Xenon

Howie666 · 10th March 2018, 22:31

Hello everybody. It has been quite a while, but here I am again with a perplexing problem with my unruly teenager (she is 17 after all!)
When I start the engine & put the headlights on they flicker for about 30 seconds then settle down.
Until I use the offside indicator. When I do that the headlights (both of them) flicker in time with the indicator. I turn the indicator off and the flickering continues for another 30 seconds or so.
I know it is an MOT failure issue, not to mention going down the road making people think its a police car! (no kidding, this evening someone pulled over as I approached because the lights looked as if they were flashing)

Any advice will be most gratefully received.

mbonwick · 10th March 2018, 22:39

Sounds like a bad earth somewhere. Also worth checking the loom where it runs over the chassis legs to rule that out.

klarzy · 11th March 2018, 12:17

Also pop the Light switch module out and check for moisture or corrosion around the plug ..
Failing that I would have the alternator checked and replace the brush pack... xenons draw a bit of current...

Howie666 · 11th March 2018, 12:35

Thank you folks, I will do as you suggest

Howie666 · 11th March 2018, 17:18

Perhaps the plot thickens...
I replaced the sidelight bulbs (the offside one was flickering) and they seemed to be working. I tried the headlights/offside indicator thing and no flicker at all.
Only now the bulb failure warning light is on, so the bulbs aren't canbus friendly

Is it the lsm?

COLVERT · 11th March 2018, 17:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by klarzy

Also pop the Light switch module out and check for moisture or corrosion around the plug ..
Failing that I would have the alternator checked and replace the brush pack... xenons draw a bit of current...

They might draw a bit of current as you say but that comes from the battery.
The absolute maximum current going through the brush pack is 6 amps which is being fed into the alternator armature.

Xenons are just one part of the cars electrical power consumption. Nothing special about it.---

klarzy · 11th March 2018, 17:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by COLVERT

They might draw a bit of current as you say but that comes from the battery.
The absolute maximum current going through the brush pack is 6 amps which is being fed into the alternator armature.

Xenons are just one part of the cars electrical power consumption. Nothing special about it.---

My experience (and rocks too I think ) show that this kind of flicker disappears when a newer 3 pin alternator is used... the 3 pin is 120 amps and the 2 pin is 105??

COLVERT · 11th March 2018, 21:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by klarzy

My experience (and rocks too I think ) show that this kind of flicker disappears when a newer 3 pin alternator is used... the 3 pin is 120 amps and the 2 pin is 105??

The maximum outputs of both alternators are there to cover all electrical items being used at the same time plus a hefty safety margin.

The in built regulator in the alternator constantly checks the electrical systems needs and then adds about 5 amps to give a low charge to the battery. Alternators hardly ever reach half way up to their maximum output.

The fact that an alternator has two or thee pins makes no difference to an alternators output. It is always steady unless their is some kind of fault in the system.

If an alternator was unregulated its output would be directly proportional to its speed of rotation. It would be a straight line graph.

COLVERT · 12th March 2018, 15:52

Howie. It's really nice to see you posting again. Remember me from the days of the hijackers on >ORG ?????

Colvert.

Howie666 · 13th March 2018, 17:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by COLVERT

Howie. It's really nice to see you posting again. Remember me from the days of the hijackers on >ORG ?????

Colvert.

Hello! Yes I do (in spite of age related memory issues lol)
As long as we have the ZT (hopefully as long as I last) I will remain a member here, its a nice place and excellent for the odd question or two :-)

10th March 2018, 22:31	#1
Howie666 I really should get out more....... MG ZT 190+, Trophy Blue Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Preston Posts: 2,067 Thanks: 1,401 Thanked 309 Times in 195 Posts	Xenon Hello everybody. It has been quite a while, but here I am again with a perplexing problem with my unruly teenager (she is 17 after all!) When I start the engine & put the headlights on they flicker for about 30 seconds then settle down. Until I use the offside indicator. When I do that the headlights (both of them) flicker in time with the indicator. I turn the indicator off and the flickering continues for another 30 seconds or so. I know it is an MOT failure issue, not to mention going down the road making people think its a police car! (no kidding, this evening someone pulled over as I approached because the lights looked as if they were flashing) Any advice will be most gratefully received. __________________ Commission Number 352 To do list: 1. Reversing sensors 1a. Headlights polished - DONE! (Magic Mike ) 2. Auto dip rear view mirror 3. Seats replaced - DONE! (thank you Mischief) 7. Bodywork repainted 8. Inlet manifold changed for a working one - DONE! (Magic Mike )

11th March 2018, 12:17	#3
klarzy This is my second home none but not gone Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: March, Cambs Posts: 16,437 Thanks: 894 Thanked 4,247 Times in 3,025 Posts	Also pop the Light switch module out and check for moisture or corrosion around the plug .. Failing that I would have the alternator checked and replace the brush pack... xenons draw a bit of current... __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]….All praise Bananaswan….

11th March 2018, 12:35	#4
Howie666 I really should get out more....... MG ZT 190+, Trophy Blue Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Preston Posts: 2,067 Thanks: 1,401 Thanked 309 Times in 195 Posts	Thank you folks, I will do as you suggest __________________ Commission Number 352 To do list: 1. Reversing sensors 1a. Headlights polished - DONE! (Magic Mike ) 2. Auto dip rear view mirror 3. Seats replaced - DONE! (thank you Mischief) 7. Bodywork repainted 8. Inlet manifold changed for a working one - DONE! (Magic Mike )

11th March 2018, 17:18	#5
Howie666 I really should get out more....... MG ZT 190+, Trophy Blue Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Preston Posts: 2,067 Thanks: 1,401 Thanked 309 Times in 195 Posts	Perhaps the plot thickens... I replaced the sidelight bulbs (the offside one was flickering) and they seemed to be working. I tried the headlights/offside indicator thing and no flicker at all. Only now the bulb failure warning light is on, so the bulbs aren't canbus friendly Is it the lsm? __________________ Commission Number 352 To do list: 1. Reversing sensors 1a. Headlights polished - DONE! (Magic Mike ) 2. Auto dip rear view mirror 3. Seats replaced - DONE! (thank you Mischief) 7. Bodywork repainted 8. Inlet manifold changed for a working one - DONE! (Magic Mike )

10th March 2018, 22:39	#2
mbonwick Gets stuck in Connoisseur SE 1.8 Auto Saloon Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Kendal Posts: 633 Thanks: 129 Thanked 176 Times in 147 Posts	Sounds like a bad earth somewhere. Also worth checking the loom where it runs over the chassis legs to rule that out.

12th March 2018, 15:52	#9
COLVERT This is my second home R75 Saloon. Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: France/or Devon. Posts: 14,003 Thanks: 3,851 Thanked 2,167 Times in 1,816 Posts	Howie. It's really nice to see you posting again. Remember me from the days of the hijackers on >ORG ????? Colvert.