Disco 1 Flickering headlight - high beam/dipped beam.

Ben Jordan · Jan 31, 2016

Hey guys

Hoping someone can help. I've spent the day working on lots wheel bearings etc and am stumped to find that I can't use the vehicle still as my front left headlight is flickering rapidly between high/low beam. This is reflected with the main beam blue indicator lighting on the dash showing exactly what is happening out front!

It's a 200tdi Discovery (93) and all has been fine up until now. The only electrical thing that has changed recently is new glow plugs. Oh and a new battery about 2 months ago.

Any ideas on where to start? I have checked that the 3 spade connectors for the headlights are clean and making good contact on the back of the bulb contacts. The right hand headlight continues to function normally throughout all of this.

Cheers

Ben

The Mad Hat Man · Jan 31, 2016

lighting stalk. replace. common problem. do relay mod as per CFAQ.

Ben Jordan · Feb 1, 2016

Thanks mate... been driving me nuts. As you're around the corner I don't suppose you have a spare one!?

The Mad Hat Man · Feb 1, 2016

I have one you can borrow to check it, if you want

.

popped around yesterday, but your motor wasnt there??

Ben Jordan · Feb 2, 2016

Going to strip mine and get some switch cleaner on it, see if it rejuvenates... lets see what happens and thanks for the loan offer!

It indeed isn't, it's been at a friends in Yateley for a couple of weeks as been rebushing most of the underside, plus discs, wheel bearings etc... gradual weekend warrioring... should be back this weekend

Ben Jordan · Feb 9, 2016

I've just taken apart both stalks and there was dirt on all the contacts. I've just taken it all apart and soaked in switch cleaner, re assembled and all seems to be working now. Cross fingers no more strobing between hi/low... made worse by the LED replacement lamps in there.

Ben Jordan · Feb 13, 2016

Okay ... So swapped out the stalk but this hasn't cured it.

Sidelights actually seems to trigger intermittent dipped beam

Dipped beam sometimes flashes high or off.

High beam pretty much stays solid as high beam

Anyone got any ideas? Everything else like Windows, wipers, heater etc works fine but is there a ground and relay I can check, does anyone know where it is!

Cheers

The Mad Hat Man · Feb 13, 2016

have yu got Rave?

discool · Feb 13, 2016

Does you disco's head lamps still have its dim-dip function, if so pull out the relay as they can cause issues, it can be located somewhere on the steering column I believe on the 200s.

Ben Jordan · Feb 13, 2016

What does that function do? I just have sidelights, dipped beam then main beam when I press the shaft back? Not sure if that includes dim-dip! Is it just as simple as pull out a connector block ?

No I don't have rave...

The Mad Hat Man · Feb 13, 2016

Rave is very useful. worth a free download. I am not sure that a 200tdi has dim dip though. I would check all earths as a first step and make sure all fuse contacts a clean.

Ben Jordan · Feb 13, 2016

I'll have to have a good read up. From what I can tell, my Disco (1993 200tdi) does have dip-dim and the problem will be that it is sending my LED headlight conversions a very low voltage which may be causing the flashing... the chips probably don't know what to do constantly cycling on and off.

The replacement stalk definitely helped in terms of what mode the system is in but I'm finding it hard to get my head around exactly what is going on - cleaning up relays and grounds is probably my number one as well as remove dip-dim.

The Mad Hat Man · Feb 13, 2016

easy to change the headlight bulbs to non led and see what difference it makes.
also worth considering the relay mods as in the CFAQ section.

Ben Jordan · Feb 13, 2016

Yep i'll grab some standard lamps from euro car parts in the morning! Hopefully that stabilises things somewhat and then I can focus on sorting the dip-dim thing

Cheers for you help

Zed. · Feb 13, 2016

Think led bulbs / group-lamps can be voltage sensitive?
Probably worth changing back to notmal H4's or wire a relay fed system to give full battery power to the bulbs....

I have a few '80's vw cars & a '90's vw van (aswell as '91 & '93 200tdi Discos) and the German wiring is well known to go high-resistance causing power loss to the bulbs so one of the first mods is the loom upgrade

Oddly enough both my Disco's have good lights........

For now

Rich.

Vinlander · Feb 13, 2016

Sounds like what mine was doing (93 disco). Lamp holder melted a bit and the last guy who changed the bulb just hadn't connected it properly. I ordered some ceramic ones, but haven't bothered swapping them over since just cleaning up and plugging the bulbs in fixed it.
Course, you'll probably end up having to trace all your wiring looking for chafing

Worth a look though.

Disco 1 Flickering headlight - high beam/dipped beam.

Ben Jordan

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The Mad Hat Man

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Ben Jordan

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The Mad Hat Man

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Ben Jordan

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Ben Jordan

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Ben Jordan

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Ben Jordan

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