Xenon headlight not working - faulty wiring?

miko01 · 09-05-2006, 16:46

Hi everyone!

Just had my Superb Elegance 2.5Tdi given it's end of 3 year first MOT today - failed on the passenger side headlamp.

Evidently they (Skoda dealer) reckon it is a loose connection rather than the actual bulb (which is not broken).So the light comes on sporadically and hence the MOT failure.

I have booked it back into them for Thursday to pull out behind the dash etc to try to discover fault.

Has anyone any idea what it could be - they were quite pessinistic regarding discovering the fault.

Otherwise the car is AOK!

And what a lovely car!

Regards

Mike

Baker21 · 10-05-2006, 10:21

If the bulb is coming on and off then it could be a number of things:

1) The counter conenctor has got some dirt or water in it causing an intermittant connection but I doubt this;

2) One of your fuses has come loose in your fuse box but again I doubt this;

3) The ballast has an intermittant fault but again I doubt this;

or the most probable cause is that your bulb is actually on it's way out.

cheezemonkhai · 10-05-2006, 11:38

I had something on my octy where the non xennon light failed on the passenger side. They found it to be a wire had come off the back of the light switch. This also affected the rear light on that side though.

miko01 · 11-05-2006, 15:44

Thursday afternoon;

Dealers have looked at the problem using diagnostics and have found that if you turn on the headlights with the switch,turn them off and then turn them on again,the lights work okay.(This is similar to another posting).
However the MOT tester is not passing the car on the MOT because of this fact.
They will now try to discover more and will evidently involve the techies at M Keynes Skoda HO to help over the phone.
Carless now for today and tomorrow - have read all the relevant threads and suggestions re; igniter missfiring seems interesting - has anyone got any idea as I am now in a situation where my beloved Superb is not being allowed to be driven until this headlamp issue is sorted and the MOT subsequently passed!

Regards to all

Mike

RADIOTWO · 11-05-2006, 16:08

Thats why you should get it MOT'd a fornight before it runs out, so you can get things sorted

Steve

superb7 · 11-05-2006, 16:11

i had a problem on my old renault with xenon lights the light would come on and flicker off the problem was the starter pack on the back of the light which ignites the gas in the bulb got it replaced and had no more problems apperently xenon bulbs should last the car out.

johnjohnhealy · 11-05-2006, 16:36

While it could well be a faulty component, it is also common for HID lamps to behave in this way when they have reached the end of there serviceable life, the constant cycling on and off due to the bulb not being able to sustain a constant arc once it warms up, you often see street lighting doing this - coming on then cutting out after a few minutes (obviously not the sodium street lamps though before anyone jumps on me).

And HID/Xenon definately dont last the life of the vehicle, I replace on average 1 lamp every 6 months, but seeing as a normal halogen bulb will only last me a month at best most will never have to change the bulb (I do nearly all my driving at night).

miko01 · 11-05-2006, 18:21

Thanks for your answers - have learnt re; MOT timing too!

Shall pass these to the dealer.

Shall update as we get more news tomorrow and hopefully the car back!

Regards

Mike

Baker21 · 11-05-2006, 21:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnjohnhealy

While it could well be a faulty component, it is also common for HID lamps to behave in this way when they have reached the end of there serviceable life, the constant cycling on and off due to the bulb not being able to sustain a constant arc once it warms up, you often see street lighting doing this - coming on then cutting out after a few minutes (obviously not the sodium street lamps though before anyone jumps on me).

Spot on, as I suggested above.

Baker21 · 11-05-2006, 21:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnjohnhealy

And HID/Xenon definately dont last the life of the vehicle, I replace on average 1 lamp every 6 months, but seeing as a normal halogen bulb will only last me a month at best most will never have to change the bulb (I do nearly all my driving at night).

While Xenon may not last the life o the car it will however easily out perform a Halogen bulb up to 5 times over in most cases.

johnjohnhealy · 12-05-2006, 03:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baker21

While Xenon may not last the life o the car it will however easily out perform a Halogen bulb up to 5 times over in most cases.

Which is about right then if I have to change a Xenon every 6 months but a Halogen every 1 month. only downside is that 1 Xenon costs far far more than 5 Halogens!!

Baker21 · 12-05-2006, 09:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnjohnhealy

Which is about right then if I have to change a Xenon every 6 months but a Halogen every 1 month. only downside is that 1 Xenon costs far far more than 5 Halogens!!

If I was replacing a Xenon Bulb every 6 months, I wouldn't be happy, way to expensive for that!!

cheezemonkhai · 12-05-2006, 10:24

I have managed to keep halogens going for 2 years with almost exclusive night drives and about 24k miles.

