Any Help/Advice Gratefully Appreciated

Discussion in 'Starting Line - New Member Introductions' started by MyFirstMini, Dec 1, 2016.

  1. MyFirstMini

    MyFirstMini New Member

    Dec 1, 2016
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    Hello Everyone!

    As you might have guessed from my user name, i'm a new Mini owner!
    Have bought myself a 2003 Cooper S, which i'm slowly getting to grips with!
    Only having had the car for two days, the offside headlight light has now failed.
    Full beam works (on both sides) as do the side lights.
    It's just the main beam that's letting me down.
    I have purchased two new bulbs (they weren't cheap!) and changed them.
    Still no joy from the offside.
    Not sure if its a fuse, or something more sinister (read expensive)
    Can anyone please help me, i love my new car, but this little niggle is starting to suck the joy out of it!
    As this is my first time here, and my first post, i apologise if i have started a thread in the wrong place.
    Thank you to anyone that's able to help.
     
  2. Minidave

    Minidave Well-Known Member
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    Dec 22, 2009
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    Welcome to Motoring Alliance!

    Do you have halogen headlights or Zenons?

    Where are you located?
     
  3. MyFirstMini

    MyFirstMini New Member

    Dec 1, 2016
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    Hi Minidave,

    Thank you for replying.

    Please forgive my ignorance, but i'm sure they're Halogen, and does Xenon help you any further?

    I'm posting from the UK.
     
  4. mattc85

    mattc85 Active Member

    Sep 24, 2013
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    Has the plastic plug begun to deteriorate? Mine has. Last time I changed bulbs, I had to very carefully plug the wires onto the bulb one at a time.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  5. mrntd

    mrntd Well-Known Member
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    Sep 30, 2011
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    I would get your handy volt meter out and check the power from the plug. Most likely you won't see any but it's worth a quick check. If you do it is possible the new bulb is bad or the contact in the plug just isn't making a connection. If you don't have power there it's time to start checking the wiring.
     
  6. Metalman

    Metalman Well-Known Member
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    Sep 29, 2009
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    Real easy check....

    Halogens won't light you up.... Zenons will light you up...
     
  7. quikmni

    quikmni Moderator

    Jun 6, 2009
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    If normal halogens, try swapping the bulbs from left to right (or high beam and low beam) to see if problem follows the bulb. If it is only the one light location check the connection and socket (as people have already said).
    If you have Xenon lights, have a separate transformer that can go bad.
     

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