Dipped Beam Dash Tell-Tale Not Working

[MarkKJFLtd 1 1 Cars]

Hi All,

 

Slightly strange electrical gremlins might be creeping in on my 205 (gti, 1.9, ph2 if it might help diagnose), that I hope you can help me with?

 

I noticed yesterday that the instrument panel tell-tale light for dipped beam has stopped working. Switch sidelights on, no problem, lights work, as does the light on the dash. Click round further to dipped beam, and the headlights illuminate correctly, but not the tell-tale light on the dash. Is there just a little bulb in there which is replacable?

 

Whether it's linked or not (possible bad earth), but for about 6 months, I've noticed that switching sidelights on does illuminate the dipped beam telltale on the dash a bit.

 

Full/high beam, both dash light, and actual headlights, work as they should.

 

Thanks in advance for your help,

 

Cheers,

Mark F

[welshpug 1,657]

Sounds like just a bulb.

 

They're 1 or 1.2watt capless things.

 

The dip beam telltale coming on is correct, as these cars have "dim-dip" meaning the dipped beam is powered up via a resistor at about 20%, so you have about 15 watts of light per side rather than 5.

[MarkKJFLtd 1 1 Cars]

Thanks Welshpug, both good tips. Would be a result if it's only a bulb.

 

The oil temperature gauge has started only working intermittently too, so the jobs list is starting to creep up again!

[welshpug 1,657]

Thats more likely to be knackered wiring.

[MarkKJFLtd 1 1 Cars]

The oil temperature gauge? Yes, I'm starting to gather that heat and time take their toll on the cable to the sensor in the sump, past the exhaust manifold.

Still, on the bright side, the evenings are getting longer, so tinkering time is easier to come by.