Member Since: 05 Oct 2007
Location: Gone
Posts: 2466
I don't know much about the lights, but I'm guessing (big guess) that the shutter that controls the full/dipped beam is trembling, perhaps because of a mechanical or electrical fault.
18th Oct 2008 10:45 am
MacLeod 313
Member Since: 18 Apr 2008
Location: away
Posts: 10723
Cheers 90BHP..... You could have something in your reply there...I only use my D3 2 to 3 times a month , I drove to work yesterday at 2.30am, heater on, heated seats on, wipers on, high beam on, ipod on, satnav on
Got to work and the follow me home light o/s flickering, started my journey to pick up the devils child (my daughter Georgia), at about 6pm so had 10mins without the headlights.......
So Maybe, just Maybe its battrey related , I dont use it enough and when I do its with everthing on
18th Oct 2008 10:45 am
TallPaul
Member Since: 03 Jan 2008
Location: Near Reading
Posts: 1214
Could be the ballast on that side taking a while to get going (ballast = high voltage part for the bulb), they are quite susceptible to wet and damp, and it has been quite wet and damp lately...
20th Oct 2008 11:06 am
MacLeod 313
Member Since: 18 Apr 2008
Location: away
Posts: 10723
cheers Tall, checked. All connections and wd40 them, so far all ok . Then again it has been dryer of late.
Just a thought - it wasn't raining each time you noticed this ?
Reason I ask is that I have noticed a flicker sometines and put if down to rain water running over the lens. Only when at standstill or moving off slowly and only when stationary for a short period. The move to access height might just be enough movement to clear off any surface water from dripping over the lens.
(Then again, maybe I have a problem as well...)The next American ex-pat that calls it a "truck" is going to find out what 2.7 tons feels like on their foot...
Club "yes, I too have had the EGR's replaced..."
Club "yes, I too have had the compressor replaced..."
Club "yes, I too once had the car at the dealer for a couple of weeksnearly 4 weeksover 4 weeks...5 weeks"
Club "yes, I too have had EPB failure..."
Club "yes, I too get mysterious bings and bongs..."
20th Oct 2008 12:41 pm
ronp
Member Since: 29 Nov 2006
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 15214
JF Lux wrote:
I have noticed a flicker sometines and put if down to rain water running over the lens. ..
Had that when I set of at 6.15am on Sat morning.
It was the morning dew!
20th Oct 2008 12:47 pm
NJF
Member Since: 05 Oct 2007
Location: Gone
Posts: 2466
I definitely have a fault on the O/S headlight. It sticks in full-beam mode after I return the light stalk to the normal position. It corrects after a few minutes of driving (whether because of a bump in the road or for some other reason, I don't know). The N/S light operates normally. A trip to the dealer is needed.
2nd Nov 2008 12:40 am
NJF
Member Since: 05 Oct 2007
Location: Gone
Posts: 2466
OK, a couple of months ago SWMBO took the D3 to the dealer and explained the fault. They fiddled with the headlight and that seemed to put a stop to it ... until this week. I drove out tonight and noticed that the O/S headlight was stuck on full beam again. It doesn't always remain stuck on; it sometimes drops back to normal beam after a few minutes.
When I got home, I tried full beam and it stuck, so I thought I'd get it on camera - a picture speaks a thousand words to the dealer if the car won't perform the trick when it's in the workshop. This is what followed, and I'm now somewhat puzzled and impressed by the D3's electrickery.
Please note that throughout, the lights were on auto and the only control I used was the light stalk (for normal and full beam). The car is facing down a 15% slope.
Step 1a: show O/S headlight stuck on full beam (view from driver's door; full beam is switched off at the stalk):
Click image to enlarge
Step 1b: show O/S headlight stuck on full beam (view from passenger's door):
Click image to enlarge
Step 1c: show O/S headlight stuck on full beam (view towards the headlights):
Click image to enlarge
Step 2: show headlights on normal (lights on auto, full beam off, switch car off, switch car on, and the lights come on normally):
Click image to enlarge
Now, I thought I'd have another go at the boss-eyed photos with a higher ISO setting on my camera (the colour difference on the fourth photo above is because of ISO change), so it's on with full beam again and ... what the? ... no full beam at all, just this very odd diffused light pattern:
Click image to enlarge
... and a look at the lights showed this:
Click image to enlarge
... which isn't normal AFAIK. Note that at all times the lights were on auto and the only control I used was the full beam stalk, pushed forwards to set full beam on and back to the centre position to switch it off.
I guess I have a software fault. Opinions welcome.
So I'll mail this lot down to the dealer and send the car down tomorrow.
8th Feb 2009 9:09 pm
MacLeod 313
Member Since: 18 Apr 2008
Location: away
Posts: 10723
Mine has been diagnosed as BALLAST FAULT , whatever that means, being replaced 23rd February. Mine just flickers now from time to time, bit like the floresant tubes starting up.
8th Feb 2009 9:13 pm
NJF
Member Since: 05 Oct 2007
Location: Gone
Posts: 2466
SWMBO took it in to the dealer today and they plugged it into their computer. 90 minutes later they diagnosed a dicky light stalk. Part is now on order.
I'll ask my brother too, see if he has seen anything similar at his dealership . . .
Which dealer is that then 90? The End
14th Feb 2009 8:20 pm
NJF
Member Since: 05 Oct 2007
Location: Gone
Posts: 2466
Drove the car today and this time it was the passenger-side headlight that stuck on full beam, not the driver-side headlamp. I guess, therefore, that the problem is somewhere in the electronics, not in the headlamps.
14th Feb 2009 11:43 pm
NJF
Member Since: 05 Oct 2007
Location: Gone
Posts: 2466
Light stalk was replaced a few weeks ago and the problem went away. Now it's back, in much the same form. Looks like a trip to the dealer tomorrow.
1st May 2009 7:30 pm
NJF
Member Since: 05 Oct 2007
Location: Gone
Posts: 2466
Finally got round to taking it to the dealer. Two new headlights fitted today on warranty.
3rd Jun 2009 7:59 pm
MacLeod 313
Member Since: 18 Apr 2008
Location: away
Posts: 10723
Was it an Ignitor fault, that was mine and was replaced under warrenty. Glad you finally got it sorted
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You could have something in your reply there...I only use my D3 2 to 3 times a month 
, I drove to work yesterday at 2.30am, heater on, heated seats on, wipers on, high beam on, ipod on, satnav on 
, I dont use it enough and when I do its with everthing on
, whatever that means, being replaced 23rd February. Mine just flickers now from time to time, bit like the floresant tubes starting up.
Part is now on order.
