Headlamp Indicator On/Off After LED Install

Post by **MrAl** » 15 Nov 2019, 14:02

Hello,

Recently i switched my headlamps to the LED type. The LED lights work fine but the indicator on the dash sometimes dims out then comes back on fully lit so it does not stay on constantly. I thought that was strange.
I have verified that the headlamps themselves do not dim or change in any way it is just the indicator light (that normally is supposed to stay lit when the headlights are turned on) in the dash inside the car.

Any ideas why this happens?

Post by **MrAl** » 19 Nov 2019, 11:17

MrAl wrote: ↑15 Nov 2019, 14:02 Hello,

Recently i switched my headlamps to the LED type. The LED lights work fine but the indicator on the dash sometimes dims out then comes back on fully lit so it does not stay on constantly. I thought that was strange.
I have verified that the headlamps themselves do not dim or change in any way it is just the indicator light (that normally is supposed to stay lit when the headlights are turned on) in the dash inside the car.

Any ideas why this happens?

Hello again,

If anyone has any ideas at all about this please let me know.

Also, if anyone has any ideas at all about how the tilt mechanism on the headlamps works that would help a lot.
I just want to know what to expect when/if i try to fix the headlamp assembly myself.

Post by **scot850** » 19 Nov 2019, 13:06

The tilt mechanism becomes seized and brittle with age. I normally remove the whole unit, clean it and then spray silicon oul on all the moving parts before re-install and adjustment. While you clean the unit how 8t operates becomes more obvious. Be warned, Do Not Force the adjusters or they will break.

Neil.

Post by **MrAl** » 19 Nov 2019, 19:42

scot850 wrote: ↑19 Nov 2019, 13:06 The tilt mechanism becomes seized and brittle with age. I normally remove the whole unit, clean it and then spray silicon oul on all the moving parts before re-install and adjustment. While you clean the unit how 8t operates becomes more obvious. Be warned, Do Not Force the adjusters or they will break.

Neil.

Hi,

Thanks for the reply.
I suspected that but didnt know for sure so thanks.
Yeah i broke one already as there was no warning with the video i watched. I turned the nut, the adjust part broke right off. Now i have to take the whole thing apart i guess. Maybe then i can finally get the headlights adjusted.
Geeze so much trouble for such a little adjustment.

Post by **scot850** » 20 Nov 2019, 00:08

That is true, but remember it is a 20+ year old car with old plastic. I would guarantee very few would have done any maintenance on those parts in that time unless we had to!

Neil.

Post by **MrAl** » 20 Nov 2019, 08:48

scot850 wrote: ↑20 Nov 2019, 00:08 That is true, but remember it is a 20+ year old car with old plastic. I would guarantee very few would have done any maintenance on those parts in that time unless we had to!

Neil.

Hi,

Yeah i know what you mean. A friend has a different car but had a similar problem. The mounting hole broke out so there was no way to anchor the bulb anymore. Had to replace the entire assembly.

My older cars (1988 and older) NEVER had this problem because they were not built with so much plastic. The entire bulb would pivot and the mechanisms were all metal.