no main beam

[Dr Neil]

Can anyone help me please?My main beam doesn't work thought the telltale light on the dash illuminates,also i i have my roof lights switched on (they are connected to main beam via an extra switch) then they work.I should also add that i have had problems with the dip beam not working. Can someone tell me if/where the mainbeam relay is located(i have found the dipbeam one).Also does the headlight wiring go through the block connectore on the bulkhead?

thanks in advance for your help

Neil.....

[barmiebrumie]

I hope someone can help as this is exactly whats just happend to mine ,

Thanks in advance here as well.

[driftwood]

can nip round tonight if you wish , will give you a ring a bit later ol'lad

[ChrisW]

You sure it's got relays Neil? I thought (most) 200's were connected directly via the stalk - the contacts in the stalk overheat/wear and these problems develop.

My money's on the stalk  

[Thrasher]

Sounds like classic stalk failure....

[Ralph]

Try Viagra.....stalk will be good as new!

[driftwood]

You sure it's got relays Neil? I thought (most) 200's were connected directly via the stalk - the contacts in the stalk overheat/wear and these problems develop.

My money's on the stalk  

no relay, it comes off the stalk. the only thing from that to the lights, appart from the fuse is the dim dip unit.

[Disco Inferno]

stalk failure, i'd put money on it

don't fall foul of just replacing the stalks, the problem i found that casued the failure of the stalk was the connection pins

they were a p*ss poor fit and hence caused a high resistance joint, which overheats, promptly shafts the stalk, if you look closely at teh stalk you may find signs of bubbling or scorching inthe plastic

as a fix i went to my scrappy and disected a few metros. - same stalks, and i also cut off the ends of the wiring loom, i then renewd the plug on the the disco loom and cleaned and pinched up the connectors a tad

worked for the 18 months i had the car and as far i know, is still workign fine

[dazzawhipple]

Definitley Stalk given up the ghost....

Paddocks do a replatement or pick one up secondhand

Darren

[ChrisW]

the only thing from that to the lights, appart from the fuse is the dim dip unit.

If the dim-dip unit is in question, ditch it - it's no longer a legal requirement and is another link in the chain to cause problems (not all 200's were fitted with dim-dip resistors).

Fit two relays under the bonnet, supplied from battery, output off one to main beam, output off second to dipped and use the existing wiring off the stalk to switch the relays (after you replace the stalk of course).

Try and keep the cables from relay to lights of similar lengths.

It makes a difference in many ways    :lol:
Did this to Bigboy last year  :D

[hobbit]

As chris has said with the crappy wiring on standard discos, upgrade the circuits with new wire and relays, using the original feed wires for switching the relays, only problem which is what happened to me is the low power dim dip feed through the dip headlight feed can cause the relay to chatter

[Dr Neil]

thanks to everyone for taking the time to reply :D  I go along with your thoughts to replace the wiring and install a relay to stop the same thing happening again,i'm just surprised there wasn't one in the first place. I have already ditched the dim/dip control as i had a problem with the dip beam not working last year

hopefully i'll get chance to have a look at the weekend. If i replace the wiring and install a relay can i fit 100w bulbs?

[ChrisW]

As long as the wiring is rated to suit the 100W lamps yes but I'd be wary ref heat discharge etc.
Upgrade the wiring first - you may be surprised how much difference taking a couple of metres of cable out makes to the volt drop between the battery and the lights  

[ChrisW]

Somebody should write in to the technical pages at LRE - apparently stalk failure is not a problem and very very uncommon  :roll:  :lol:  :lol:

[feenix]

I may be wrong but I thought E marked headlamps are only road-legal to 55W.

[Dr Neil]

thanks to everyone for there advice, i now have main beam again.I rewired the dip and main beam fitting a relay on the latter.The difference in brightness with the new wire is astonishing :D  :D .

thanks again

Neil.....