Re: Erratic Headlights

["Brant M. Miller" <brant@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Michael -

This subject came up on the Digest just a while back in connection with
E-34 cars.  The E-34 headlights are controlled by relays located in the
Lamp Control Module which is located in the Front Power Distribution Box
(black box just forward of the firewall on the driver's side - the fuse
box).  The Lamb Control Module is the long, rectangular module in the
Distribution Box that is not the ABS module.  The relays in the Lamp
Control Module are reportedly poorly soldered, which results in open
circuits with time.

Could be its the same on your 733???

Brant

>Date: Sun, 6 Sep 1998 23:46:58 -0700 (PDT)
From: Pearson-Franks Family <pearsonf@domain.elided>
Subject: Erratic Headlights

Michael:

My first suspicion is a bad ground (or two).  Check that the big
bundle of brown wires brought to the stud with the negative battery
strap is intact where you can see them.  (I'm presuming you
have checked/swapped relays, etc.)

Then, check voltages at the back of the lights when they are turned
on.  Check from a good chassis ground (like the negative side of the
battery) to the ground of any lamp that is turned on.  It should always
read less than 100 mV.

Was this a 'gray-market' car?  If so, the 'Federalization' may be a
culprit.

Good hunting!  Larry F.

>Date: Sat, 05 Sep 1998 14:06:03 -0400
>From: "Michael Parker" <michaelp@domain.elided>
>Subject: Erratic Headlights
>
>Hello everyone.
>
>I am assembling a 1982 733i after a long refurbishment.
>
>Most of the electrics work but I am having a problem with the headlights=
=2E
>When I turn the headlights on low beam, I only get the driver side low
beam.
>When I turn the headlights on high beam, I only get the driver side low
>beam and passenger side high beam.
>The turn signals work fine. Hazard, signals when required on both sides,=

>rear lights, brakes and headlight bulbs all work. the headlight lights
work
>when switched into the working curcuit. All contacts have been sanded.
>
>Please help. I'm stumped.
>Michael Parker
>michaelp@domain.elided
>
>

Larry Franks
Issaquah, Washington
'86 535i - Shark-infested (Authentic chip!)
'86 535i - Sharked (recently)
'83 245 GLT (Swedish iron)<

------------------------------