Strange problem. Its back and "£$%^& me off lol

1. DaCrazyOne Frequent Poster Joined: Sep 2013 Space Posts: 873 JuliustoogyJD

   #1 17th April 2015, 21:36

   Ok so after going for a pre mot found one problem that I was not aware of.
   
   So when having lights on full and indicating right it seems my main light is dimming and lighting up very faintly to the rythem of indicator light. What is the cause to this and how can this be fixed?
   
   Need to get this fixed as MOT due on 24th next week.
   
   Anyone got any ideas as to what this is. Is this a bad earth or has someone gone into a live feed on indicator that has not been noticed or was on past owner had something on or fault casing this.
   
   Seems am finding smaller problems now I got a full wiring loom done on it and am unsure if this is down to a guy who has installed this loom as lights where not working but come back out and since fixed so just wondering if loom or could be something else.
   
   Any help welcomed and thanks in advance.
2. Milney8989 Regular Poster Joined: Mar 2015 Rayleigh Posts: 328 Saxo vts x2 Vauxhall Astra Ford mondeo workhorse

   #2 17th April 2015, 21:53

   Check Earth on chassis behind headlight first to rule that out
3. Milney8989 Regular Poster Joined: Mar 2015 Rayleigh Posts: 328 Saxo vts x2 Vauxhall Astra Ford mondeo workhorse

   #3 17th April 2015, 21:53

   I hate this iPhone spellchecker
4. DaCrazyOne Frequent Poster Joined: Sep 2013 Space Posts: 873 JuliustoogyJD

   #4 19th April 2015, 18:04

   Checked them seems it is not doing it now but keeps doing now and again and everything is tight so i dont get how my main light starts flashing like my indicator does
5. woolyhead L-plater Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 58 Saxo 1.0 l

   #5 25th April 2015, 17:50

   Does the headlamp come on when the flasher does? If so there must be a short between the two live wires. If it's off when flasher is on it's an earth problem
6. woolyhead L-plater Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 58 Saxo 1.0 l

   #6 25th April 2015, 17:56

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by woolyhead Does the headlamp come on when the flasher does? If so there must be a short between the two live wires. If it's off when flasher is on it's an earth problem

   Oh sorry. I just read your post again. Now I understand. I'm an electronics engineer not a car mechanic and I can imagine several scenarios that would give your effect to the headlamp. Do you want to read them?
7. user_20080 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Dec 2007 smurfland. Posts: 17346 Ex saxo owner.

   #7 25th April 2015, 18:19

   Alternator diode pack possibly failing?
8. DaCrazyOne Frequent Poster Joined: Sep 2013 Space Posts: 873 JuliustoogyJD

   #8 26th April 2015, 19:08

   This has only been happening when I have my main light on. When lights off it does not do it. It is intermittent sometimes happens sometimes and other times does not. Have checked wires on it cleand connectors and earth seems to not be doing it now. So must be bad earth. Will see how it goes for the next amount of miles and see if does again.
9. woolyhead L-plater Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 58 Saxo 1.0 l

   #9 26th April 2015, 20:01

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by woolyhead Does the headlamp come on when the flasher does? If so there must be a short between the two live wires. If it's off when flasher is on it's an earth problem

   What I meant is when the flasher comes on does the headlamp dim slightly or brighten slightly, assuming it was on in the first place?
10. woolyhead L-plater Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 58 Saxo 1.0 l

    #10 28th April 2015, 16:58

    If the headlight dims as the flasher comes on it could indeed be the diodes going soft in the alternator. Or it could be some other resistance in their common current path, such as a dirty contact. Or it could be a faulty earth connection, ie a resistance in their common path, as before. Others have already said these things and I'm just agreeing. Just in case you don't know already the alternator is supposed to output 14.35 volts and the battery on standby maintains 12.5 volts. If the battery has a high internal resistance its terminal voltage on discharge will be less. So as the flasher comes on, more load is applied to the alternator and its terminal voltage reduces, causing the headlight to dim slightly. Most of you know this. A common earth that is not of low enough resistance also reduces the voltage across the headlight as the flasher comes on. But if the flasher is off when the headlight dims slightly that is a whole new ball game.
11. DaCrazyOne Frequent Poster Joined: Sep 2013 Space Posts: 873 JuliustoogyJD

    #11 2nd May 2015, 22:01

    Back to square one with it so its happened again but I have found out when its doing it now.
    
    Turning high beams on and indicator arm with fog light on and fog light goes out when I turn indicator out on looks like this.
    
    Light on dashboard for indicator goes solid and does not make flash noise but when turn lights off it works fine. What is going on.
    
    Back light stays solid.
    
    
    Front high beam goes out indicator comes on flashes and high light starts dimming and flashing along with fog light at bottom
    
12. DaCrazyOne Frequent Poster Joined: Sep 2013 Space Posts: 873 JuliustoogyJD

    #12 3rd May 2015, 16:35

    Well after checking all around found the problem
    
    
    
    Where would I get one of them connectors from that goes into the mains part and into the indicator section found the connector is faulty move it around and push in tighter it works no fault move it about like if was driving maybe few bumps fault found.
    
    Also noticed it has no metal clip around it too so maybe the cause as its not tight enough and connecting proper.
    
    Where can I get a new one from or best just go scrappers and cut me one off