Nissan Micra K11 - Headlight problem

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Thu 25 Oct 2012 22:12
Nissan Micra K11 - Headlight problem - happyvaux

Hi all,

Got a problem with my 1999 Nissan Micra (k11) headlights.

Using the stalk, the sidelights work ok, but when you turn on the dipped headlights, the main beam (blue) indicator light comes on on the dashboard whilst the dipped headlights are on.

Then, when you flash the main beam (or push it to stay on) the passenger side gives main beam but the driver side goes dimmer than dipped headlights.

This one's got me stumped....the bulbs are new, the connectors are fine (these are prone to melting in this model) and I've checked and cleaned 2 earths nearby to the lights just in case, but still no joy.

Any ideas?

Thanks, Pete

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Thu 25 Oct 2012 23:21
Nissan Micra K11 - Headlight problem - Peter.N.

Sounds as though you have a bad earth on the drivers side allowing current to flow from the dipped lamp to the main beam circuit, when you put the lights on main beam the main and dipped lights are in series, the current flowing through the light the other side which isnt on, to earth.

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Thu 25 Oct 2012 23:58
Nissan Micra K11 - Headlight problem - elekie&a/c doctor

Check the fuses in the fuse box by the battery.These suffer with corroded/burnt contacts.If I recall ,these use an earth return circuit ,so there is no direct earth at the headlight 3 pin plug.hth

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Sat 27 Oct 2012 15:51
Nissan Micra K11 - Headlight problem - happyvaux

Thanks for the replies.

It's my girlfriend's car & I haven't had it back yet to check those things out.

But I may have given the wrong info too... I think that when you turn on the dipped lights, the main beam is coming on, just a single filament in the bulbs though, as the light is just a little brighter than I think it should be. Then when you pull/push the stalk for main beam the second (dipped) light comes on on passenger side (so it's brighter) & only dipped (or dimmer than dipped) on the driver's side.

So I'm not sure if it'll still point to an earth problem or a problem with wiring/contatcs in the fusable link box. I'm not sure if this model without driving/fog lights has a relay too.

Pete

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Wed 31 Dec 2014 13:39
Nissan Micra K11 - Headlight problem - hunter27

I know its an old post but I have had the same problem on the wife's car. It was a bad earth on the 3 spade connection to the headlight bulb. Unplugging the ofending bulb indicated the faulty side and a quick clean of the green spade sorted it out.

Thanks

pete

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Thu 1 Jan 2015 20:37
Nissan Micra K11 - Headlight problem - Big John

Earthing on light clusters can cause all sorts of wiered (or wired) problems.

Another one to watch out for is bad earths on the rear lights - as well as funny light combinations this can cause problems where ECUs are told to cut power when brakes applied. With a bad earth problem I've seen strange symptoms such as loss of power when using indicators!

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