Wierd Headlight Problem - help!

[JeffD]

Whilst out tonight allof a sudden my drivers side headlight keeps going up and and down constantly very quickly (the sort of speed when you flash someone). Also when you switch the headlights off now the other side doesnt retract at all. Any ideas anyone?

btw everything else seems to work fine and the up-and-down side isnt wobbling - it is definitely being moved by the cars morors.

[mrrwaction1]

Hi just a thought as i have not ever had problems with my headlights how about the one that will not retract try to manualy wind it down. I wonder if this is the one that has a fault and is possibly pulling the voltage down on the headlight control unit causing it to go ape.

[Leon.]

Wonder if its a loose connection at the headlight motor?

[JeffD]

Donr a bit more messing about and if the car is left for a whils it everything works correctly for a couple of times then it starts repetaing the fault. In the meantime I have taken the fuse out of the fusebox so they are locked in the upright position at moment until I have time to look further. Keep the suggestions comimg...

[mrrwaction1]

I am sure that the unit that controls the head lights up and down is in the front right of the the bonnet just below the fuse board on the right hand inner wing, Maybe the plug has worked loose causing the intermittent fault you are getting. The only other thing that springs to mind right now is that someone who has owned your car has done the mod that makes the lights go down when you flash with the side lights on and maybe it's got a fault on the switch of that system??????????????

[screech205]

there's a big blue box under the bonnet for the headlights maybe it's something to do with that. I've got a spare if you need one.

cheers

steve

[Leon.]

tbh that's the first place I'd look. These fellas could well be right.....

As mrrwaction1 suggets it could be down to a poor mod to the motor circuit. I did this mod myself and put plenty of insulation tape around the contacts that I spliced and soldered a switch to. Not everyone uses a switch so it is possible that water/moisture has got in there and is bridging the gap across the contacts that should be open??

[JeffD]

Wish I had read screeches post earlier - just ordered a 'turqoise box' from Celica breakers this pm. I'll see if that does the trick!

[birty]

I'm having the exact same problem jeff. will u let us know if a new 'turqoise box' cures it?

cheers

ste

[JeffD]

Yes of course - should be doing the job on Saturday when item arrives. In the meantime just take the fuse out of the fusebox so the lights are locked in the upright position then you can use the car at night.

[JeffD]

Fitted the replacement retractor control unit (turqouise box) and ity made no difference whatsoever! :-( However, one interesting thing though is that if you remove the 30amp fuse from the fuse box (which you have to do to save the fingers!) the lights behave themselves for about 3-5 ups and downs then you get the blinking effect back.

Thought I would check the wiring so took the offending headlight out and poked around - nothing obvious but after re-assembling its not done it again - early days yet and I'm sure its going to come back pretty soon. Cpuld it just be a dodgey connection which I inadvertantly 'fixed' whilst having a poke round?

[Leon.]

Definately, it could even be the connection to the back of the bulb holder that worked a bit loose or got a bit corroded.....

[birty]

i've been told from someone else who has had a similar problem to try taking out the motor and cleaning the contacts inside. He did this himself and says his is now working fine.

Its worth a try [-o<

[birty]

It worked!!

Took the motor out and stripped it down, cleaned the contacts up which were pretty rusty and its now working fine.

[Leon.]

Jolly good show birty!

=D>

[JeffD]

Mines started doing it again :-(

[JeffD]

Well folks, I've replace the motor with one from Celica breakers, cleaned the contacts, reassembled everything and now that headlight behaves properly. However, now the opposite side is doing the same thing but this time its when I switch the lights off!

[uglee]

I can almost guarantee it's the blue box that is giving you problems. The one from the scrappers might be a duffer too. They seem very prone to moisture affecting the circuits inside and who knows where the scrappers box was kept after the smash etc.
Take both out, leave them somewhere warm for 4 to 8 hours and try each one again. See how long it goes. If it does come back, check your bonnet seal, as it only takes a bit of moisture to get in while you're driving for it to set it off again.

HTH

[JeffD]

I've actually bought a replacement motor for the other side which I'm going to fit later today. Pretty sure its the contacts - when I went to clean the second motors contacts one of the contacts snapped off too. The connector has 3 pins - 2 to power the motor and 3 smaller ones which appear to control the sihnalling to the motor to stop and start it - these 3 seem to be the problematic ones. Theres nothing actually wrong with the motor its just these connectors - I've been trying to get replacement ones from Toyota but without any joy (new motor is £183.50 + VAT from Toyota, abot £30 from a scrappy).

If this still doesnt work I will try the drying out thing but to be honest I'm pretty ceratin its the contacts in this plug. Will let you know later today (got to do my rear disks first!)

[JeffD]

I'm not holding my breath but it appears my headlight problem is now cured. This afternoon I replaced the passenger side motor (nothing wrong with the itself - just that the pins on the connector to join the motor to the car wiring loom were corroded and one snapped off when I tried to disconnect the motor from the main loom).

My conclusion is: if both your headlights are misbehaving then go for the retractor control relay, if just one is acting up go for cleaning up the pins on the connector joining the motor to the main loom (mine all had green furry limescale on them).