One headlight stopped working

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scott.taylor
Posts: 271
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I drive a: GT 2.0 TDI 140/150
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Location: Livingston, Scotland.

One headlight stopped working

Post by scott.taylor »

One of my headlights has stopped working.

I fitted HIDs last saturday and they worked perfect for 4 days, then the right one stopped working. I checked every bit of wiring, and all the plugs and fuses. Eventually swapped everything over to the other side, and this proved that the HID bulb and ballast worked fine. So I checked for voltage and the OEM headlight plug... Nothing.

I disconnected the Battery for 15 mins then put it back together and I had 12V at the plug. :) hooray.

Before re-fitting the headlight, I made sure all the connections were heat-shrinked and insulated and everything was fine, and I put it back together and both headlights worked perfect.

After driving for an hour it went out again, so im stuck with one headlight still.

There seems to be condensation in the headlight that only started since I fitted the HIDs, maybe this is what is making the canbus thing shut down the power to the light.

Can anyone help me ? I will have Vagcom in a few days if that can help.
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RW1
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Hi from Sunny Stopfordia

Re: One headlight stopped working

Post by RW1 »

Depending how old the Scirocco is, you could experiment with turning OFF the 09 - Central Electrics Controller, Byte 23, Bit 6 - Filament test. (Won't work on MY2012 production with chassis WVWzzz13zCV000001 onwards. Its locked from that production date in a few controllers).

You'll need to clear the fault codes down in 09 Controller.

You may also need to either refit the original lamps to allow the diagnostics to settle for about 12 hours or do the battery disconnect again.

Condensation in the headlamp is irrelevant. The 09 controller is not liking the electrical load of the HID circuit you have fitted and so shutting down.

C.
Week 43 Build has happened on time! 22 Oct'09 Scirocco is at Check Point 5 in the factory
23 Oct'09 Now Complete on the dockside, 24 Oct'09 Sailed from Portugal, 27 Oct'09 In the UK,
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Driving 4th Nov. Sorted!
scott.taylor
Posts: 271
Joined: Sun Sep 18, 2011 10:22 am
I drive a: GT 2.0 TDI 140/150
In: Indium Grey
With a: DSG box
Location: Livingston, Scotland.

Re: One headlight stopped working

Post by scott.taylor »

So do you think Vagcom could disable the shut-down thing it does. To stop it from turning off every so often.

I have the bulb warning light on constant, with the message "check front right dipped beam".

So if the power shut-down system could be de-activated through Vagcom, then that would solve the problem, as the HIDs do work.
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RW1
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Posts: 4680
Joined: Tue Jul 07, 2009 9:06 pm
I drive a: 1.4 TSI 160
In: Candy White
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Options: Black Leather, Cruise, Folding Mirrors, Leather, Fogs, 2 Zone Air Con, MF Steering Wheel, Factory Carpet Mats

Ordered 12Jul'09, provisional build Wk43, now 42 (05/08/09), PRODUCTION CONFIRMED Wk43 (30/09/09), Driving 04Nov09.

Hi from Sunny Stopfordia

Re: One headlight stopped working

Post by RW1 »

RW1 wrote:you could experiment with
:)

As said, its not liking the electrical load. After disabling, it may still not like the electrical load. The units may work but that does not mean they are compatible with the Scirocco's 09- Central Electrics Controller.

C.
Week 43 Build has happened on time! 22 Oct'09 Scirocco is at Check Point 5 in the factory
23 Oct'09 Now Complete on the dockside, 24 Oct'09 Sailed from Portugal, 27 Oct'09 In the UK,
29 Oct'09 at dealers
Driving 4th Nov. Sorted!
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Shaun
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Re: One headlight stopped working

Post by Shaun »

Its the lords way of telling you to ditch the HID;s
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bianco
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Re: One headlight stopped working

Post by bianco »

What kind of HID did You fit?
OEM?
Bulb replacement only?
New housing and electrics?
scott.taylor
Posts: 271
Joined: Sun Sep 18, 2011 10:22 am
I drive a: GT 2.0 TDI 140/150
In: Indium Grey
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Location: Livingston, Scotland.

Re: One headlight stopped working

Post by scott.taylor »

Its an aftermarket kit with new bulbs, ballasts and wiring.

Easy to fit. MY mate has the exact same set, he has had 2 different cars with a set in each, and both they sets have worked perfect.

So im gonna get the multimeter out and check the currents on the supply side of each ballast, then fit a resistor to one to balance out the load and see if that does the trick. (Im an electrician btw) lol.
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gkatsi
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Re: One headlight stopped working

Post by gkatsi »

I m not quite sure if it has been metioned before but try the following.

Put the lights switch to sidelights. Then turn the key to power up the electronics and the engine.

In a lot of simiar cases in Greece that "procedure" did the trick.
scott.taylor
Posts: 271
Joined: Sun Sep 18, 2011 10:22 am
I drive a: GT 2.0 TDI 140/150
In: Indium Grey
With a: DSG box
Location: Livingston, Scotland.

Re: One headlight stopped working

Post by scott.taylor »

Ill give that a try if they cut out again. (I reset my battery earlier, so they are working the now)

...But for how long... :/
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scott.taylor
Posts: 271
Joined: Sun Sep 18, 2011 10:22 am
I drive a: GT 2.0 TDI 140/150
In: Indium Grey
With a: DSG box
Location: Livingston, Scotland.

Re: One headlight stopped working

Post by scott.taylor »

gkatsi wrote:Put the lights switch to sidelights. Then turn the key to power up the electronics and the engine.
They cut out again today, so I tried this, and IT WORKED :D

Thanks a lot mate :)
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