What are you doing to them that make them blow monthly?
Stupid question but you don't touch the glass do you?

johnjohnhealy · 12-05-2006, 13:47

No I dont touch the glass! the Superb uses H7 bulbs (on the non xenons) which dont last anywhere near as long as the octys (I think they are H4's? but they have 3 prongs instead of just 2).

I do beetween 10 & 12 hours of driving every night with frequent switching on and off so they do last as long as they are meant too, it's just the hours soon rack up, and with mainly town driving the bumps and potholes kill halogens.

As I said the Xenons last much much longer than halogens but they dont last forever, and financially they aren't worth it if you do night driving like I do, however, personally I find the light output makes them worth it.

miko01 · 12-05-2006, 14:03

Update at 2pm Friday - Skoda techies at M Keynes still unable to understand issues and are supposed to be talking to the factory to get an answer.
I had to take the train to work today as I obviously do not have the car!
Went to the station at 4.50am for the 5.01am to london,only to find it was not running today and the bus to take you further up the line left at 4.38am!
Went home and waited another hour for a train.
All because the MOT is failed because of a light that works if you turn the light switch on and off and on again,when it is perfectly working!
This is now getting to a legendary status - do we trash a £12.5K Superb because the light issue cannot be solved by the manufacturers themselves and the MOT is failed.
Bordering on the insane in my view.
Any help from anyone please!
Regards
Man not in hurry to get anywhere in his Skoda.
PS;don't forget - the light DOES work if the switch is turned several times!

andy ellis · 12-05-2006, 14:08

Tell them to change bulb anyway and see if it cures problem. If it does....

ScoobyChris · 12-05-2006, 14:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by miko01

Any help from anyone please!

Without wanting to state the obvious, but have they tried a replacement xenon bulb in the unit?

Chris

johnjohnhealy · 12-05-2006, 15:48

Sounds like it could be the ignitor but my money would still be on the bulb at this stage, the ignitor/ballast unit should repeatedly send the bulb 50,000 volts untill it lights then stabilise down to 20,000 volts or so, some ballast/ignitor units will constantly try and start the bulb, some will try a maximum number of times then give up, which is possibly whats happening with yours, and if the bulb is aged it can take longer for it to ignite so possibly the repeated turning off and on is enough to eventually get the bulb started.

If the same happens with a new bulb then the ballast/ignitor unit must be replaced, unless it's something really simple like a relay or faulty switch.

spencem · 13-05-2006, 12:56

I had a similar issue with my old Ren-NO, it turned out to be one of the self-leveling sensors, it was so far out of whack that the unit shut down so as not to blind airline pilots.

Good luck

WW_VRS · 13-05-2006, 13:32

Slightly OT but why do you keep turning the lights on/off frequently (rather than just keeping them on for the duration)? (note this was not in regard the original post)

miko01 · 14-05-2006, 14:08

Update Sunday pm
Am driving a nifty Fabia 1.2 petrol to tide me over the Superb which is in the dealer for a (hopefully Monday) fitting of a part being despatched to them over weekend - some kind of a unit.
All being well,should have vehicle for Monday pm.......
The Fabia is good fun - the sporty one must be brilliant fun!
However am missing all the extras on the Superb Eleg' - especially central locking,V6,heated seats,rain sensors,CD and on and on and on and on - maybe even the xenon headlights too.......
Shall update tomorrow - thanks to you all for your comments and help - very much appreciated.
Regards

Mike

miko01 · 16-05-2006, 08:10

Update Tuesday 16th May
Dealership got a control unit to replace in car - tried it yesterday but to no avail - still broken.
Now getting some other parts from HO to try today.
I will keep counsel on what has been said but we still have a prefectly drivable Superb languishing in the workshop due to a headlamp problem that has failed the MOT - who will sort this out eventually?
This could go on and on - in the meantime the Fabia 1.2L is proving good at it's job - just the lack of central locking really is infuriating!
Regards
M

Baker21 · 16-05-2006, 08:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by miko01

Update Tuesday 16th May
Dealership got a control unit to replace in car - tried it yesterday but to no avail - still broken.
Now getting some other parts from HO to try today.
I will keep counsel on what has been said but we still have a prefectly drivable Superb languishing in the workshop due to a headlamp problem that has failed the MOT - who will sort this out eventually?
This could go on and on - in the meantime the Fabia 1.2L is proving good at it's job - just the lack of central locking really is infuriating!
Regards
M

This sounds like a bit of a 'ball ache' to me and I don't understand why the dealer hasn't replaced the lamp to see if that cures the problem.

