Headlamp warning light stays on!

[TimFurmidge]

I'm having a little problem with my minor's headlamp warning light on the milometer. It is a 1964 2 dr saloon, with a 1098 engine, negative earthed (fitted with an alternator), halogen lamps (Wipac) and new Autosparks wiring loom. The problem is that when the headlamps are dipped the warning light slightly glows, but it illuminates correctly when on full beam. I have checked and cleaned all the earthing points in the engine bay (including the main earthing point from battery) and all connection to dash board, including the floor mounted dip switch and pull light switch on dash board (the car has an 948cc type dash board). The wiring seems correctly connected as per manual diagram.

Does any body have any suggestions regarding solving this problem?
Cheers for now...new to the Forum....Tim Furmidge

[8009STEVE]

Our red one has been like that for 5 years

[mike.perry]

Are you sure the lamp unit is fully located and you are not getting stray light from the speedo panel lights reflecting in the lens?

[bmcecosse]

Does it go out completely when the headlights are turned off ?

[8009STEVE]

Does it go out completely when the headlights are turned off ?

mine does

not getting stray light from the speedo panel lights reflecting in the lens?

Panel lights not working.

Sorry to put my answers, but the problem is the same, so the replies would be relevant.

[bmcecosse]

I wonder if one of the headlight units (in the original post) is not wired correctly ? If the 'earth' was on a filament connection, and the other wires rotated round - that might give a limited back-feed to the warning light on one position - I suggest unplugging the headlamps - and try the switch in both positions - what does the warning light do now ??

[TimFurmidge]

Thanks for replying guys.....
Have checked to see if there is stray light from other lights in the speedo but no it does light up. Also have checked contacts in the head lamp, it has modern three prong halogen bulbs, the earth goes to the middle contact, dip and full either side (have checked correct position for dip and full). Further to this I have checked the wiring with a multi meter, only 10v seems to be present for dip and full and when the lights are on dip, there is still some voltage present in the full beam wire (5v) when there should not be. On dip it does seem very dim. The battery is new and seems fine and other wiring within the car seems to be at the full 12v!

I have taken one bulb out but the warning light still slightly glows on dip, only when both bulbs are out that it does not glow (only on main beam, as it should do).

I am still at a loss to know whats going on in the mog, unless there is something wrong with the light switch on dash board or the dip switch.
Cheers for now Tim F.

[PSL184]

Sounds like the earth for your headlamps - you should not be getting that 5v feedback through the main beam wiring. The dipped lights are using the main beam wiring as an earth. Check the connectors inside the bonnet (the black plastic covered bullets) and also make sure that there aren't any shorts in any of the wiring.

[bmcecosse]

With the bulbs out - it does NOT glow ? So I stick by my original diagnosis - there is a problem with the way the headlamps are connected - or just possibly a problem with a bulb where the two filaments may be touching internally ?

[Longdog]

I blame the bloke who put the loom in
Must have been a lack of caffeine Dude.

[bmcecosse]

Try the headlamps with just one lamp connected - one at a time - and in each headlamp connector in turn. Is the problem confined to one bulb - or one connector ??