No headlights! any ideas help please.

[Gav missin]

Hi all. Help required . loading the trailer tonight left the truck running and when I got back in no headlights, main or dip. no main beam blue light on dash. rear and side lights all ok. checked relays fuses bulbs etc. guessing the column or stalk switch . any thoughts or suggestions chaps. Cheers gav

 

[Shayne]

Stalk failed on my 90 so using indicators turned headlights off toyota said can't replace stalk alone you need the whole squib . Bought a squib on ebay which arrived with a female connection when i needed male so i swapped the stalk only .

 

[Gav missin]

Stalk failed on my 90 so using indicators turned headlights off toyota said can't replace stalk alone you need the whole squib . Bought a squib on ebay which arrived with a female connection when i needed male so i swapped the stalk only .

Fairly sure that's my problem shaye. I'll call in on garry tomorrow evening and try one off of a breaker. pain in the arse 8 miles drive home in the dark with 18 ft ifor williams with off roader on. swapped over to the 24v for off roading tomorrow . better keep the feet on mats tomorrow .

 

[Shayne]

It's a simple job just beware of the air bag , i disconnect battery completely then turn everything on to drain any residue current for half hour before i start messing near bags to be on the safe side .

 

[Gav missin]

Stalk failed on my 90 so using indicators turned headlights off toyota said can't replace stalk alone you need the whole squib . Bought a squib on ebay which arrived with a female connection when i needed male so i swapped the stalk only .

Fairly sure that's my problem shaye. I'll call in on garry tomorrow evening and try one off of a breaker. pain in the arse 8 miles drive home in the dark with 18 ft ifor williams with off roader on. swapped over to the 24v for off roading tomorrow . better keep the feet on mats tomorrow .

It's a simple job just beware of the air bag , i disconnect battery completely then turn everything on to drain any residue current for half hour before i start messing near bags to be on the safe side .

No worries there mate she's only a Billy basic early one no air bags or air con etc. should have it swapped out in a hour or so. Cheers for the quick reply

 

[karl webster]

I guess it will be the relay under the bonnet in the fuse box on the ns. Try that first. It's usually the rellay closest to the bulkhead. The brown or green one.

 

[Gav missin]

I guess it will be the relay under the bonnet in the fuse box on the ns. Try that first. It's usually the rellay closest to the bulkhead. The brown or green one.

Yeah marked head and beam I believe . Both clicking Karl . swapped the brown one out from my 24v as that only has the one . No difference . Will try a pair from breaker first though . Cheers Karl

 

[stumog]

Try the head ought height adjustment. mine some times stop and I move that and it all comes back on. tried new switch and still the same.

 

[StarCruiser]

Try the head ought height adjustment. mine some times stop and I move that and it all comes back on. tried new switch and still the same.

That sounds like a loose or burned connection Stu, probably on the back of the bulb.

It's unlikely I know but have you checked your bulbs? Highly unlikely both have blown but worth eliminating as a failed alternator regulator could cook them with high voltage.

If the relays are clicking, that suggests they are getting their switching signal. It may be worth unplugging them and checking they don't have burned contacts. A 12v supply to the coil and checking the contacts close and/or change over is worth doing with a meter or better still a bulb.

I would have guessed at a loose earth somewhere but neither this or blown bulbs would cause the blue high beam light in the dash to be out too. Relays is my first thought as they are clicking which rules out the stalk.

 

[stumog]

Cheers rich .

I have been through new lamps since ownership, checked all wiring plugs etc nothing seems amiss.

 

[StarCruiser]

Have you put your lights on a wiggled the wiring to see what happens? Bit of an oddball one but something has to be loose or burned somewhere. Plugs should be really tight on the bulbs. It's worth checking for discolouration on the wire side of the connector as well as the bulb side to see if anything has caused heating.

 

[stumog]

Tried everything even wiggling at n8ght to see the blue flash easier.

 

[StarCruiser]

Tried everything even wiggling at n8ght to see the blue flash easier.

Were you able to make the lights flash then Stu?

 

[Dave2000]

I have a brown and black on mine IIRC? The black is notorious for burning out. The cause IMO I s as the vehicle ages the resistance in the wiring loom goes up. This results in the terminals inside the fuse box heating up, the heat transfers to one of the terminals on the relays and burns up the contacts. Pull the black relay and shine a light at the terminals. Short quick fix is, tighten the spade in the fuse box, pull the cover off the relay and run a file between the contacts.

regards

Dave

 

[StarCruiser]

You are almost spot on there Dave. As the contacts age, the metal tarnishes (after all it's pretty tricky to get in there with the brasso) and increases the resistance at that point of contact. Getting the thing wet doesn't help of course. The increased resistance then causes a slight localised heating at the point of contact which causes the metal to tarnish further, which increases the resistance at that point. This chain reaction continues causing more and more heat which eventually causes the connection to fail completely and heats up and melts any nearby plastic.

A good clean will do wonders and squeezing the terminal gently too. Unfortunately the heating often anneals the metal making it too soft to do its job. A bit of Vaseline into the cleaned terminal can often protect it from the tarnish and corrosion that starts this all off. Though sadly, once the terminal has softened it is unlikely to last any great length if time.

 

[Gav missin]

I guess it will be the relay under the bonnet in the fuse box on the ns. Try that first. It's usually the rellay closest to the bulkhead. The brown or green one.

Replaced the green relay and we have light. Cheers guys appreciate the help.

 

[karl webster]

I'm good

 

[StarCruiser]

I'm good

No, no Karl, remember the practice it's-
'Shit I'm good!'

 

[Gav missin]

No, no Karl, remember the practice it's-
'Shit I'm good!'

No, no Karl, remember the practice it's-
'Shit I'm good!'

so modest the both of you

 

[StarCruiser]