Head Lamp Disaster!

CiDeRmAn

Went to head to the shops a few minutes ago and had to turn back.
I have a 01 C5 and went to head out of the driveway when I realised the Headlights weren't on, then I noticed I had turned them on but they hadn't responded.
The beams work fine, but not a jot out of the dipped lights.
Any thoughts?
Why would both sides fail at the same time?
Is the dips and beams individually fused?
Could that have blown?
A bit of help please!

maxextz

the cold can have an effect on the elements first very cold then red hot.
if one went then the second can follow quickly.just change the bulbs and you will be fine.

MarkoC

Always check the fuses first.

sean1141

dips and beams should have seperate fuses.. iirc on my car (seat leon) there are four fuses.. 1 for diped and 1 for main on each side... it is quiet possible for both dips to fail at once.. have seen it happen a few times.. usually with h4 bulbs do (bulbs with dip and main beam in one bulb) not sure what setup is in your car do

Anan1

Are you sure both were working up to now?

Stheno

sean1141 wrote: »

dips and beams should have seperate fuses.. iirc on my car (seat leon) there are four fuses.. 1 for diped and 1 for main on each side... it is quiet possible for both dips to fail at once.. have seen it happen a few times.. usually with h4 bulbs do (bulbs with dip and main beam in one bulb) not sure what setup is in your car do

afaik dips and beams are seperate in a C5

Guy:Incognito

Just go to your boot and get the spare bulbs to change them. Once thats done and the fuse is checked you should be grand.

Owen

Do the simple checks first, grab a multimeter (Or borrow one, they're only about 15 euro for a basic one) - and check the resistance through the bulbs. Doesn't matter what value you get as long as you get a value. If the value is 1, then you've a blown bulb.

Check that first before doing anything. Oh, and if you do take the bulb out to check it, don't touch the glass, hold it with a cloth or something.

Avns1s

Bulbs, amazing the number of people driving around with one dip or 1 high beam. Then when the other one goes, they have "no lights". (Obviously!!)

CiDeRmAn

Good point, I'll try changing the bulbs, the fuses are fine though.
Also the side lights and the main dipped beams are gone at at the same time.
And my local grease monkey is off over the weekend, naturally!
Arse!
I'll swing by Halfords and buy a set of bulbs.

Gods, I wish I didn't own a Citroen!
I'm buying an old Almera next time, easy to fix, slow to break, and it has suspension normal people can understand, not to mention a handbrake attached to the back, like it should be...

Row

So all of your front lights have failed..??
How about the tail lights..??
If all have failed then its either your comms unit (Stalk on steering wheel) or a bsi problem. (bsi controls all your lights,clocking,wipers etc.
Are your indicators..wipers,horn working...?

slimjimmc

CiDeRmAn wrote: »

Good point, I'll try changing the bulbs, the fuses are fine though.
Also the side lights and the main dipped beams are gone at at the same time.
And my local grease monkey is off over the weekend, naturally!
Arse!
I'll swing by Halfords and buy a set of bulbs.

Gods, I wish I didn't own a Citroen!
I'm buying an old Almera next time, easy to fix, slow to break, and it has suspension normal people can understand, not to mention a handbrake attached to the back, like it should be...

Read this thread and do more Googling if you believe an old (pre-2006) Almera will solve your headlamp problems.

Stheno

Row wrote: »

So all of your front lights have failed..??
How about the tail lights..??
If all have failed then its either your comms unit (Stalk on steering wheel) or a bsi problem. (bsi controls all your lights,clocking,wipers etc.
Are your indicators..wipers,horn working...?

Seems his beams are working but the dips and the sidelights have gone, all at the same time.

CiDeRmAn

When I turn on lights the dash light comes on as does the light to say the dipped headlights are on, the tail lights are on too, but no actual headlights are on. Then, flicking the light stalk, the high beams come on, as normal.
The fuses are fine, its either bulbs or something serious, bugger

galwaytt

Stekelly wrote: »

Just go to your boot and get the spare bulbs to change them. Once thats done and the fuse is checked you should be grand.

...I see what you did there....

CiDeRmAn

Just fitted new bulbs and still no joy, arse.
Going to have to quiz mechanic in the morning

Row

CiDeRmAn wrote: »

Just fitted new bulbs and still no joy, arse.
Going to have to quiz mechanic in the morning

Does sound like either (1) a faulty comms unit or (2)a fault within the bsi.(3)a connection/wiring problem.

(1)Maybe fiddle with the light switch and get someone to keep an eye on the low beams while you do this.

(2)maybe remove the lower panel knee level and see can you see a black box around 6inchs square with small fuses on it...this is you bsi.
check these fuses and maybe tap the bsi as some of the relays within the bsi maybe sticking.

(3)Check the light fitting connections where the plug connects onto the bulb..if you have a bad connection then you will have no lights.
if you have a mulitmeter check for supply voltage when the low beams are turned on.
Tbh this would be the first thing to check...:)
Best of luck with it.

Row

Checked the wiring diagrams for the C5 and the dipped beam is feed from fuse 9&10 (engine bay fusebox) check for 12volts each side of these fuses when the dipped beam switch is turned on...if you have no voltage both sides of fuse 9&10 then has to be a faulty coms switch or a fault within the bsi itself....if you have voltage both sides of fuse 9&10 then it must be a wiring/connector fault.

CiDeRmAn

Turns out one of the dips blew and took the relay with it, so more new bulbs, new relay, all is well, thank the gods.
Stuck with the C5 a while longer!

mgbgt1978

The COMMS2000 lives on for another while.......only a matter of time before the indicators turn on the lights, or the wipers decide for themselves whether it's raining or not.:D