Headlights not switching to dipped beam

I have a slight problem with the headlights on my GX. They only seem to want to work on the first setting (sidelights) and not on the second (dipped beam). Full beam and fog lights work fine. The GX has the four headlight grill.

From the searching I had done and some very rudimentary prodding with a multimeter I suspected the original switch was knackered. I have got hold of a replacement switch unit (second hand but known good) and the problem is still the same.

Any sugggestions on the next thing I should try? All wiring to the switch seems in good order and firmly secured to the connector block - no amount of jiggling or wiggling of the switch or wires makes any difference.

Cheers,

Tom

Are the bulbs and fuses def in good working order?

Bulbs are fine and work ok on full beam just not normal dipped beam. I have been through the fuses and all look ok too.

The 1.2w bulb for the illumination of the headlight switch had blown so I have replaced this just in case it was something to do with that - but it isn't . What is odd though is that bulb seems to be illuminated permantly when the ignition is on - not just when the lights are switched on. I'm guessing this shouldn't be the case.

Any further suggestions on what I could try?

Thanks,

Tom

I've had the switch melt internally and also had the copper strips inside the switch slide together. Strip it open and have a look.

the small bulb in the headlamp switch stay's o all the time the ignition is on, have you checked for a melted plug on the back of the headlight switch? or on the back of the column stalks? or the back of the headlamps? thats what i would look for.

Hiya!!

Did you manage to sort this problem out with your lights?

If so, how??

Mine started doing exactly the same last night. I had to drive home on full beam - bet everyone luuuuuuvved me!!!!

 ops:

debs said

Hiya!!

Did you manage to sort this problem out with your lights?

If so, how??

Mine started doing exactly the same last night. I had to drive home on full beam - bet everyone luuuuuuvved me!!!!

 ops:

Not fixed yet - but I recon it could be something to do with the switch on the stalk?

I have disconnected the side lights from the outside headlamps and just have the front fog lights on if I'm out in the dark - not ideal but it'll do til I have time to sort it out properly.

Tom

Pete thinks he might have sorted mine. He's out there now changing the stalk (again!)

I'll let you know the outcome  

Debs - did you manage to fix this?

I managed to aquire two sets of replacement stalks - and replacing them has not fixed things as I had hoped  

Could anyone suggest any other things I could try (that hasn't already been suggested above) - and also confirm exactly which fuses/relays are involved with the headlights.

Many thanks,

Tom

Yep got it fixed at last  

It was a faulty ignition switch - and not the stalk switches which we also replaced before we found the problem.

Good luck getting yours sorted  :y:

I still haven't resolved this despite some useful help on this thread regarding relays (or lack of them): http://www.vwgolfmk1.o…ms&file=viewtopic&t=30562

To summarise I have now tried the following:

• Replaced headlight switch unit with known working unit
  Replaced headlight stalk
  Removed ignition barrel and checked condition of ignition switch - all looks clean and sparkly
  Checked and replaced fuses 21 & 22
  From prodding with a multimeter I am getting no power at fuses 21 and 22
  I have removed the fuse box and checked all connections at rear - all seem good
  [/list:u]
  So I am a bit stumped now. Clearly there is something wrong at the switch end of things if there is no power getting to the fuse box - or am I wrong in assuming this?  :dontknow:
  
  Can anyone give me any more ideas or suggestions so I can get this fixed?
  
  Cheers,
  
  Tom

Can you bypass the stalk by putting a bridge wire in..instead of the stalk

It does work that way.

Then you will know for definite its not the stalk

Cant remember which wires but,one is permanent live(red/yelloworblack?,smaller one)
one becomes live with the headlight switch and ign on
The other two are the high and low beam

Bridge between the swicth live and the  others (one at a time)to get full or low beam

On my 83 gti there is NO relay for the headlights

Fuses 9 and 10 are high beam

Fuses 21 and 22 are low beam

Timmyturtle said

Can you bypass the stalk by putting a bridge wire in..instead of the stalk

It does work that way.

Then you will know for definite its not the stalk

Cant remember which wires but,one is permanent live(red/yelloworblack?,smaller one)
one becomes live with the headlight switch and ign on
The other two are the high and low beam

Bridge between the swicth live and the  others (one at a time)to get full or low beam

From more prodding with my multimeter I have identified which wires are perm. live, live on ignition, side lights and full beam from the back of the headlamp switch - and from what I can tell the switch is functioning as I would expect.

Could you talk me through exactly which points I should be bridging please and how I go about it - never had to mess with electrics too much! Am I bridging two points together at the back of the stalk - and how do I make a good connection?

Thanks in advance

You need to remove the connector that goes into the stalk

Ignore the small red/yellow wire (thats permanent live for flashing the high beam when other lights are off)

The white/black will become live with the light switch on and ignition on
 
The yellow is low beam

The white is high beam

What I did,was to put a male spade connector onto each end of a short piece of wire

Then put one end in the white/black
The other end then can be put into either of the white or yellow connector
depending whether you want high or low beam

High beam



Low beam


Hope this helps determine a good stalk or not

Timmy - many thanks indeed for helping me out with this

After following the above steps the lights were switching fine so went and aquired another wiper stalk - and bingo it is fixed!

Thanks to everyone who helped

Tom

When you say it was a faulty ignition switch, do you mean the relay? I'm without headlights at the moment, and completely baffled.

This test proved to be very useful and I now have my headlights back!

I am still a little confused as to what went wrong. I shorted the wires from the full beam stalk to discover the dipped lights are OK, but when I put the stalk back on everything worked anyway…  did I trip something back into action, was there a bad connection on the stalk???