grifterkid said:
NickDunning said:
grifterkid said:
I'm sure this is a simple connection problem but the other evening when driving along with the headlights on they suddenly died...! When I switched to full-beam all 4 lights operated perfectly and then when I went back to normal operation (non full-beam) the headlights came on and went way intermitenttly...! They all work 100% on full-beam but not on normal beam so do any of you fine people have any suggestions for me...? The sidelights operate normally too... Any help would be hugely appreciated...
Sounds like a fusebox problem to me - if you have a post October 1971 car they're prone to melting down with age....even on low mileage cars...
Is a new fusebox the solution to this (obviously I'll test all the theories)...?! I know it sounds silly but do they melt in an obvious way i.e turning into a plasticy blob...?
Fairly obvious yes
The reasons they melt are many and varied but all make the fuse box very hot.
1/. The plastic bits beside the spades act as springs to keep the fuse tight. They get weak with age and the fuse becomes loose, which can create heat when current flows. The heat weakens the plastic more, weakening the springyness and creating more heat. Vicious circle, fuse box melts.
2/. The spades can become dirty with age creating the heat when current is bridging the scale.
3/. Smaller fuses can be used as the proper size ones are difficult to obtain. Less area for current to flow, creates the heat.
4/. More electrical or upgraded items may have been fitted which uses more current, creating the heat. Upgraded headlights for instance, or kenlowe fan wired into the wrong circuit without a relay.
So get some emery cloth and clean up the ends of the fuses, clean up the spades which hold them in the fuse box, and check there is nothing wired into the headlight circuit which could overload it. Check the fuses are 31mm long, and check the headlights have not been upgraded.