Side Lights (Parking Lights)

[Phil205 1 1 Cars]

Both sidelights (parking lights) are not working. I checked that the voltage is 12 V at both bulb holders.

I assumed both bulbs were blown, so I bought 2 off 501 W5W bulbs from Halfords.

The bulb pushes into the metal spring clips ?

I assume these are just push fit, but can't get either to work.

Is there a trick I am missing ? Do they need to be twisted or ??

The Haynes manual says "depress and twist". Is it referring to the bulb or how to remove the bulb holder from the headlamp ?

 

 

[welshpug 1,666]

depress and twist is just for the bulb holder into the headlamp, the capless 501's just push into the holder.

 

if you have 12v to the live side check the earth, quite common to find breakages and/or dirty contacts there.

[toolie72 67 1 Cars]

Earth blocks on front panel-binned mine for ring crimps and bolts

[Phil205 1 1 Cars]

Lucas headlights were fitted two years ago. I am not sure if the side lights have ever worked on them. I presume they are checked during MOT ? :-

205 1.6 GTI 1983-1997 Front Right Head Lamp Unit Lucas Elect - LWB738

205 1.6 GTI 1983-1997 Front Left Head Lamp Unit Lucas Elect - LWB739

I checked resistance of the earth path from the bulb holder back to the battery and all seems good :-

Drivers side = 3.1 Ohms approx.

Passenger side = 2.9 Ohms approx.

I can only think that the 501 W5W bulbs are not the right ones for the Lucas headlights ?

They seem to fit ok, but can't be making an electrical connection ?

http://www.halfords.com/motoring/bulbs-blades-batteries/car-bulbs/halfords-501-w5w-car-bulbs-x-2

Any thoughts ?

[welshpug 1,666]

not seen any other type of sidelight bulb.

[steve@cornwall 100]

Always find these a nightmare and quite temperamental, often losing the spring tension in the contacts to grip the bulb contacts, and the holder plugs electrical contact being lost just by pushing the bulb into position. Another connection that suffers with corrosion

 

One day ill get around to direct soldering some LEDs.

Edited January 28, 2017 by steve@cornwall

[Phil205 1 1 Cars]

Does the sidelight bulb holder just pull out from the power supply plug ?

 

Seems quite stiff to separate the two. Is there a catch that has to be pressed or do you just pull apart ?

[toolie72 67 1 Cars]

Hmmm mine are crimps now so I suppose I mullered mine years ago trying to get them apart-I did buy new bulb holders years ago from Peugeot but not the connector

Must be a reason why I binned the connectors (fiik)

Seem to remember bulb holders were dear for what they are-tried the wiggle test with lights on?