meridian

iTrader: (1)

Hi all,

Just fitted 2 brand new Cibie headlights to my 3-door. Bizarrely, I now have no main beam on the RHS and the centre dash display is giving strange readings indicating I have other bulbs out when I don't. No other changes have been made i.e I've fitted new headlights and plugged in the multiplugs.

Seem to remember same problem when I fitted new headlights 10 years ago to my RS500, solution at that time was to 'piggy back' LHS main beam and route a wire to RHS adding a bigger fuse on that circuit. Bit of a bodge though.

A supplier on eBay who used to sell these lamps used to make a specific reference to some kind of wiring alteration that had to be effected, either on the car or within the headlight, depending upon how many wires were on the RHS multiplug that goes into the back of the headlight.

Very strange. Seemingly original equipment Cibies, but now RHS main beam not working. Clearly, there must be differences in the internal wiring of the headlight over the original older unit.

Any suggestions ?

Thanks.

tabetha

Compare with old lights to see if wiring different, when you say no main beam do you mean the inner and outer main or just one main, the earth gives huge problems on the connectors on the loom, but think you can get new connectors, trouble is the earth wire will be rotten inside the insulation.
On any I've done I've always run a seperate earth in addition, you could pull off the cap where you put in the inner main beam bulb and put a earth on there straight from battery to try.
Earth problems can be weird and wonderful, but easily fixed, did this on my mk1 sierra, xr4i and my dads xr4i all same problem.
tabetha

meridian

iTrader: (1)

Thanks Tabetha.

The inner 'driving lamp' does not come on as it should on main beam on the RHS. All other lights function perfectly. It is not an earth related problem but a voltage supply problem specific to that bulb. I know that the vehicle multi plug is OK because if I plug the old light back in everything works OK.

Have had exact same problem before years ago as mentioned. Also as mentioned, an eBay supplier who used to advertise these made a specific reference to this however they are no longer advertising the units and I cannot remember the solution. That supplier, if remembered correctly, discussed the problems along the lines of 'if you have a certain amount of wires on the multiplug then you will have to do this, that and the other, otherwise the dash warning display will give false readings and indicate bulb failure that doesn't actually exist'

This is exactly what is happening. I would imagine this is a common and almost normal occurrence for anyone fitting replacement headlights as there must be a slight wiring difference on the later manufactured lamps.

Thanks

tabetha

If you still have your old lights it is simple enough to take the wiring out and swap into the new lights.
The problem then that I think you have is that on the mk1 sierra a lot of the inner lights were fake, they had no bulb holder and/or wiring to them, the wiring merely splits off from the mainlight mainbeam feed normally, I can only assume there is a seperate live feed for the inner lights in your loom but not the headlights, that being the case swap over the looms inside the lights will sort it.
tabetha

RS500/364

i had a relay or to making this fault when i chaged a light was the whit relay in the fuse boxs and then was all sorted

Cragrat

iTrader: (4)

sorry to hijack ya thread mate but did the new lamps come with the small steel bracket at the bottom of the lamp near the intercooler bud if they did and you still have it can i have it from you as i cannot get hold of one to replace the scabby bracket mine came with when i got car?

meridian

iTrader: (1)

Have come up with a simple solution but don't really understand why I have to do this !

Blue wire on car multiplug needs to be cut and isolated at loom end. Blue wire then needs to be linked to white wire (main beam circuit) on back of multiplug thus ensuring correct main beam voltage to main beam bulb. problem solved.

Sorry old lamps and brackets already skipped.

Thanks.

PAUL S

iTrader: (8)

For some reason the later batches of 3dr type headlights were fitted with the inner looms for the saff type lights. Most people either swap the inner looms from the old lights or do the re wire you mention. Ive done this on a good few pairs over the years now.

Cragrat

iTrader: (4)

Ahh bugger! thanks for reply