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Intermittent low beam headlight problem on 83 QV

Discussion in '308/328' started by Brian A, May 8, 2013.

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  1. Brian A

    Brian A F1 Rookie

    Dec 21, 2012
    3,150
    SanFrancisco BayArea
    Full Name:
    1983 US 308 GTS QV
    #1 Brian A, May 8, 2013
    The low beam headlights on my 1983 308 QV have an intermittent problem that I need help diagnosing.

    When I twist the stalk-mounted headlight switch, the buckets come up and all other lights (markers) come on per normal vehicle function. The low beam lights themselves are the only thing that do not illuminate.

    I can turn on the high beams by moving light stalk switch downward or by pulling it forward to flash the high beams. Normal function for high beams.

    I have managed to get the low beams to turn back on by turning on the lights, pulling the stalk down to turn on the high beams and then turning off the lights. When I turn the lights back on both the low and high beams work again. I am unclear of the specific antecedent which causes the low beams to stop working again.

    The lamps themselves are the brighter euro units (Hella, I believe) replaced 2,000 miles and 18 months ago by a reliable Ferrari shop but before I owned the car. I have installed the Birdman fuseboxes and have cleaned relay E (Bosch 0332015006) "Relay for External Lights". I have also spoken some choice words to the car.

    Any ideas?
     
  2. redline76

    redline76 Formula Junior

    Feb 26, 2008
    355
    Venice, CA
    Full Name:
    Warren V
    #2 redline76, May 8, 2013
    Check the contacts in the rotating headlight switch- common problem. Get a baggie and put it over the switch, then pull the plastic handle off. There's a spring loaded ball bearing that will want to reach orbit when the switch comes off, that's what the baggie is for. Check the two brass terminals and bend back (gently!) if they're loose. You may also have a bad solder on one or both terminals, also common.
     
  3. Fairview

    Fairview Formula 3

    Mar 16, 2009
    1,109
    Waynesboro, Virginia
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    Jeff Ward
    #3 Fairview, May 8, 2013
    Brian,

    I bet redline76 is on the right track.

    Let me mention this, however, as to a closely related problem I had that may help somebody, if not you. I also had upgraded more powerful Hella lights in my 308. One day, no lights at all. I can't remember if I had any park lights, but definitely no headlights, high or low beam.

    Turns out its was the "K" relay (I think that is the right one) was getting hot from the higher powered lights and caused the plastic where the relay plugs in to get kind of molten. It flowed around the terminals of the relay and kept it from making good contact.

    I carefully cleaned up the contacts where the relay goes, plugged in a new one, went back to more normal headlamps, and all is well.

    Jeff
     
  4. Steve Magnusson

    Steve Magnusson Two Time F1 World Champ
    Lifetime Rossa

    Jan 11, 2001
    26,882
    30°30'40" N 97°35'41" W (Texas)
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    Steve Magnusson
    #4 Steve Magnusson, May 8, 2013
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Since your high beams and other parking lights work, that says that relay E and the rotating knob switch are OK. The areas you need to check are:

    1. the "frankenstein" sliding contacts in the headlight 3-position lever switch, and

    2. the fuse/fuseblock area of the RH fuseblock for the low beams (fuses 12 & 13 -- AKA fuses C' and D').

    One easy test that you can do is swap the large red wire connected at the top of fuses 10 & 11 with the large yellow wire connected at the top of fuses 12 & 13 -- this swaps the high beams and low beams so:

    If the low beam lamps remain "bad" after the swap (when the headlight lever is in the high beam position) and the high beam lamps still work fine (when the headlight lever is in the low beam position) = most likely something bad in the fuse/fuseblock/rivets/plates of fuses 12 & 13.

    If the low beam lamps work fine after the swap (when the headlight lever is in the high beam position) and the high beam lamps now have the problem (when the headlight lever is in the low beam position) = most likely a bad/dirty contact in the "frankenstein" lever switch.
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  5. Brian A

    Brian A F1 Rookie

    Dec 21, 2012
    3,150
    SanFrancisco BayArea
    Full Name:
    1983 US 308 GTS QV
    #5 Brian A, May 8, 2013
    Excellent! Thank you for the procedure for diagnostics. I now suspect the Frankenswitch, although now that I have a plan, the low beams will probably not act up again for 3 years. I may just try to blast the daylights out of the Frankenswitch with contact cleaner while it is in situ.

    The suggestion to swap the high and low beam fuse wires is a good one: never thought of that. It'll also be a good way to get home in the dark if /when the lights go out again. I've been nervous.
     
  6. SeanPeterLynch

    SeanPeterLynch Karting

    Jun 17, 2014
    187
    #6 SeanPeterLynch, Jul 10, 2014
    Brian - what did it it end up being? I have the same exact problem with a 1983 yellow QV i'm about to buy (is this yours?).
     
  7. bentrm

    bentrm Formula Junior

    Sep 17, 2011
    596
    Pittsburgh, PA
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    Rob
    #7 bentrm, Jul 10, 2014
    My 83 does this as well. As per manual, this is the normal operation.
     
  8. SeanPeterLynch

    SeanPeterLynch Karting

    Jun 17, 2014
    187
    #8 SeanPeterLynch, Jul 11, 2014
    Intermittent function is normal? How did you guys fix? Fuse/relay replace part or clean part?
     
  9. Brian A

    Brian A F1 Rookie

    Dec 21, 2012
    3,150
    SanFrancisco BayArea
    Full Name:
    1983 US 308 GTS QV
    #9 Brian A, Jul 11, 2014
    This is spectacularly embarrassing and this thread is one I hoped would never get revived.

    The car was new to me and I hadn't driven it in the dark much. I must have been pushing the switch up to the top position. That top position is buckets up and lights off: normal vehicle function. When I pulled the switch down to high beams, I must not have noticed that I passed through the low beam middle position.

    Just dumb beginners inexperience. ... Although after a year and a half of ownership, I still haven't driven the car many times with the lights on! Gulp.
     
  10. bentrm

    bentrm Formula Junior

    Sep 17, 2011
    596
    Pittsburgh, PA
    Full Name:
    Rob
    #10 bentrm, Jul 11, 2014
    Ha! I drove around for a while being incredibly annoyed by a mysterious clicking sound until I discovered I bumped the wiper arm on the right.
     
  11. SeanPeterLynch

    SeanPeterLynch Karting

    Jun 17, 2014
    187
    #11 SeanPeterLynch, Jul 12, 2014
    Same here re: lights "discovery"!!
     

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