(not so) Quick bulb question...

Petrified · Post by **Petrified** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 11:29 pm

Anyone know which bulbs the mk3 uses.

Sidelights
Dipped Beam
Full Beam

?

Also if I switch the lights on without the key in the ignition only the passenger sidelight comes on, is this right? as soon as I turn the key they both come on.

Thanks.
James.

Steve_O · Post by **Steve_O** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 11:36 pm

The main and dipped beam are both just one bulb (two filaments) - these are the H4 fitting. I'm unsure of the sidelight bulb fitment tho sorry!!

Main and dipped beam only come on with the ignition, so it sounds like either your driver's sidelight is out - or you've got the parking light on (indicator stalk up or down with ignition off).

Petrified · Post by **Petrified** » Thu Jan 27, 2005 11:46 pm

Steve_O wrote:The main and dipped beam are both just one bulb (two filaments) - these are the H4 fitting. I'm unsure of the sidelight bulb fitment tho sorry!!

Main and dipped beam only come on with the ignition, so it sounds like either your driver's sidelight is out - or you've got the parking light on (indicator stalk up or down with ignition off).

Thanks.

Strange, I tried the indicator thinking it was that but it didn't do anything. The lights definately working when the key is turned. Maybe something gone wrong

Good H4, just wondering because I had some phillips blue visions I bought by mistake for the honda. are all H4 main&dipped combined then?

James.

Steve_O · Post by **Steve_O** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 12:13 am

Yes, all H4 bulbs are main and dipped beam combined.

Like I say, the fact only the passenger sidelight lights up would suggest that the drivers sidelight is broken.

Try switching the headlight switch on just one click (sidelights only) and see if ignition on/off makes a difference then.

Petrified · Post by **Petrified** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 12:19 am

If I do that, the drivers dipped beam comes on.

I'll check it again tomorrow. I've had to recently change the driver headlamp because it had a stone go through it. I noticed this then, but when I put the old one back on it still did the same thing.

May have worked out why by saturday, if not maybe someone else will be able to!

Not causing a problem as everything works when the key is turned. I'm going to be replacing the H4's tomorrow anyway so I'll know if it's that.

I've had these bulbs lying around since the summer and didn't realise the fitted the mk3, If I did they would have gone on the GT back in september.

James.

Steve_O · Post by **Steve_O** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 12:30 am

Hmm - that does sound a bit odd then.

If it helps you in your fault finding, you could try swapping the sidelight bulbs over.

Just twist them a quarter turn and they should pop out.

Petrified · Post by **Petrified** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 12:36 am

It's been bugging me so I just went out to check.

No ignition, lights off

left indicator = left side light (parking light)
right indicator = no right side light

no ignition sidelights switched on = only left side light

ignition sidelights switched on = both sidelights

everything with key turned functions normally. Really strange.

James.

Steve_O · Post by **Steve_O** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 12:51 am

Hmm - that is really weird!! And in both cases the lights are just lit really dimly right??

Petrified · Post by **Petrified** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 12:56 am

yeah, really dim when just on side light, the driver side appears to be dimmer. So maybe it is something with the bulb? Just really strange it only comes on when the key is turned.

I have spare sidelight bulbs so will probably try them tomorrow as well.

But like I said, not really an issue as I don't tend to drive without the key in the ignition!

Steve_O · Post by **Steve_O** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 1:07 am

Yeah - fair enough!!

Good luck finding the problem anyway!!

DelG40 · Post by **DelG40** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 1:31 pm

Mk3 Polo:

Full/dipped = H4
Sidelights = 233

www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk

Steve_O · Post by **Steve_O** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 10:50 am

How did it go by the way??

I found out yesterday that the headlights do in fact come on on the first switch position with the ignition on - which surprised me.

So I still say it's the driver's side sidelight which is out - but then you probably know that now anyway!!

DanW · Post by **DanW** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 6:01 pm

I have the same problem, but I've passed my MOT with it so it seems ok.

Weird how the side light works with the ignition on :s

Petrified · Post by **Petrified** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 11:00 pm

Sorry, Havn't replaced the sidelights yet as the ones I had wouldn't fit.
When I get time I'll look at it a bit closer. Must have always been like it but only realised when I changed the headlight.

Petrified · Post by **Petrified** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 7:27 pm

Quick update!

I replaced the sidelight on the passenger side, no difference.

replaced it on the drivers side and it works fine now, wierd!! the drivers one was working ok... well I've replaced both now and all appears to be good, although both bulbs did actually work, I checked them.

James.