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..
READ THIS..Weird headlight behavior
-
- Keep calm, Forum Moderator here.
- Posts: 1610
- Joined: Sun May 21, 2006 6:18 pm
- Location: In the Garage.
READ THIS..Weird headlight behavior
RED '90 TURBO.
SCARING PRIUS DRIVERS SINCE 2002
SCARING PRIUS DRIVERS SINCE 2002
-
- Keep calm, Forum Moderator here.
- Posts: 530
- Joined: Sun Jun 11, 2006 7:47 pm
- Location: JAFA Land
READ THIS..Weird headlight behavior
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"
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"
Gazda in the white HOT Mazda
-
- Black is the new black.
- Posts: 601
- Joined: Thu Apr 13, 2006 11:20 pm
- Location: An Eastern Beach
READ THIS..Weird headlight behavior
on 15/11/2004 11:18 p.m. glenn roberts wrote:
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
What happens on unmodified earlier models when you pull the lever backI 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.
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)
-
- Keep calm, Forum Moderator here.
- Posts: 1610
- Joined: Sun May 21, 2006 6:18 pm
- Location: In the Garage.
READ THIS..Weird headlight behavior
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:
[...]
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
SCARING PRIUS DRIVERS SINCE 2002
-
- Black is the new black.
- Posts: 601
- Joined: Thu Apr 13, 2006 11:20 pm
- Location: An Eastern Beach
READ THIS..Weird headlight behavior
on 16/11/2004 1:32 p.m. glenn roberts wrote:
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
that's why I find it strange that if this is a common problem moreyes 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!
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)
-
- Need, more, 5-ing, time....
- Posts: 175
- Joined: Thu May 18, 2006 9:41 pm
- Location: Sunny Blenheim
READ THIS..Weird headlight behavior
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.
quite warm here in Marlborough. Never had a problem with weird light
behaviour.
Grant.
Red 2006 NC Tiptronic
FIX A PC
FIX A PC
-
- Keep calm, Forum Moderator here.
- Posts: 1610
- Joined: Sun May 21, 2006 6:18 pm
- Location: In the Garage.
READ THIS..Weird headlight behavior
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.
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
SCARING PRIUS DRIVERS SINCE 2002
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 10 guests