Morris Minor Owners Club

Nothing to do with a Minor, but....

Why should my Mk2 Astra's headlights be constantly on full beam, have had to disconnect battery to prevent it being drained!

Any ideas please.

Sounds like it might be a relay stuck on problem. See if you can find which one it is and give it a tap, might not work if the contacts are fused together though.

If the rest of the lights and everything else is working OK then my first guess would be the "optical horn" lever or its wiring.

Unfortunately changing it and possibly even just disconnecting it probably involves removing steering wheel (which involves removing airbag), etc...

BUT, maybe your car has a dedicated fuse for it and you can just pull it at least as a temporary measure.

No modern airbag on a 1991 Astramax, nor ECU!

Puzzled why the full beam is on WITHOUT the headlights and ign being on.

I'll change the relay and switch, see if that works.

Thanks chaps!!

It will be a relay or the switch. Unlikely to be wiring but check it anyway as could have a earth fault.

From an Electrical engineer who's a car nut.

Had an M-reg Astra with lights that would go out at night on the motorway due to poor contacts and design on the stalk. Evidently they are known for suddenly plunging you into darkness. Not expensive to buy a new stalk assembly and quick job to change it.

Thought it was a newer car, still, high beams on with ignition on or off points more towards the "optical horn" stalk than the regular light switch, or the relay which could be the same or a new one. If you still have your instruction manual this is where it would come in handy.

Do the rear lights come on at the same time ? If not I would guess it is to do with the flash switch/circuit maybe .

Big Jim wrote:Do the rear lights come on at the same time ? If not I would guess it is to do with the flash switch/circuit maybe .

Thanks for the input chaps!

NO mention of "Minor Numbers", bit of a shock to you all

Rear lights/headlamps come on when switched on normally (buzzer sounds when lights on & engine off)

But as soon as I connect the battery, full beam comes on, only the "flash" is active without the ign. Wonder whether there's a link between the courtesy/stereo circuit....this is where this farting about started!!

Family emergency today, hopefully tackle electrical saga tomorrow!!

Try disconnecting the flasher switch. And see if they go out. If they do its very likely to be the switch. Sorry don't really know much about modern cars. Switches do fail over time due the heat and movement and can fall apart internally.

Not the switch on the column...

Mmmm...

Relay stuck on, it would stay on with ignition off. Identify which one and pull it.

Where IS the relay?

Hate driving with high beam on, will have to take the fuses out if going to Gaydon!!

Apparently there's a relay behind the ashtray? Did a bit of investigating on the Astra forums and it seems like a common problem but I must really get back to work now...

http://www.astra-mk2.com/forum/forum/th ... ight-relay