924Board.org

[Portporschedon]

Good evening from Scotland.
This problem is on my 1986 924S NA.
I have used search, and have the wiring diagrams, but I am no electrician.

My headlights just stopped working.
The fuses have been checked etc.
The pods raise up (though there seems to be a slight delay before they do), but there is no light.
If I operate the steering column lever, the extra driving lamps and the main beam on the left side (looking from the cabin) illuminate, as does the blue main beam indicator light.

In summary:
Light pods raise up.
No fixed dipped (low) beam
No fixed main (high) beam
Headlight flasher gives extra driving lamps and left main (high) beam.
Fuses are good.

I dropped the front bumper and pulled the wiring harness from the front to check for chafing / shorts etc, and removed all the earth connections beside the light units.
Using a multi-meter, the white and the white/black wires give continuity to earth (thats one wire in each headlight), the other wires seem to be ok.
The wiring is physically in good condition.
I have removed the headlight switch, but cannot figure out how it works.
The connecting plug has been melted where the white/black wire connects, but the connection is still good.
From my searches on previous posts, it looks as though either the headlight switch or the steering column lever switch is at fault.
Can someone possibly point me in the correct direction for information / guidance on testing procedures for these units.

Both my cars with electrical problems in one weekend......who did I offend??

Don
_________________
White 1983 924 - Renovated to near original condition and my daily driver

Dolomite 1986 924S - Coming to the end of a 4 year refurbishment.


Life is not a rehearsal

[morghen]

try cleaning the insides of the headlight button with some contact spray...see if it works any better.
do the same with your lever.
if they even sketch working better replace them....if not...try borrowing them from a working car just to see if everything works on your car.

i've had this exact problem with my 86 audi and it was the headlight button. i also had this problem on my 83 924 NA...again the button.
_________________
Supercharger and EFI kits
https://www.the924.com

[Portporschedon]

Update
The problem was the headlight switch.
I had already tried contact cleaner without success.
After using the "search" function and reading up on the switch, I carefully prised it apart, half expecting it to "explode" across the kitchen table in a flurry of springs and contacts.
That didn't happen....I held it with the connector terminals upwards and gently prised it apart.
The "bottom" of the switch with the terminals came off and left the rest of the switch intact in my hand.
Putting it carefully down I was able to take the contacters out and clean them.
I then cleaned the contact strips on the back side of the terminal part.
The 2 x large terminal contacts were very dirty and there were bits of melted plastic stuck to them.
With everything cleaned up, I fitted it back together and tested it with a multimeter....success.
Fitting it to the car was also a success.......headlights!

Pulling the switch apart and cleaning it was a lot easier than I was expecting.

Job done
_________________
White 1983 924 - Renovated to near original condition and my daily driver

Dolomite 1986 924S - Coming to the end of a 4 year refurbishment.


Life is not a rehearsal