Author Topic: ST continually blowing left hand headlight  (Read 3622 times)

Offline Draco (Heartbreak Kid)

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ST continually blowing left hand headlight
« on: February 01, 2019, 12:45:07 AM »
 :blu13 My Blue Beast is now 225,000ks And have recently had a problem with the left hand headlight blowing low beam, 4 in 1 week to be exact.
I have since tried a new 110w globe like the normal ones Shiny and me have used for ages, BUT alas the left hand low beam lasted about a minute then DIED.... Wot thuh
So does anyone out there in ST land know of a fix for this problem???  :think1

Thanks in advance :blu13left  :thumbs
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Offline CallMeSteve

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Re: ST continually blowing left hand headlight
« Reply #1 on: February 01, 2019, 07:39:02 AM »
I don’t have a clue, but it costs me nothing to guess.

During the brief time when the LH low beam is working, does it look the same as the RH? Like is it brighter, indicating it’s somehow getting a higher voltage (unlikely unless you incorrectly installed that nuclear plant under the seat), or does it flicker?

I’m putting my money on an intermittent joint. Filament-based bulbs draw a large inrush current on start, typically 10X their running current, which is a massive caffeine hit to the filament. Too much of that in a short time will kill them.
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Re: ST continually blowing left hand headlight
« Reply #2 on: February 01, 2019, 07:48:02 AM »
Would a resistor help?
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Re: ST continually blowing left hand headlight
« Reply #3 on: February 01, 2019, 07:59:21 AM »
There is a known problem with the left headlight, there are always comments on the US site. I dont think any one has a fix yet.
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Offline cravenhaven

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Re: ST continually blowing left hand headlight
« Reply #4 on: February 01, 2019, 08:21:32 AM »
Have a look at my post: http://ozstoc.com/index.php?topic=12981.msg1243596#msg1243596.
In reply no:3 I copied the wiring diag from the manual which shows that the LH headlight is controlled by relays whereas the RH headlight is directly controlled by the switch.
Maybe that will help in identifying the problem.

Allan
 
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Offline Gadget

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Re: ST continually blowing left hand headlight
« Reply #5 on: February 01, 2019, 06:11:33 PM »
As bizarre as it sounds, it could also be a high resistance joint in the headlight lead at the terminal.

This can be caused by oxidizing of the terminals, loose fitting terminals, or the terminal has come loose on the wiring.

The high resistance causes higher heat in the lead and the bulb, and this raises the overall temperature of the bulb too higher than normal, which can cause failure.

So also check if the new bulb is slightly dimmer than the right. That is a symptom of a high resistance joint.


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Offline CallMeSteve

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Re: ST continually blowing left hand headlight
« Reply #6 on: February 01, 2019, 07:48:56 PM »
As bizarre as it sounds, it could also be a high resistance joint in the headlight lead at the terminal.

This can be caused by oxidizing of the terminals, loose fitting terminals, or the terminal has come loose on the wiring.

The high resistance causes higher heat in the lead and the bulb, and this raises the overall temperature of the bulb too higher than normal, which can cause failure.

So also check if the new bulb is slightly dimmer than the right. That is a symptom of a high resistance joint.


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Good point Gary. Last week we lost power to our house, and the Energex guys found exactly that scenario. The 30 year old fuse block out at the post had developed a high resistance connection and had overheated to the point where it destroyed both the block and the fuse.
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Offline Draco (Heartbreak Kid)

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Re: ST continually blowing left hand headlight
« Reply #7 on: February 01, 2019, 08:44:47 PM »
As bizarre as it sounds, it could also be a high resistance joint in the headlight lead at the terminal.

This can be caused by oxidizing of the terminals, loose fitting terminals, or the terminal has come loose on the wiring.

The high resistance causes higher heat in the lead and the bulb, and this raises the overall temperature of the bulb too higher than normal, which can cause failure.

So also check if the new bulb is slightly dimmer than the right. That is a symptom of a high resistance joint.


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Offline alans1100

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Re: ST continually blowing left hand headlight
« Reply #8 on: February 01, 2019, 10:26:30 PM »
As bizarre as it sounds, it could also be a high resistance joint in the headlight lead at the terminal.

This can be caused by oxidizing of the terminals, loose fitting terminals, or the terminal has come loose on the wiring.

The high resistance causes higher heat in the lead and the bulb, and this raises the overall temperature of the bulb too higher than normal, which can cause failure.
Maybe the reason why the LH headlight plug fell apart on my 1100.

Sometimes it appeared that the globe had blown but filaments looked ok - put the globe back in and it would work. That happened a few times and eventually the plug just fell apart in my hand. To much heat so I replaced the plug with a new ceramic one and it's been okay since.
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Offline Gadget

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Re: ST continually blowing left hand headlight
« Reply #9 on: February 02, 2019, 08:28:54 AM »
Mist connectors are made of played copper.

Because copper is a soft metal, it will 'migrate away' or ooze away from a  point where it is under pressure.

We've had a similar thing with a house switchboard where a light circuit became intermittent and the circuit breaker would trip.

