really DUM question about lights

Here goes. 'this is one newbie question' ops:

MK1 88/89 clipper.

Problem I have is when engine is running and main lights are off, when I pull the light stalk towards me it doesnt flash anything up front. Which I am expecting it to, can someone confirm for me if it should, as if it should I am stumped as to what the cause is.

Any ideas where to start looking if its meant to, from below looks like lights, fuses and stalks seem fine.
 

When the lights are on main beam the stalk works as I would expect, ie pull towards me and it latches full beam on and little blue LED lights on the dash. Do the same again and it drops to main beam and blue LED goes out.

If lights are off and I pull stalk towrdas me I can still hear it latch. Also if i do this just the once and then turn lights on main beam they are already latched to full beam.

Think your lights are working OK (ish). Two position headlight switch, 1st click side lights, 2nd dipped beam. Pull stalk and main beam comes on. This is a toggle switch so if you flash someone during the day when you turn on the lights at night fall you end up dazzling someone

Even without the headlights switched on the main beam should flash when the stalk is pulled. This is the bit that yours isn't doing :dontknow:

I believe you mean If you pull the stalk back it dosent put the high beam on…..unless the actual lights are on ?

Thats how i read it anyway.

Thanks guys for replying.

was expecting that if i pulled the stalk back without the lights on it would flash the headlights in some fashion. Which myn doesnt do for some strange reason, if I want to flash someone in daytime have to use the headlight switch on the console.

If anyone has any ideas on where to look, please let me know.

In the meantime if you see a brown cabby and you flash the person dont worry if I dont flash back, its just cause I cant, quickly.

There is a red/yellow wire that goes from the big red plug in/behind  the fuse box (pin13) up to the light/flasher stalk on the steering column.
This wire should be the permanent live so the flashers will work even with the ignition off
I suspect the problem MAY lay where the wire meets the stalk.There is a connector here that quite often gets hot and melts
The said wire may also have pushed out of the connector if its been disturbed at any time.
The main beam flash WILL work with the ign and lights on even if this red/yellow wire is disconnected.

Hope this helps and good luck,i will keep an eye on this thread btw

thanks Timmyturtle gave me the rights area to look

Took the steering wheel off and managed to prove the perm +12v on the wire you suggested. So took the stalks off and opened up the section for the full beam latch.

Inside there is a small metal slidder that connects the +12v to the lights as the stalk is pulled back. There area where it slides showed some slights signs of plastic getting in the way, ie slight melt and also the metal slider should be pushed out to make good contact via a spring. But again slight signs of melting to preventing easy movement ie good contact being made. proved by reassembling switch and pressing it in tight to force contact and lights flashed.

Looks like a new stalk.

thanks once again.

to close this incase anyone finds via a search

New stalk resolved the problem.

worth noting GSF couldnt find the equiv part for the old washer stalk so ordered part no 331-953-519a01c. Has an extra pin on for the washer part, but plug fits fine. Dif print in the handle for rear functions which cabriolet doesnt have. But the stalk works a treat for all the wipper/flash and main beam functions on an 88 clipper.  

As pointed out you can flash the front lights even when the engine is off.

thanks to everyone for help/advice