style back up car!

cheers.

[Peter.N.]

I think that's one of the three relays to one side of the radiator, wiggle it about and it will probably bring them on.

Peter

[simonxm21]

QUOTE (Peter.N. @ June 01, 2011 10:07 pm) 

I think that's one of the three relays to one side of the radiator, wiggle it about and it will probably bring them on.

Peter

hi pete, they come on by themselves start off dim then after a minute or so there on fully

can the brake light failure warning with a (!) mean hydraulic pressure the owners book isn't clear on this, or (!) on it's own mean hydraulic pressure? i've checked my lhm level and it's between the red lines.

p.s i have the xm silhouette with the red indications.

[xmexclusive]

Hi Simon

Brake light failure indication on Mk1 XM's are usually associated with poor earth returns.
During Mk1 production Citroen added an extra earth wire from the cluster in the rear wings to chassis. This also became a retro mod for older cars.
Poor contacts due to oxidation in the clusters and failure to clean paint from chassis contact point metal are the usual causes of the warning problems.

On the headlights that sounds like the normal start-up for retro fit HID dipped lights.
Check out the dip bulb covers on the back of the lights. If there is an extra connection with 4 wires through the centre of the cover then you have HID's fitted.
You can look up HID kits on ebay to see typical components.

John

This post has been edited by xmexclusive on June 02, 2011 10:14 am

[simonxm21]

QUOTE (xmexclusive @ June 02, 2011 10:13 am) 

Hi Simon

Brake light failure indication on Mk1 XM's are usually associated with poor earth returns.
During Mk1 production Citroen added an extra earth wire from the cluster in the rear wings to chassis. This also became a retro mod for older cars.
Poor contacts due to oxidation in the clusters and failure to clean paint from chassis contact point metal are the usual causes of the warning problems.

On the headlights that sounds like the normal start-up for retro fit HID dipped lights.
Check out the dip bulb covers on the back of the lights. If there is an extra connection with 4 wires through the centre of the cover then you have HID's fitted.
You can look up HID kits on ebay to see typical components.

John

cheers john i'll get cracking with the tailights at the weekend as i have to sort the boot carpet out anyway.

unfortunately i don't have HID's this fault has just only started happening this week

simon.

[simonxm21]

fixed my brake light woes! it needed............wait don't laugh................new bulbs DOH!

[Peter.N.]

I've done that, taken the switch apart only to find both bulbs have gone. It only happened once though, since then its always been something else.

Peter

[simonxm21]

QUOTE (Peter.N. @ June 03, 2011 10:25 am) 

I've done that, taken the switch apart only to find both bulbs have gone. It only happened once though, since then its always been something else.

Peter

i just assumed it was a xm gremlin oh well it's sorted now