We also had a Power Point in the lounge room melt on the active wire,  when using a fan heater. Again due to a high resistance joint in the back of the Power Point.

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Re: ST continually blowing left hand headlight
« Reply #10 on: February 02, 2019, 08:34:17 AM »
I've also seen a common fault in series 3 Land Rovers where a high resistance joint in the earth joint at the rear of the vehicles caused a weird symptom.

What happens is the tail and brake lights dimly flash when the indicator flashes.

The electricity was finding an earth trough the brake and tail lights circuits.

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Offline Biggles

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Re: ST continually blowing left hand headlight
« Reply #11 on: February 02, 2019, 09:55:42 AM »
I've also seen a common fault in series 3 Land Rovers where a high resistance joint in the earth joint at the rear of the vehicles caused a weird symptom.

What happens is the tail and brake lights dimly flash when the indicator flashes.

The electricity was finding an earth trough the brake and tail lights circuits.


I've seen that on other vehicles occasionally (trailers are good at it) and figured it was a short of some kind but hadn't heard of high resistance joints.
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Re: ST continually blowing left hand headlight
« Reply #12 on: February 04, 2019, 10:25:50 AM »
As Steve mentioned above a bad joint or contact can cause currant spikes shortening the life of the globe. I would assume the you have checked the connector to the headlight globe for signs of excessive heat or arcing, The next thing to check is the headlight switch as the switch supplies power to left headlight and relay. The relay then supplies the right headlight and high beam indicator on dash.
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Offline cravenhaven

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Re: ST continually blowing left hand headlight
« Reply #13 on: February 04, 2019, 10:45:01 AM »
The next thing to check is the headlight switch as the switch supplies power to left headlight and relay. The relay then supplies the right headlight and high beam indicator on dash.
 :blu13
 
According to my manual and my experience, its the other way around. Switch controls the RH side and the relay the LH.
 

Offline Draco (Heartbreak Kid)

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Re: ST continually blowing left hand headlight
« Reply #14 on: February 20, 2019, 05:22:26 PM »
Hi guys, hopefully after a visit from GURU "Shiney" we tinkered and thinkered and discussed 2 options.
Option 1 oder mini headlight loom from USA $300.00+$150.00 shipping
Option 2 see pic 1
Obviously you know which option was chosen  "2"
As you can see lots of thought went into this operation.
Check the old block and leave a comment if you want
Cheers Draco

           


   
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« Last Edit: February 20, 2019, 11:31:07 PM by Shiney »
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Offline DavidP

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Re: ST continually blowing left hand headlight
« Reply #15 on: February 20, 2019, 05:33:25 PM »
Wow, now that was one shagged bulb holder, no wonder it kept blowing.

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Offline Draco (Heartbreak Kid)

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Re: ST continually blowing left hand headlight
« Reply #16 on: February 20, 2019, 05:35:13 PM »
Be going riding later this evening to checkout new work

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Offline Gadget

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Re: ST continually blowing left hand headlight
« Reply #17 on: February 20, 2019, 08:14:38 PM »
Good grief!

I think I might have been correct. That's a surprise.

As is the level of melting in the connector. WOW:

These areas circle in red are giveaway signs of a high resistance joint.


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Offline Draco (Heartbreak Kid)

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Re: ST continually blowing left hand headlight
« Reply #18 on: February 22, 2019, 10:16:34 PM »
Well "Shiney Guru" The problem is solved. The new block did the trick. Went out for a test ride ALL good the new $8.99 plug worked great. And now running these babies (pic 1).
As he said "LET THERE BE LIGHT"!
AVAILABLE Ebay $36.00 per set

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Offline alans1100

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Re: ST continually blowing left hand headlight
« Reply #19 on: February 22, 2019, 11:40:43 PM »
Wow, now that was one shagged bulb holder, no wonder it kept blowing.

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See mine here; globe never failed but kept going out. Moment I touched the plug the light would come back on until one time the plug fell apart. Replaced with a ceramic plug

DSC_1402 by Alan, on Flickr

More here http://ozstoc.com/index.php?topic=12504.msg1233142#msg1233142





 
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Offline alans1100

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Re: ST continually blowing left hand headlight
« Reply #20 on: February 22, 2019, 11:42:09 PM »
Be going riding later this evening to checkout new work

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Glad to see you got it sorted.
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Offline Draco (Heartbreak Kid)

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Re: ST continually blowing left hand headlight
« Reply #21 on: February 22, 2019, 11:43:26 PM »
Thanks mate help from shiney was very welcomed

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Re: ST continually blowing left hand headlight
« Reply #22 on: February 23, 2019, 07:20:06 PM »
Always happy to help where I can :thumbsup
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Offline Gadget

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Re: ST continually blowing left hand headlight
« Reply #23 on: February 23, 2019, 08:27:17 PM »
So pleased I didn't give you a bum steer.

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Offline Draco (Heartbreak Kid)

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Re: ST continually blowing left hand headlight
« Reply #24 on: February 23, 2019, 10:00:04 PM »
No problem thanks mate

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