Headlights behaving strangely

stan_1st · Post by **stan_1st** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 6:41 pm

For some strange reason, Fired up the Bongo this morning and the lights came on even though they were in the off position.
Moved to the on position and all ok, turned them to the off position and they stay on, Lights will only go out when i stop the engine.
Any thoughts???
Never happened before and I have not touched anything let alone anything electical.

2000 tin top

ebygum32 · Post by **ebygum32** » Tue Jan 29, 2008 8:08 pm

looks like you have some sort of direct short on the switch only way to find out is take the switch stalk out and get a volt meter on it then you can see if the switch is kaput

stan_1st · Post by **stan_1st** » Wed Jan 30, 2008 6:31 pm

Thanks for the reply,
something strange because there is now a different configuration and side lights come on when turned to off position.
Are new stalks easy to come by and are they easy to fit??

Cheers

kawasaki kid · Post by **kawasaki kid** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 2:08 am

Shouldn`t be to hard to get one from someone who is breaking a Bongo and should be quite easy to fit once you have the shrouds off the steering column - you could try some of the companies who are breaking Bongos who advertise on this site.

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Thu Jan 31, 2008 11:29 am

If it does indeed turn out to be a faulty stalk, i'd strip it down after replacement stan,if there is any signs of overheating, or even melting going on in the stalk,it's indicative of a short circuit elsewhere,aside from the fuse, the switch is the weak link.

For example, if you had wired a set of spot lights to your bongo, but not gone through a dedicated relay,the innards of the switch could overheat and melt,but the problem would lie with not having a relay fitted, not with the switch.

stan_1st · Post by **stan_1st** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 3:14 pm

Well im blowed, have solved the problem, By moving my windscreen cloth.
Turns out the funny little button type thing on the dash by front window is some sort of light sensor, which i had covered with cloth, fooling sensor into thinking its dark outside and bringing on lights.

Didnt even know i had one or that such a thing exist.
Out of intrest are these the norm on a bongo, anyone else got one and whats the point??

Many thanks for all replies

Harry · Post by **Harry** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 3:17 pm

Never heard of one of those before

These bongos are amazing.

H

Ralph · Post by **Ralph** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 3:37 pm

Mine as a blank hole there thought it was for a sensor for the
up market air con a "sun sensor." Not needed for the UK market.

moonshine · Post by **moonshine** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 5:03 pm

Hi stan_1st,

Do your lights normally come on with the ignition if it is dark outside, then? Mine don't, do anyone else's?

francophile1947 · Post by **francophile1947** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 5:32 pm

No!! Mine have to be switched on

missfixit70 · Post by **missfixit70** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 7:25 pm

Nope, just tried mine

Ian+R · Post by **Ian+R** » Sun Feb 10, 2008 7:47 pm

Hi Stan, I've got a switch under the steering column in the grey facia, when it it switched on the headlights only come on when I'm on the move but then go off when I stop leaving the sidelights on. I keep mine swithced off and use my lights normally.

stan_1st · Post by **stan_1st** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 2:05 am

The 1st time i noticed it was the other day when the sensor was covered and the lights came on with ignition. Tried it today with motor running and lights switched off, covered sensor and on they came, uncovered and off they go. Wierd cant really see the point of it, just have to be careful where the cloth goes

Chez Blanche · Post by **Chez Blanche** » Mon Feb 11, 2008 3:46 pm

I had similar with rear tail lights, i'd be running her while i made a quick cup of tea, turned her off and the tail lights were on, the front heads were off, couldn't fathom it myself - any clues?

Headlights behaving strangely

Headlights behaving strangely

Lights on