Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[terry paget]

OE03 EWW 3.2 petrol manual police saloon
In the lower display panel (upper displays date, time and temperature) a lamp facing left comes on with ignition turned on, then after a few seconds it goes off, and stays off . I start the engine, it stays off. Then I reverse the car 5 yards out of the garage, and the light comes on. This performance is repeatable.

I used to think this meant a failed stop light bulb, but both bulbs are on. I have changed both bulbs, cleaned up both both bulb holders. Fault remains.

What could it be?

[Omegatoy]

bulb out in reverse lamp?

[terry paget]

Sadly, no. Both reversing bulbs OK. Number plate bulb OK too.i

[terry paget]

Reading my car handbook (old rule, if all else fails read the handbook) it looks like it could be the headlight automatic levelling system. I recently changed the nearside wishbone, to which is attached the self levelling sensor. I wonder if it has come adrift.
 

[chrisgixer]

Halfords bulbs? Or a bulb that doesn't fit or is tight in the holder?

Had this on my old cdx, as did several other members at the time. Stop using Halfords bulbs. No more problem.

Suspect you have a slight flickering or bad connection with the bulbs or in that circuit somewhere.

[05omegav6]

Plods only have two lights in that display iirc, one is brake pads, tother is headlight leveling so your probably onto summat

[chrisgixer]

Ah, thought we where talking headlight tail light.

[05omegav6]

Ah, thought we where talking headlight tail light.

If you're lucky the basic TID only shows time, temp and radio station (if fitted)

[terry paget]

It was the wishbone height sensor. The operating arm had fallen out of the switch body. I have popped it back in, and now the fault has gone. Of course it will fall out again. Can I glue it in? Or should I just buy a new sensor?

[chrisgixer]

No it's supposed to rise and fall with the suspension, and therefor turn in the sensor body, hence its sees the movement and adjusts the headlights accordingly.

...although that would stop the fault showing then again, the lights won't adjust as designed, if the boot is full for example, you'll be blinding everyone. Its bad enough with normal headlights miss aligned, but hids are way too bright for that.

[terry paget]

Thanks Chris. I appreciate what the sensor does. I don't know how it works. The end of the arm attached to the wishbone is a disc a bit like a chocolate Smartie but smaller, which pops into a matching cavity in the sensor body. Mine now pops out again.

I imagine the cavity is a cylinder that rotates in the body of the switch, moving a carbon track resistor and thus advising the electronics where the suspension is. If I am right, then gluing it in should work. Perhaps I could wedge it in. If all else fails I buy a new sensor.

[05omegav6]

Glue it carefully, but do it soonest, else you'll be wanting a new sensor

[Entwood]

Strategically placed cable tie can often hold the little bugger in whilst still allowing full and free movement ..

[terry paget]

Thanks for advice gentlemen. I have stuck it in with Loctite super glue, and it's still there after one day's motoring. If it fails, I shall try a cable tie. Now you mention that, entwood, I think I saw a cable tie holding the arm on the sensor on JAP188. car I bought in May.

[terry paget]

Thanks chaps, all seems to be well now. I have done 200 miles since gluing the arm into place and the lights is remaining off. I raisd the wishbone to central position before gluing it in, and hope this was correct.