I was in an accident in my 1987 245, and now my LF headlight is very dim, and the high beam doesn't work. A replacement bulb has the same problem. It is clear (although the specific reason isn't), that the accident caused the problem. I'll therefore briefly describe the accident to provide context.

I was pulling left out of a parallel parking spot, on the right-hand side of the street, and a car hit my left-front fender just right about even with the front wheel. (I've had to replace the tie rods and a ball joint). The headlight and turn-signal assemblies went flying into the street.

Although I've patched it back together until I can get a new fender and lights, the electrical system apparently was affected, too. Any thoughts? Could it be the relay? Where is the relay located.

Any help appreciated,

Gordon.

 

my guess is, its the headlight ground which is on the inside of that fender, just behind the turnsignal.

got a volt meter? ignition on (don't need to start motor), turn on the headlights, and measure the voltage across the light socket, and also from the + side of the light bulb socket to the battery - terminal. do this by probing the back of the headlight, not by unplugging it.

if you see full voltage from the + terminal on the headlight to the battery - but not to the headlight ground, then thats your problem.

 

That's what I was going to say.

 

Gents,

Thanks for your responses. I haven't had a chance to spend time on the car, but my latest thinking is that the wires to the headlights were stretched, and therefore damaged, in the accident. I'll let you know what I find out.

Gordon.