Mr Sheen
New member
I had the usual illumination problems covered in many posts on this forum. Coming on and off, staying on when switched off, main beams turning off etc., etc. Drove me mad, especially talk of new Comms unit.
Decided to investigate basics ie. bulbs, connectors, earths and other visible wiring before I might have to resort to buying comms unit or other parts. Unfortunately I went about it backwards!
Front End: Hassle of taking off front bumper, taking off headlight units, checking earths, wiring, bulb seatings, replacing all bulbs (just in case!), checking connectors and spraying them with contact cleaner. NO LUCK, still the same. Although I did convert headlights to LHD while I was at it!
Rear End: The same hassle. Same type of tasks carried out. Everything checked including towbar electrics. NO LUCK, still the same!
I was about to tackle taking out comms unit when I met up with an auto electrical technician at a social gathering here in Spain where I am based at the moment. I mentioned it to him and he said he was very aware of this problem and deals with it regularly. He insisted that I should not go near comms unit as it very rarely the problem (about 1% of the time!). He reckoned they are designed to nearly last the life of the car and unless you were actually swinging out of the stalks it would not be the root of the problem. He said to open under bonnet fuse box, take out ALL lighting fuses and give them and their seatings and the complete fuse box a good saturating with a quality electrical contact cleaning spray, allow to dry before turning on.
It worked a treat! Everything works perfectly for past six months.
He said that these boxes do let in damp which causes condensation and corrosion build up even in Spanish climate! He claimed that most main dealers and auto elec technicians tell you it is comms unit, you agree to have it replaced, pay for it and off you go with your lights back to normal again. In fact they have just sprayed the fuses and box. They will even show you an old comms unit out of some wreck saying it is the one they have replaced for you.
Try this first and after that the earlier steps that I took. The comms unit is the last resort.
Decided to investigate basics ie. bulbs, connectors, earths and other visible wiring before I might have to resort to buying comms unit or other parts. Unfortunately I went about it backwards!
Front End: Hassle of taking off front bumper, taking off headlight units, checking earths, wiring, bulb seatings, replacing all bulbs (just in case!), checking connectors and spraying them with contact cleaner. NO LUCK, still the same. Although I did convert headlights to LHD while I was at it!
Rear End: The same hassle. Same type of tasks carried out. Everything checked including towbar electrics. NO LUCK, still the same!
I was about to tackle taking out comms unit when I met up with an auto electrical technician at a social gathering here in Spain where I am based at the moment. I mentioned it to him and he said he was very aware of this problem and deals with it regularly. He insisted that I should not go near comms unit as it very rarely the problem (about 1% of the time!). He reckoned they are designed to nearly last the life of the car and unless you were actually swinging out of the stalks it would not be the root of the problem. He said to open under bonnet fuse box, take out ALL lighting fuses and give them and their seatings and the complete fuse box a good saturating with a quality electrical contact cleaning spray, allow to dry before turning on.
It worked a treat! Everything works perfectly for past six months.
He said that these boxes do let in damp which causes condensation and corrosion build up even in Spanish climate! He claimed that most main dealers and auto elec technicians tell you it is comms unit, you agree to have it replaced, pay for it and off you go with your lights back to normal again. In fact they have just sprayed the fuses and box. They will even show you an old comms unit out of some wreck saying it is the one they have replaced for you.
Try this first and after that the earlier steps that I took. The comms unit is the last resort.