I could have had one sent over from the Czech Republic by now from our production facility!!

miko01 · 17-05-2006, 19:12

Wed pm - Final Update....
Collected car from dealer ( jackson's Basingstoke) Tuesday late afternoon - the Xenon is mended/cured - seems the original replacement control unit was faulty and the second one is okay.
So all sorted and the MOT paperwork now a green one!
I must say the difference between teh fabia 1.2L and the Superb 2.5 tdi auto was astonishing - having had 3 knee ops in the past 5 years,my left knee was starting to swell up driving the Fabia - there is nowhere to rest your left leg!
And most of all the central locking,especially in this d....mned rain!But it is still a great car to run around in for £7.5K!
As for Jacksons - they were very good and kept me updated,gave me a courtesy car and charged me NIL for all the work (the car finished it's 3 year warranty the day before the fault occured!....).Steve in service dept was excellent.
The strange thing is that the "brakelight bulb failure" warning still comes up, but it is definately working!
Overall,if this was an Audi,I would be faced with £xxx of costs,no sympathy from their service people and certainly not a call from Skoda HO this afternoon asking if all is now okay.Well done Skoda - I just hope we all learn from the headlamp problem.
Once again,thanks to you all for your help/comments - you guys ARE the 4th emergency service!
Regards

Mike

nimagraph · 26-07-2007, 10:23

I've got exactly the same problem with the n/s xenon headlamp on my 04 Skoda Octavia Estate L&K. The headlamp just goes off. Switch the lights off and then back on and the headlamp is on. May stay on for a while or go straight off - it's a lottery!

The problem has been going on for 14 months! Just failed its MOT (done a month early). The headlamp problem has been going on since May 2006 and the dealer has changed the bulb, ingnitor, switched them around, etc, etc). Hasn't changed the Control Unit yet and my warranty expires in 14 days!

09-05-2006, 16:46	#1
miko01 Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: SE Posts: 35 Members Car: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Xenon headlight not working - faulty wiring? Hi everyone! Just had my Superb Elegance 2.5Tdi given it's end of 3 year first MOT today - failed on the passenger side headlamp. Evidently they (Skoda dealer) reckon it is a loose connection rather than the actual bulb (which is not broken).So the light comes on sporadically and hence the MOT failure. I have booked it back into them for Thursday to pull out behind the dash etc to try to discover fault. Has anyone any idea what it could be - they were quite pessinistic regarding discovering the fault. Otherwise the car is AOK! And what a lovely car! Regards Mike

10-05-2006, 10:21	#2
Baker21 OEM+ SUPERB Join Date: May 2005 Location: Northants Posts: 3,148 Members Car: Skoda Superb PD TDI 130 Comfort Thanks: 2 Thanked 102 Times in 94 Posts	Re: Xenon headlight not working - faulty wiring? If the bulb is coming on and off then it could be a number of things: 1) The counter conenctor has got some dirt or water in it causing an intermittant connection but I doubt this; 2) One of your fuses has come loose in your fuse box but again I doubt this; 3) The ballast has an intermittant fault but again I doubt this; or the most probable cause is that your bulb is actually on it's way out. __________________ Best regards, Baker21 - 'OEM+' SKODA SUPERB PD TDI 130 Need you motor 'Detailing'?? Then drop me a PM...

10-05-2006, 11:38	#3
cheezemonkhai Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 15,664 Members Car: Thanks: 118 Thanked 527 Times in 488 Posts	Re: Xenon headlight not working - faulty wiring? I had something on my octy where the non xennon light failed on the passenger side. They found it to be a wire had come off the back of the light switch. This also affected the rear light on that side though. __________________ Cars make CO2 and trees absorb CO2. By driving your car you're feeding a tree and helping the environment.

11-05-2006, 15:44	#4
miko01 Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: SE Posts: 35 Members Car: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Xenon headlight not working - faulty wiring? Thursday afternoon; Dealers have looked at the problem using diagnostics and have found that if you turn on the headlights with the switch,turn them off and then turn them on again,the lights work okay.(This is similar to another posting). However the MOT tester is not passing the car on the MOT because of this fact. They will now try to discover more and will evidently involve the techies at M Keynes Skoda HO to help over the phone. Carless now for today and tomorrow - have read all the relevant threads and suggestions re; igniter missfiring seems interesting - has anyone got any idea as I am now in a situation where my beloved Superb is not being allowed to be driven until this headlamp issue is sorted and the MOT subsequently passed! Regards to all Mike

11-05-2006, 16:08	#5
RADIOTWO Briskodian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: North West Posts: 231 Members Car: Fabia Thanks: 3 Thanked 10 Times in 10 Posts	Re: Xenon headlight not working - faulty wiring? Thats why you should get it MOT'd a fornight before it runs out, so you can get things sorted Steve

11-05-2006, 16:11	#6
superb7 Briskodian Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 1 Members Car: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Xenon headlight not working - faulty wiring? i had a problem on my old renault with xenon lights the light would come on and flicker off the problem was the starter pack on the back of the light which ignites the gas in the bulb got it replaced and had no more problems apperently xenon bulbs should last the car out.

