Christmas Lights.....Bah Humbug !!

[banditman]

Anyone come across this one on a Series 3 then, as it has me beat :!:  :?:  :!:  :?:  :!:  :?:

Start up engine........normal :D

Turn on lights....get rear side lights on, all four indicators on (but not flashing) and main beam light and indicator lamps on dash on.......but nothing else........  :(    :x  :?

turn engine off with lights switched on.......still running with key removed. :shock:  :shock:

turn lights off and engine stops.......   :shock:  :?  

Re start and leave running for ten minutes and although same happens, eventually the indicators, dash lights and main beam lamp fade out and then the lights come on and it's all normal ](*,)

I am at the end of my tether trying to sort it  

Any ideas ???????????

cheers

Martin

[pritch]

Blimey.

I think you're in need of either a good auto-electrician, or a priest and some holy water.

[banditman]

mmmmm tried the first, and they suggested the latter......... :(

[Dr Neil]

i don't know about it on a series 3 specifically but it sounds like you could have a major earth fault, so start by checking all the earth point/wires that you can see,i.e. the engine earth from starter to the chassis, battery earth lead and the earth connections for the lighting circuits, it might beworth checking the stop/tail light bulbs as if the bulbs filament has shorted across it could backfeed through this and supply power to the ignition even with the key turned off.
 Has this just started happening or is it since you have just changed something or perhaps had a mishap of some description.
 Happy hunting and i'd be interested to hear if you find the fault!!

[banditman]

Cheers Neil,

Will give it a go.....I have replaced the earth straps, as they were an issue, but this problem has only just started and that was ages ago.....

I have fitted a halogen headlight conversion so I wonder if that's cocked something up ??

Will keep you posted

Seeya

Martin

[Wanderer]

What wattage are the bulbs?
Do they run via a relay or the standard wiring?
Is it possible they've overheated the wiring harness and shorted something out. Ie the lights live to the indicators live.

Doesn't explain why it goes away but it sounds like you have a couple of different problems happening at the same time.

Meter some of the wiring to see if there's a wiring problem.

Ed

[hobbit]

Following Eds line, try disconnecting headlights, and any other bits you can, take out some bulbs, see if the problems clear, at least it may localise the problem area

[Kevan]

I have had a succession of light related electrical problems since fitting Halogen units to my series 3. I have cooked two main/dip switches and a succession of other lighting problems. I have at last cleared the problems by re making all the earth connections to do with lighting at the front of the vehicle and wiring around the dip setting of the switch, this does mean I get both main and dip on main beam but it does help visibility!

Good hunting

Kevan :twisted: