10 replies to this topic

[red vtec]

I have noticed that I have what can only be described as "weak" lights on all the bulbs, I can easily see the filaments through the lenses particuly the rear lights.

I have put a tester across and am showing 12v but could it be to much resistance or the such like affecting the wattage?

[ramjet]

First thing that I'd check Chris would be the earthing. Is it all the lights or just the rears? There are a bunch of earths on the esprit. I know that remaking the earths in my doors made my windows run a lot better.

[red vtec]

Hi Michael,

I will have a check of the earths, thanks for your help.

Chris

[andydclements]

When you test the potential across the bulb you need to do it with the bulb in place, that way you can tell what is lost elsewhere on the circuit under normal load, meters tend to have massive internal resistances so they show the virtually full potential available in the whole circuit.

[red vtec]

So If say I get a 9v with the bulb in place I must be leaking 3v somewhere in the circuit? Then I gather its a case of trying to figure out where?

[cjtpb13]

Chris,

What are you getting across the relay?

[andydclements]

Yep, close enough, the 3v is somewhere else in the circuit.

Think of it as water flowing through a stream or river. It "backs up" at points of resistance so if there's a lot of resistance you don't get much flow at the point you need it. Reduce the resistance elsewhere and you'll get a better head of water where you want it and a higher flow rate.

[red vtec]

Hi Christopher, Hope your well

Not checked yet, I need to find the relay! I'm hopeing the weather is ok over the weekend and I'll have a good look. it's one of those jobs I only remember when the nights start drawing in.

Andy, thanks for the information.

[red vtec]

Just had a quick look I appear to be getting just over 10V at the door lights and 8,5V on the front sidelights. I have not checked the rears yet. Would you recommend checking across the relay? I need to dig out the book to ID that one.

[andydclements]

Or just switch the lights on a pull relays until you find them (one low beam one high beam plus I assume one for marking lights).

[red vtec]

Right, I have pulled the following relays, Main Beam, Dip Beam, Dim Dip Lift,

The pods still come up (not what I expected), I have no lights on the front (what I was expecting), but the rears still light up very weak (not what I expected), is that correct? I thought with the relays pulled I would get NO lights at all?

Before this I Firstly I swapped the Horn relay with the Dip Beam but there was no difference in the strength of the lights.

Have investigated further, the dip, main etc all go through relays and seem ok with power etc,

The sidelights and rear only go via a switch and fuse. at the fuse end they show 12V at the bulb end they show 10.3V so i'm lossing 1.7V inbetween, any ideas where this might be?

Edited by red vtec, 15 October 2011 - 09:41 AM.