11-05-2006, 16:36	#7
johnjohnhealy Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: UK south east Posts: 2,428 Members Car: Superb 130pd Thanks: 1 Thanked 13 Times in 12 Posts	Re: Xenon headlight not working - faulty wiring? While it could well be a faulty component, it is also common for HID lamps to behave in this way when they have reached the end of there serviceable life, the constant cycling on and off due to the bulb not being able to sustain a constant arc once it warms up, you often see street lighting doing this - coming on then cutting out after a few minutes (obviously not the sodium street lamps though before anyone jumps on me). And HID/Xenon definately dont last the life of the vehicle, I replace on average 1 lamp every 6 months, but seeing as a normal halogen bulb will only last me a month at best most will never have to change the bulb (I do nearly all my driving at night).

11-05-2006, 18:21	#8
miko01 Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: SE Posts: 35 Members Car: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Xenon headlight not working - faulty wiring? Thanks for your answers - have learnt re; MOT timing too! Shall pass these to the dealer. Shall update as we get more news tomorrow and hopefully the car back! Regards Mike

12-05-2006, 10:24	#13
cheezemonkhai Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 15,664 Members Car: Thanks: 118 Thanked 527 Times in 488 Posts	Re: Xenon headlight not working - faulty wiring? I have managed to keep halogens going for 2 years with almost exclusive night drives and about 24k miles. What are you doing to them that make them blow monthly? Stupid question but you don't touch the glass do you? __________________ Cars make CO2 and trees absorb CO2. By driving your car you're feeding a tree and helping the environment.

12-05-2006, 13:47	#14
johnjohnhealy Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: UK south east Posts: 2,428 Members Car: Superb 130pd Thanks: 1 Thanked 13 Times in 12 Posts	Re: Xenon headlight not working - faulty wiring? No I dont touch the glass! the Superb uses H7 bulbs (on the non xenons) which dont last anywhere near as long as the octys (I think they are H4's? but they have 3 prongs instead of just 2). I do beetween 10 & 12 hours of driving every night with frequent switching on and off so they do last as long as they are meant too, it's just the hours soon rack up, and with mainly town driving the bumps and potholes kill halogens. As I said the Xenons last much much longer than halogens but they dont last forever, and financially they aren't worth it if you do night driving like I do, however, personally I find the light output makes them worth it.

12-05-2006, 14:03	#15
miko01 Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: SE Posts: 35 Members Car: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Xenon headlight not working - faulty wiring? Update at 2pm Friday - Skoda techies at M Keynes still unable to understand issues and are supposed to be talking to the factory to get an answer. I had to take the train to work today as I obviously do not have the car! Went to the station at 4.50am for the 5.01am to london,only to find it was not running today and the bus to take you further up the line left at 4.38am! Went home and waited another hour for a train. All because the MOT is failed because of a light that works if you turn the light switch on and off and on again,when it is perfectly working! This is now getting to a legendary status - do we trash a £12.5K Superb because the light issue cannot be solved by the manufacturers themselves and the MOT is failed. Bordering on the insane in my view. Any help from anyone please! Regards Man not in hurry to get anywhere in his Skoda. PS;don't forget - the light DOES work if the switch is turned several times!

12-05-2006, 14:08	#16
andy ellis Briskodian Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Warrington Posts: 1,289 Members Car: Fabia Jabba TDi & Citroen C4 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Xenon headlight not working - faulty wiring? Tell them to change bulb anyway and see if it cures problem. If it does.... __________________ Fabia TDI PD100 "Q" and driving school car. Citroen C4 Coupe 1.6hDi+EGS with disability adaptations.

