'81 280ce headlight problem

[Painterman]

I have recently bought an '81 280ce and one of the MOT failure points is that the left hand headlight isn't working correctly.

When you switch on the sidelights the right hand sidelight comes on but the left hand headlight comes on.

When you switch on the headlights the right hand headlight comes on but the left hand headlight goes off and the sidelight comes on!

Can anyone think of any likely causes for this?

Any help is much appreciated.

Graham

 

[television]

I have recently bought an '81 280ce and one of the MOT failure points is that the left hand headlight isn't working correctly.

When you switch on the sidelights the right hand sidelight comes on but the left hand headlight comes on.

When you switch on the headlights the right hand headlight comes on but the left hand headlight goes off and the sidelight comes on!

Can anyone think of any likely causes for this?

Any help is much appreciated.

Graham

If the wiring has not been messed with then it is a poor earth. but I think some one has wired them wrong, what happens when when you go to main or dipped.

Malcolm

 

[tom7035]

Looks like a pair of wires needs swapping around somewhere.

 

[television]

Looks like a pair of wires needs swapping around somewhere.

That was my first thought TOM ,but I was thinking about the high and low beam, I cant remember the fuse lay out on the 123.

Malcolm

 

[Painterman]

I can't remember if the high beam works ok but i took the headlight out and there is a connecter block attached to the back of the headlight and all the wiring seems to be inside the headlamp unit so i'm not sure how somebody could have tampered with it?!

There is an earth point in the inner wing with a few wires attached, do you think it's worth disconnecting them and cleaning the area up etc?

 

[television]

I can't remember if the high beam works ok but i took the headlight out and there is a connecter block attached to the back of the headlight and all the wiring seems to be inside the headlamp unit so i'm not sure how somebody could have tampered with it?!

There is an earth point in the inner wing with a few wires attached, do you think it's worth disconnecting them and cleaning the area up etc?

A poor grounded item will run through something that is grounded giving odd faults, you could check the fuses and fuse holders. the odd thing is here that the headlamps work through a relay, and the side ones do not.
You can buy a haines manual for your car with all of the wiring diagrams.

Malcolm