Page 1 of 3

Dipped beam headlights not working!!!

Posted: Fri Oct 11, 2013 5:50 pm
by h10ndr
Hi, just noticed my dipped beam headlights are both out...(the parking lights come on / side lights) but not the dipped beam, so replaced both bulbs assuming that both low beams had failed...and still the same? I am correct that dipped beam should come on with the side lights - yes? The normal headlights work fine on 2 clicks...

There isn't a fuse which controls both dipped beams is there...so what can it be?

Posted: Fri Oct 11, 2013 5:55 pm
by Danzley0
Dipped beam is 2 clicks...
Pull it back until it clicks for full beams

Posted: Fri Oct 11, 2013 6:01 pm
by Bri
relay?

Posted: Fri Oct 11, 2013 6:07 pm
by wurlycorner
One click is side lights, 2 clicks is side lights and headlights (dipped or main beam, depending on how you have the relay set by pulling the switch arm towards you).

Have you tried switching back/forth between dipped/main to see if that clears it? Might be a sticky relay. Use a multimeter to check if you have power and good earth on each bulb.

Posted: Fri Oct 11, 2013 6:10 pm
by jjmartin349571
This is the setup on my BB4:

1 click
Image

2 clicks
Image

Then a pull of the stalk would turn on the high beams in the centre

Posted: Fri Oct 11, 2013 6:23 pm
by indigolemon
If your motor is a UKDM, it will have a dim/dip resistor in the bumper. It lives under the drivers side headlight.

If it's plugged in, one click gives you the side lights and a dimmed version of the headlights, the next click gives you normal headlights.

I'd suggest either the dim/dip resistor is broken or unplugged. I unplugged mine deliberately as I fitted HIDS.

Posted: Fri Oct 11, 2013 6:24 pm
by bristol_bb4
check the plugs on the back of the bulbs, i bet they are melted.

Posted: Fri Oct 11, 2013 6:32 pm
by h10ndr
Thanks for your quick replies...

The plugs on the bulbs are fine. My lights are working as jjmartin stated above...
I have headlights and high beams working fine, just no dimmed headlights as indigolemon described...

Mine is a UKDM wired vehicle... sounds like the dim/dipped resistor then...

Posted: Fri Oct 11, 2013 7:26 pm
by Gayno
indigolemon wrote:one click gives you the side lights and a dimmed version of the headlights, the next click gives you normal headlights.
I did not know this!!

One question though......why did the cars have this?!?!

Posted: Fri Oct 11, 2013 7:51 pm
by wurlycorner
It's not true to say that UKDM's have dim/dipped. Mine doesn't, for a start.
This setup was UK law for a very short period of time. Then they dropped it again.