12-05-2006, 15:48	#18
johnjohnhealy Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: UK south east Posts: 2,428 Members Car: Superb 130pd Thanks: 1 Thanked 13 Times in 12 Posts	Re: Xenon headlight not working - faulty wiring? Sounds like it could be the ignitor but my money would still be on the bulb at this stage, the ignitor/ballast unit should repeatedly send the bulb 50,000 volts untill it lights then stabilise down to 20,000 volts or so, some ballast/ignitor units will constantly try and start the bulb, some will try a maximum number of times then give up, which is possibly whats happening with yours, and if the bulb is aged it can take longer for it to ignite so possibly the repeated turning off and on is enough to eventually get the bulb started. If the same happens with a new bulb then the ballast/ignitor unit must be replaced, unless it's something really simple like a relay or faulty switch.

13-05-2006, 12:56	#19
spencem Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: East Midlands UK Posts: 36 Members Car: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Xenon headlight not working - faulty wiring? I had a similar issue with my old Ren-NO, it turned out to be one of the self-leveling sensors, it was so far out of whack that the unit shut down so as not to blind airline pilots. Good luck

13-05-2006, 13:32	#20
WW_VRS Escorted Estate Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Oxfordshire/Berkshire Posts: 9,877 Members Car: Ford Escort 1.6LX + Fab Estate Thanks: 46 Thanked 86 Times in 76 Posts	Re: Xenon headlight not working - faulty wiring? Slightly OT but why do you keep turning the lights on/off frequently (rather than just keeping them on for the duration)? (note this was not in regard the original post) __________________ WW --->> Project Journal (pic links in first post there) Lummox'/Ross thread on Unit18 Automotive progress on my car: here

14-05-2006, 14:08	#21
miko01 Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: SE Posts: 35 Members Car: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Xenon headlight not working - faulty wiring? Update Sunday pm Am driving a nifty Fabia 1.2 petrol to tide me over the Superb which is in the dealer for a (hopefully Monday) fitting of a part being despatched to them over weekend - some kind of a unit. All being well,should have vehicle for Monday pm....... The Fabia is good fun - the sporty one must be brilliant fun! However am missing all the extras on the Superb Eleg' - especially central locking,V6,heated seats,rain sensors,CD and on and on and on and on - maybe even the xenon headlights too....... Shall update tomorrow - thanks to you all for your comments and help - very much appreciated. Regards Mike

16-05-2006, 08:10	#22
miko01 Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: SE Posts: 35 Members Car: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Xenon headlight not working - faulty wiring? Update Tuesday 16th May Dealership got a control unit to replace in car - tried it yesterday but to no avail - still broken. Now getting some other parts from HO to try today. I will keep counsel on what has been said but we still have a prefectly drivable Superb languishing in the workshop due to a headlamp problem that has failed the MOT - who will sort this out eventually? This could go on and on - in the meantime the Fabia 1.2L is proving good at it's job - just the lack of central locking really is infuriating! Regards M

17-05-2006, 19:12	#24
miko01 Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: SE Posts: 35 Members Car: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Xenon headlight not working - faulty wiring? Wed pm - Final Update.... Collected car from dealer ( jackson's Basingstoke) Tuesday late afternoon - the Xenon is mended/cured - seems the original replacement control unit was faulty and the second one is okay. So all sorted and the MOT paperwork now a green one! I must say the difference between teh fabia 1.2L and the Superb 2.5 tdi auto was astonishing - having had 3 knee ops in the past 5 years,my left knee was starting to swell up driving the Fabia - there is nowhere to rest your left leg! And most of all the central locking,especially in this d....mned rain!But it is still a great car to run around in for £7.5K! As for Jacksons - they were very good and kept me updated,gave me a courtesy car and charged me NIL for all the work (the car finished it's 3 year warranty the day before the fault occured!....).Steve in service dept was excellent. The strange thing is that the "brakelight bulb failure" warning still comes up, but it is definately working! Overall,if this was an Audi,I would be faced with £xxx of costs,no sympathy from their service people and certainly not a call from Skoda HO this afternoon asking if all is now okay.Well done Skoda - I just hope we all learn from the headlamp problem. Once again,thanks to you all for your help/comments - you guys ARE the 4th emergency service! Regards Mike

26-07-2007, 10:23	#25
nimagraph Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 1 Members Car: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Xenon headlight not working - faulty wiring? I've got exactly the same problem with the n/s xenon headlamp on my 04 Skoda Octavia Estate L&K. The headlamp just goes off. Switch the lights off and then back on and the headlamp is on. May stay on for a while or go straight off - it's a lottery! The problem has been going on for 14 months! Just failed its MOT (done a month early). The headlamp problem has been going on since May 2006 and the dealer has changed the bulb, ingnitor, switched them around, etc, etc). Hasn't changed the Control Unit yet and my warranty expires in 14 days! Last edited by nimagraph; 26-07-2007 at 13:11.

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