READ THIS..Weird headlight behavior

Archives of Posts to the NZ MX5 List back in 2004
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SLYDIT
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READ THIS..Weird headlight behavior

Post by SLYDIT » Mon Nov 15, 2004 11:18 pm

Hi everyone.
I thought id share this as i dont want any of you
getting flat batteries in the middle of summer.
I left my car out in the sun, and soon the headlights
started to pop up and down all by themselves...Weird
It turns out that under the hot sun, the little
plastic spring inside the Headlight wand (on the
steering column) softens and allows the wand to spring
back to the "flash high beam" position.
I only noticed this problem as i have done the "flash
to pass" mod where the lights pop up when flashing.
Most cars that dont have the flash to psss
modification will simply have their lights on, and no
one will notice as theyll still be in the down
position...
So if you dont want a flat battery in the summer, then
flick your headlight wand forward to high beam
position when parking in the sun to stop it from
springing back to the flash position..
RED '90 TURBO.
SCARING PRIUS DRIVERS SINCE 2002

poison
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Keep calm, Forum Moderator here.
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READ THIS..Weird headlight behavior

Post by poison » Tue Nov 16, 2004 12:07 am

Hi Glenn

Have you seen the movie "Christine"... maybe it's not the sun... Christine
was red too... (wish I could do creepy music about now). By the way I
finally bought a style bar from Christchurch, workmanship is OK, had to oval
some hole to get it to fit on and also sit vertical (was leaning forward about
100) but I don't really like the style. Should have followed your lead and
made mine. A project for next winter.

Did anyone see the "Import X" on TV tonight? disappointing wet T shirt comp'
but there was an MX5 in the burn out comp' didn't start out too well but they
took the camera away just as it got going which was a let down.

Gazza
"PO1SON"
:twisted: Gazda in the white HOT Mazda :twisted:

zorruno
Black is the new black.
Black is the new black.
Posts: 601
Joined: Thu Apr 13, 2006 11:20 pm
Location: An Eastern Beach

READ THIS..Weird headlight behavior

Post by zorruno » Tue Nov 16, 2004 10:25 am

on 15/11/2004 11:18 p.m. glenn roberts wrote:
I left my car out in the sun, and soon the headlights started to pop
up and down all by themselves...Weird It turns out that under the hot
sun, the little plastic spring inside the Headlight wand (on the
steering column) softens and allows the wand to spring back to the
"flash high beam" position.
What happens on unmodified earlier models when you pull the lever back
and the headlights are down - do they still light up (without popping
up)? What about with the ignition off? I have a 94 with 'flash to
pass' inbuilt so can't test.

zorruno
(z)

SLYDIT
Keep calm, Forum Moderator here.
Keep calm, Forum Moderator here.
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Joined: Sun May 21, 2006 6:18 pm
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READ THIS..Weird headlight behavior

Post by SLYDIT » Tue Nov 16, 2004 1:32 pm

yes the headlights light up while they are still in
the down position, meaning they shine into the engine
bay! With out the mod youd never even notice the
fault...except when you have a flat battery!


--- zorruno <admin@mx5forum.co.nz> wrote:
[...]
RED '90 TURBO.
SCARING PRIUS DRIVERS SINCE 2002

zorruno
Black is the new black.
Black is the new black.
Posts: 601
Joined: Thu Apr 13, 2006 11:20 pm
Location: An Eastern Beach

READ THIS..Weird headlight behavior

Post by zorruno » Tue Nov 16, 2004 2:27 pm

on 16/11/2004 1:32 p.m. glenn roberts wrote:
yes the headlights light up while they are still in
the down position, meaning they shine into the engine
bay! With out the mod youd never even notice the
fault...except when you have a flat battery!
that's why I find it strange that if this is a common problem more
people haven't reported it, or reported flat batteries on hot days...
and it gets pretty hot in some places in the US and australia!

Are you sure it isn't associated somehow with doing the diode mod?

zorruno
(z)

Grant
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Need, more, 5-ing, time....
Posts: 175
Joined: Thu May 18, 2006 9:41 pm
Location: Sunny Blenheim

READ THIS..Weird headlight behavior

Post by Grant » Tue Nov 16, 2004 5:19 pm

I have the diode mod on my car (did it almost two years ago) and it does get
quite warm here in Marlborough. Never had a problem with weird light
behaviour.

Grant.
Red 2006 NC Tiptronic
FIX A PC

SLYDIT
Keep calm, Forum Moderator here.
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READ THIS..Weird headlight behavior

Post by SLYDIT » Wed Nov 17, 2004 5:10 pm

Its definitly NOT related to the Diode mod,The diode
mod just makes the fault visible!!!
When the car is left in the sun with the hard top on,
the heat gets to a point where the internal PLASTIC
spring for the headlight stalk softens allowing the
flash to operate. Ive tested the resistance of the
spring when cold and hot and there is quite a difference.
RED '90 TURBO.
SCARING PRIUS DRIVERS SINCE 2002

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