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I posted earlier on this site about changing the bulbs,but it seems my problem is a bit more serious.Initially had one main beam failing then a couple of days later the other one went.Changed passenger side today and still no good.I had several spare bulbs and none worked(the bulbs were ok).Side lights are ok.Dipped beam is ok. Fuses for main beams are ok.Light switch seems to be ok as it still controls dash illumination when turned on and the rear fog can come on ok when pulled out.Not really sure what to do next.Any help would be appreciated. Sell it??
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Firstly test the old bulbs that came out to see how many where duff. if both duff then head for the main beam relay, locate and check this clicks when main beam selected is it does and still no oupur then could be burnt contacts. Nothings so simple it can't go completely wrong !! Peter
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Would the relay cause the bulbs to blow one at a time? It just seems strange that one bulb fails then the other goes days later.
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No not unlesss the contacts are at fault cuasing the working bulb to flicker a lot and end up destroying the element. Regards Peter
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Sorry if I seem slow on the uptake.I am sure the main beam bulbs are fine,I say this as the replacements I have tried I have "ohmed" out with a meter and I am not getting an "open circuit".What is strange is that the bulbs have failed one at a time and not both together.To me that would rule out the light switch and I would have also thought that the relay would be unlikely as you would expect it to fail both lights.The fuses are OK.I have a basic DIY knowledge but I'm struggling with this one
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Sorry, hadn't read your second note.
So, are you getting power at the headlamp sockets ?
If yes, check the earthes, if not, start going backwards through the circuit until you do. My guess would be the relays, but you could find you have a duff bit of wiring somewhere.
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I don't quite understand;
Did your main beams fail because the bulbs failed or because of something else ?
If the bulbs failed, then has it happened before ? If it was the bulbs, then why didn't the spare bulbs work ?
If not the bulbs, then are you getting power to the main beam feed ? If you are, then is the earth ok ? If you are not, then are you getting power at the relays ? Are you getting power at the fuses ?
Excuse me if I'm being a bit dense.
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Are you sure you have the correct bulbs? I've had a bulb nightmare on a Passat due to using the wrong bulbs (from Halfords, they recommended the wrong ones).
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If you mean the original main beam bulbs were fine then it an earth strap problem or the relay. As I doubt the two earths failed on different days I suspect the Relay. Regards Peter
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Thanks for the advice.Is the relay numbered?I can see the bank of relays but not sure which one to check.Is the realy a Dealer part>Secondly should there be a spring clip to retain the bulb in place.When I removed it there was no spring clip.I rotated the bulb and it came out,but I'm struggling to get it back in position (the least of my worries).the dealer changed my bulbs from the O.E. ones approx 18 months ago.
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Sorry.....meant to include this in my last post.If the relay was the problem, would it still allow my dipped beams to work.I have sidelights,no main beam and a dipped beam.Obviously the dipped beam comes off the same bulb as the main beam.that's what's confusing me along with the fact that one failed then the other main beam failed only days later.
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With all the lights turned off operate the headlamp flasher. You should hear a relay clicking and only the main beams should illuminate. On my Passat the relay seems to be under the bonnet at the front nearside but I can only hear it, not see it.
As someone else has suggested use a multimeter to check whether current is actually getting to the main beam terminal where it plugs into the bulb.
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Are you sure that the bulbs aren't faulty? Within about 3 days both main beams failed on my Mk4 golf. Thinking it was too much of a coincidence that both failed at the same time I spent a weekend messing around checking bulbs/circuits etc, but couldn't fix it.
I decided to give up and check the car in at the main dealer - £50 later the problem was diagnosed as two faulty bulbs (surprising since I'd changed both of them?!?). Although expensive for two bulbs I didn't argue since it fixed the problem.
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Struggling with this!!!Just back from Halfords.Decided to buy 2 x brand new H7 bulbs to rule out all my spares being faulty.Paid them £8 to fit the 2 bulbs as it was alomst monsoon conditions today in the Glasgow area.Still no main beam.Obviously now I have no power to the bulbs themselves as this is 2 brand new bulbs.Is it likely to be the relay now?. If so, why did one one bulb fail then the other a few days later?. Where is the relay located,the in the engine compartment or in behind the fusebox.The fuses checked out OK as well.Dipped beam works OK.(should the relay affect this?).Car is 1.9Tdi (130) 2001 model with 56,000 on the clock and is well looked after.
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If its a H7 bulb then the main and dip are on separate bulbs. H7's are usually on dippped beam with an H1 for main.
Are you definatly changing the main beam bulbs and not the dipped ones? That would explain how the bulbs being removed are all fine, its the duff one being left in the car.
I've just read back my post and I sound a bit patronising, its not meant in that way.
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I've just checked on www.powerbulbs.co.uk/ and the 2001 Passat uses H7 bulds for Dip and Main, just check though that it is definatly the main beam bulbs that have been changed and not the dipped.
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Is the main beam warning light illuminating when you select main beam? Also, not being patronising, the selector lever is away from you for main beam and towards you for dipped. Further towards you against spring pressure to flash main beams. As I've already said, can you hear a relay clicking when you you flash the headlamps?
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Do you have a meter and if so why did you not test the bulbs rather than just buy new ones. ?? we are not getting anywhere here as you do not appear to do what is suggested but go off at a tangent or off to Halfords. I'll have to read all the post again I'm getting confused. Regards Peter
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Want to apologise for being "thick".The reason it wasn't making sense is because I assumed the dipped beam bulbs were part of the "unit" with the sidelight bulbs,not the unit inbetween this unit and the indicator bulb.What strengthened this factor was that when I gave the dealer the "bluevision" bulbs at the time to fit they were H7 bulbs and I assumed that the bulbs I ordered from "Regal Bulbs" were the correct ones for the dipped beam, but I think the dealer fitted these to the main beam unit as that's the ones that came out today.(probably explains why I never noticed any difference day to day driving as it is the dipped beam that is on)When I ohmmed these bulbs out they were fine.Indicating that the bulbs were Ok.THat's what didn't make sense.All along I have been looking at the wrong bulbs (main beam)as I couldn't compare it to anything as both were out. Hopefully now I will just have to replace the "correct" bulbs.Only thing now is that I am not sure if they are H4 or H7 until I take them out.The dealer said H4,but a reply to my post says H7.Sorry again for leading everyone on a "wild goose chase".Thanks for the help.( and I thought I knew a bit about cars!)
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H4 have Dip and Amin in one 3 pin bulp I think your car ahs H7 Mains in one reflector and H7 for Dips in a seperate reflector both 55 watts. Thats why you purchase and had changed two H7's at Halfords. Regards Peter
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Dont rule out switch..has been known for them to fail..??
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Steve
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