Technical Panda (169) Headlight problem

[ultrasonic]

I had the body computer headlight connector plastic melting twice so I upgraded with new connectors and thicker silicone wire at the body computer and new ceramic H4 connectors. Now every now and then the 7.5A fuses at the F12 and F13 are blown (maybe twice per year). I keep headlings on most of the time. The instructions said to downgrade the fuse from 10A to 7.5A but I am thiking maybe I go back to a 10A fuse? Any thoughts?

 

[koalar]

I had the body computer headlight connector plastic melting twice so I upgraded with new connectors and thicker silicone wire at the body computer and new ceramic H4 connectors. Now every now and then the 7.5A fuses at the F12 and F13 are blown (maybe twice per year). I keep headlings on most of the time. The instructions said to downgrade the fuse from 10A to 7.5A but I am thiking maybe I go back to a 10A fuse? Any thoughts?

Both fuses ?

 

[ultrasonic]

Both fuses ?

yes

 

[koalar]

7.5 should be fine

Either the fuse ain't what they say they are

Or the bulbs ain't right

Or the alternator isn't right

I guess if you have a multimeter the alternator is the quickest to test, unless you have some different bulbs to try at hand

Multimeter on DC volts range just above 15V

No electrics on volts across the battery at idle

Main beam on, rear heated window on , blower on max, volts it idle

Raise the revs to 2.5k, and measure again

Multimeter on AC lower range same electrical load. Volts at idle and volts at 2.5K

 

[irc]

Is it left-hand or right-hand drive?
Not seen this (melted connector) problem on a right-hand drive (UK) car, but I did have a Panda Active Eco which kept randomly blowing fuses. Turned out to be damaged wiring inside the passenger side headlamp, which took out both fuses (apparently the headlight adjuster motors for both sides go through the driver's side fuse and the damaged wiring shorted out a motor wire to the passenger main beam wire).

 

[ultrasonic]

Is it left-hand or right-hand drive?
Not seen this (melted connector) problem on a right-hand drive (UK) car, but I did have a Panda Active Eco which kept randomly blowing fuses. Turned out to be damaged wiring inside the passenger side headlamp, which took out both fuses (apparently the headlight adjuster motors for both sides go through the driver's side fuse and the damaged wiring shorted out a motor wire to the passenger main beam wire).

left hand. Thanks for info btw, I noticed that the wire sheaths in one of the headlights were cracked so I resleeved them with shrinktubes a while ago. It might be the same in the other headlight as well. Do they need to come into contact to short or arcing is enough to blow the fuse?

 

[irc]

left hand. Thanks for info btw, I noticed that the wire sheaths in one of the headlights were cracked so I resleeved them with shrinktubes a while ago. It might be the same in the other headlight as well. Do they need to come into contact to short or arcing is enough to blow the fuse?

On the one I had, the wiring had been crushed together, melted and slightly burned. They had probably been making direct contact to bare wires when disturbed by bumps.
Not sure they would arc any distance though.

 

[DaveMcT]

This thread has encouraged me to get on with fitting relays for my 2009 Multijet headlights. Engine starting dims the LHS after engine start. It brightens to normal when the glow plugs go off. I will probably add relays to each headlight so the BCM is switching just the relays with a bigger relay for the glow plugs control box. What could possibly go wrong