[lilanni]

Hi all
I suddenly have no lo-beam headlights. Noticed yesterday evening that things were looking a bit gloomy, got out to check and nada on either side. Sidelights are fine, hi-beam is fine, just nothing on low/normal.
I figure the fact that it's both sides means it's not globes or fuses, though i checked the fuses anyway.
The owner manual says there's a headlight relay in the engine bay fuse box. Could that be involved? (I don't know what a relay does.) Presuming i'm looking at the right little blue box thing, does anyone have any advice on:
  -getting it out (i've pulled but it didn't budge)
  -what to look for when i get it out
  -how much they cost to replace (I'm in Perth, WAust.)

And/or anything else I could check? I'm presuming relays aren't covered under warranty.
Thanks muchly in advance.
Anni
2009 crdi slx 42000km @ Oct 2010

[Shambles]

Hi lilanni, welcome to the club.

If I remember rightly, each lo-beam headlamp has its own relay, so it's unlikely to be that.

However, the relays do have a shared fuse (once again, iirc) in the drivers side fuse compartment. It'll be a moderate rating (10A?) so definitely worth checking.

[lilanni]

Hi Shambles

Thanks for the suggestion. I've checked the relay's fuse in the driver's side box, that looks fine. Also checked the individual fuses for the headlamps, also fine.

If i'm reading the pictures correctly, the headlight relay is a blue box thing in the engine bay fuse box. I can't pull that out to have a squiz at it, it's extremely firmly seated. If anyone can speak from experience and tell me how hard i should pull on that I'd appreciate it.

Thanks all
Anni

[2i30s]

welcome aboard mate. the relay should just pull out. try pulling it a little harder. 

[Shambles]

Once it's out, I presume you'll swap it with a similar relay, just to see if that fixes the problem?

I've never tried to remove one of mine (am at work at the mo)

[lilanni]

Once it's out, I presume you'll swap it with a similar relay, just to see if that fixes the problem?

the relay should just pull out. try pulling it a little harder. 

Thanks guys, pulling harder worked. Swapped it with the horn relay. No lights when i put that in either (& horn works with the light relay). So i'm thinking it's home before dark for the next few days until I can get to the dealer. Bah.

Thanks again
Anni

[Lorian]

Does main beam work, is it just lo-beam that's failed?

<ok I read again, i see it is>

With no more info I'll lay my money on an unusual event of a double bulb blow, and if that's the case the electics will want to be checked anyway.

[2i30s]

it could be the light switch that's failed. 

[lilanni]

Thanks all.
I have no desire to pull out 2 headlight assemblies, so to the dealership it is (love that one - is it yours Shambles?)
Thanks again folks.

[Lorian]

Yeah, they can be a bit fiddly the first time you pull them out. But thats what the warranty is for 

[Shambles]

You need a friend to put a finger on the blue relay when the light switch is turned to the headlamp setting. That'll give a tactile indication as to whether the relay is moving and hence whether the light switch/wiring loom is faulty.

[lilanni]

is that a really brave friend wearing thick rubber wellies and a pointy hat??

[Shambles]

is that a really brave friend wearing thick rubber wellies and a pointy hat??

yes



You won't need the engine running... not that it would be dangerous to do so anyway, but with it running you might not feel the relay latching

[lilanni]

Willing friend with boots and finger found.
Clicking audible and feelable/tangible in the relay for all movements of the light stalk, all lights doing as they should except lo/normal beam.

[Shambles]

Then it's most likely as Lorian suggested. Both bulbs. Strange though, for both to blow at the same time (or is it possible you didn't realise one had gone, until the other blew?)

Not hard to change at all. Ten minutes max, although you might struggle a little the first time you remove the headlamp units to replace the bulbs.

If they did blow together, you might have a more serious problem. See your dealer if you have any doubts

[lilanni]

Thanks everyone, specially the ever-helpful Mr Shambles.
I'm one of those people with a lot of 'spare' pieces from a long history of personalised ikea assembling, so i don't think i'll try my hand at pulling any more pieces off my car.
To the dealer i shall go.
Anni

[Dazzler]

Hi Anni..

I seem to remember both my uprated low beams blowing at the same time so it is possible .. may have been a surge when you started the car after a period of using the radio or something for a long period without the engine running..

I would have been helpful too if I had been home 

is that a really brave friend wearing thick rubber wellies and a pointy hat??

Nice sense of humour you got ...  and very descriptive 

[lilanni]

Hi Dazzler
Can't say anything like that springs to mind but you never know.
Btw, I'm gonna see if i can beat your odometer enthusiasm - I'm on 42500km for 19 months in my little crdi.

[Lorian]

Guess the enigmatic "earth strap behind the battery" should be checked its tight at the same time the bulbs are replaced.

[Dazzler]

Hi Dazzler
Can't say anything like that springs to mind but you never know.
Btw, I'm gonna see if i can beat your odometer enthusiasm - I'm on 42500km for 19 months in my little crdi.

No worries .. Others have done a lot more (a couple of members have done 90 odd thousand kms in 12 months  )

I have worded it that way as I no longer have mine 

Finally, it is easy to run up big kms in them being such a great little car to drive I was always looking for excuses to take her for a spin...