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Dodgy Dipped Beam

Posted: 13 Sep 2010 10:48
by SimonO
I recently changed the sealed units for halogens on my 7. All was working fine when tested.

The next day, I lost dip beam.

Using the console switch, side lights come on fine - but nothing when I put the lights on (pods stay down, lights off).

Using the stalk, 'flashing' the main beam, causes the pods to raise and the high beam flashes, main beam stays off and then the pods lower.

So... the high beam and pods are working and I have changed the dip beam fuses (both). I thought the headlights were wired and worked completely separately (I know that it's the dip beam switching on that raises the pods) so am suprised that they both are failing.

Is there a common relay or fuse in there somewhere???

Posted: 13 Sep 2010 19:23
by saabfast
Starting point is to strip the lighting switch and clean all contacts. It comes apart quite easily and will probably be full of gunge which used to be a type of grease. The switch drives both the lift motors and the lights. Flash will work as it bypasses the light switch.

Alan
Saab 9000 Stg 1
Saab 9000 2.3 FPT Auto
'81 TR7 DHC
Image

Posted: 14 Sep 2010 02:53
by tencate
By the way, I also found that spraying all the pivot points with a good Teflon spray lube does wonders for dry dusty conditions like where I live. One lazy light now works peachy and it's not something I would normally think of as "regular" maintenance. Ditto on cleaning the master light switch first though.

Posted: 22 Sep 2010 06:24
by SimonO
Sorted the dip beam issue - wiring behine switch was dodgy - but all sorted now - Thanks!

Whilst back there noticed something else odd...

I have the 3 switch face plate, a 5 switch lighting bar with the text on and a "spare" connector behind the dash. As it's a DHC, were any of these fitted with a 4 switch panel and a separate front fog switch? Is this for something else? Have I got a coupe wiring loom???

(Still waiting an answer from the place that does the colour wiring diagrams so I can start looking into this properly)

Posted: 22 Sep 2010 08:50
by andyf
The FHC has an extra switch for the heated rear window I believe, so they use the four switch panel. I would guess that they use a common wiring loom for all the 7`s just to save duplicating, so I assume that plug would be for HRW.

For example, mine was never fitted with front fogs when new, but when I came to fit them, the wiring was in place for them and the switch was already two position on the dash.

Image
1980 Persian Aqua DHC