6 replies to this topic

[Marroon]

1989 Mini city E

Previous to this problem I have done alot of work on the car including engine out, however the electrics have remained untouched and un modified.

When I put the sidelights on then turn the ignition to stage 2 ( or "reds") the headlight bulbs light up too. The wire that feeds the connector for the front lights is getting the live so the fault is not the headlight wiring at the front of the car. The pink relay box under the dash also ticks as the ignition is turned.

So far I have checked:

Headlight switch
Steering column stalks (unplugging the stalk connectors has no effect.. however obviously unplugging the ignition barrel block cures the problem)
Pink relay has been replaced for a 100% working one with no effects

The fusebox seems fine, I have checked the wires and they all seem to be where they should... Any ideas anyone?!?

[L400RAS]

Your car has "dim dip". This is not a fault, it is operating correctly.

Edited by L400RAS, 25 October 2012 - 07:38 PM.

[Marroon]

Thats weird.. how does that work then because with the sidelights on and the ignition turned on it looks like my headlights are far too bright just for sideliights stage?

[jelboy89]

On the right hand side of engine bay behind radiator, there is a gold block with a connection just above it, unplug and the dim dip function stops

[Midas Mk1]

You can just disconnect the dim dip relay, with the black plug near the resistor bud :) That's what ive done

[ibrooks]

Thats weird.. how does that work then because with the sidelights on and the ignition turned on it looks like my headlights are far too bright just for sideliights stage?

They are powered through a resistor (that gold block mentioned).

If you move the switch to the second position do they get brighter? and if you then push or pull the indicator stalk they get brighter still? If the answer to either of these is no then yes you have a problem otherwise it's doing what it should.

The simplest way to stop the dim-dip from working but leave you with the legally required lights is to unplug the round black plug in the engine bay near the gold coloured resistor. Stick a plastic bag over the plug and secure it around the wire with an elastic band or tie-wrap to keep moisture and muck out of the connector so that you can plug it back in with a reasonable degree of certainty that it'll work at a later date if you so desire.

Iain

[Ethel]

What's bad about dim-dip lights???

The idea is that it stops you from driving on just sidelights (you can do legally in built up areas by the way). The dimmed headlights are plenty bright enough for other drivers to see, and as a bonus there's less load on your electrics (burnt out switch contacts anyone?) and the bulbs will last longer.

It's a pity all those Chelsea tractors driven by numpties with the headlight levelling turned up to ack ack search light mode don't have it