Help! Stressing message on my IPK screen!

Dorchester2 · 30th October 2018, 17:24

Help!

Yesterday afternoon starting up the engine to come back home, suddenly I'd got a warning with a bulb on the left enclosing an exclamation mark, then several messages telling me there was a general failure (HS in French) on the lights and showing all the lights.

Actually only the left dipped beam isn't lightened, the others are working fine.

Hence I had a go and took off the failing bulb.
It's a pig of a job to do it, not much room to see & manipulate, and a fiddly device to open that maintain the bulb in place, when my 2003 owner's handbook pretends I've just to turn the socket anti-clockwise. No way in my Cowley built model.

I put another brand new genuine Rover H7, no light!
With the other lights on I've tested the wires with my multimeter: no power!

I haven't had a glance at the fuses: I guess it cannot be a fuse because only the left dipped beam isn't working and was still working on the morning.

What could be (or should be) the culprit?
I desperately need clues if I'm able to sort it out myself or if I need to go to my skilful mechanic who isn't a Rover specialist nevertheless.

I'm stressed for I need the car to move my father-in-law next Monday... and if a cop is watching on the side of the road I'll be fined surely, not to say anything about driving nearly at dawn or dusk with only the right beam in a LHD car not lightening the middle of the road...

Thanks a lot chaps!

Mike Noc · 30th October 2018, 17:26

If it was me I'd whip the bumper off and check the wiring and connection plugs.

Groundsman Willie · 30th October 2018, 17:31

I thought headlights are individually fused, so that in the event of a fuse blowing, you only lose one light.

Mike Noc · 30th October 2018, 17:52

It's a bit cleverer than that Dave.

The headlamps are supplied directly from the LSM, which incorporates circuit protection with FETs.

If a short circuit occurs the power to that circuit will be cut, and when the short circuit is cleared, the power is restored.

Dorchester2 · 30th October 2018, 18:47

I was suspecting a problem in the light switch control unit, behind the fog & beams switches on the driver's side in LHD cars as well.

But what to do then?

I can't see myself (or the professional) dismantling the whole car & stripping apart all the wires searching for any bad connection. It may take ages without being sure to put a finger on the problem.
I fear any haphazard search without any clue in mind...
Nothing wrong may have happened under the bonnet yesterday and the engine bay is very tidy & sane, and barely a drizzle outside during the journey.

marinabrian · 30th October 2018, 19:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dorchester2

I was suspecting a problem in the light switch control unit, behind the fog & beams switches on the driver's side in LHD cars as well.

But what to do then?

I can't see myself (or the professional) dismantling the whole car & stripping apart all the wires searching for any bad connection. It may take ages without being sure to put a finger on the problem.
I fear any haphazard search without any clue in mind...
Nothing wrong may have happened under the bonnet yesterday and the engine bay is very tidy & sane, and barely a drizzle outside during the journey.

It is most likely to be the car wiring loom where it passes over the seam of the chassis leg adjacent to the headlamp.

Bumper off, headlights unbolted and unplugged, and make good the wiring

Here is an example picture courtesy of Alan

vitesse · 31st October 2018, 07:50

Had a similar issue some time back - https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/for...d.php?t=279150

Luckily it hasn't happened again and guess it's one of the many gremlins that seem to appear in our cars.

Regards

Dorchester2 · 31st October 2018, 08:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by vitesse

Had a similar issue some time back - https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/for...d.php?t=279150

Luckily it hasn't happened again and guess it's one of the many gremlins that seem to appear in our cars.

Regards

Thank you @vitesse. But your story had à happy end.
At the moment still no joy : same stubborn result and no light on the left side.

Mike Noc · 31st October 2018, 13:03

Have you had the bumper off and checked all the suggestions posted up?

vitesse · 31st October 2018, 15:30

I mentioned it as there was no logical reason for my experience other than “gremlins”. I don’t know how many times I’ve read of others experiencing weird electrical issues, normally solved by half an hour battery disconnect. While it might be a true electrical issue, I think I’d try the battery disconnect first and then unplug the LSM (light switch module) a couple of times (only two or three screws) and if that doesn’t solve things then off with the bumper which is not as difficult as it would seem.

Regards

30th October 2018, 17:24	#1
Dorchester2 incurable Rover addict Rover 75 Saloon V6 2.5 1999 - Rover 25 1.4 2002 - Rover 214i cab 1994 - Rover P5b coupe 1968 Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Bioule. South West of France. Posts: 1,643 Thanks: 612 Thanked 385 Times in 223 Posts	Help! Stressing message on my IPK screen! Help! Yesterday afternoon starting up the engine to come back home, suddenly I'd got a warning with a bulb on the left enclosing an exclamation mark, then several messages telling me there was a general failure (HS in French) on the lights and showing all the lights. Actually only the left dipped beam isn't lightened, the others are working fine. Hence I had a go and took off the failing bulb. It's a pig of a job to do it, not much room to see & manipulate, and a fiddly device to open that maintain the bulb in place, when my 2003 owner's handbook pretends I've just to turn the socket anti-clockwise. No way in my Cowley built model. I put another brand new genuine Rover H7, no light! With the other lights on I've tested the wires with my multimeter: no power! I haven't had a glance at the fuses: I guess it cannot be a fuse because only the left dipped beam isn't working and was still working on the morning. What could be (or should be) the culprit? I desperately need clues if I'm able to sort it out myself or if I need to go to my skilful mechanic who isn't a Rover specialist nevertheless. I'm stressed for I need the car to move my father-in-law next Monday... and if a cop is watching on the side of the road I'll be fined surely, not to say anything about driving nearly at dawn or dusk with only the right beam in a LHD car not lightening the middle of the road... Thanks a lot chaps! __________________ Rover 75 V6 2.5 Auto Connie born 1 July 1999, 24 kOhms resistor, 10 kOhms manual starter, full E85, modified airbox, full derestricted SS exhaust line, power & torque remap -> 202 bhp This vehicle was the 7,517th 75 to run off the production line, out of 112,381 This vehicle was the 1,190th 75 2.5 V6 Contemporary to be made out of 8,214 This vehicle was the 2,032nd 75 in Atlantic Blue Pearlescent (code: JEY) to be made out of 2,572 Atlantic Blue Pearlescent 75s Last edited by Dorchester2; 30th October 2018 at 17:27..

30th October 2018, 17:31	#3
Groundsman Willie Gets stuck in Rover 75 1.8t Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Newbury Posts: 842 Thanks: 783 Thanked 423 Times in 264 Posts	I thought headlights are individually fused, so that in the event of a fuse blowing, you only lose one light. __________________ Dave

30th October 2018, 18:47	#5
Dorchester2 incurable Rover addict Rover 75 Saloon V6 2.5 1999 - Rover 25 1.4 2002 - Rover 214i cab 1994 - Rover P5b coupe 1968 Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Bioule. South West of France. Posts: 1,643 Thanks: 612 Thanked 385 Times in 223 Posts	I was suspecting a problem in the light switch control unit, behind the fog & beams switches on the driver's side in LHD cars as well. But what to do then? I can't see myself (or the professional) dismantling the whole car & stripping apart all the wires searching for any bad connection. It may take ages without being sure to put a finger on the problem. I fear any haphazard search without any clue in mind... Nothing wrong may have happened under the bonnet yesterday and the engine bay is very tidy & sane, and barely a drizzle outside during the journey. __________________ Rover 75 V6 2.5 Auto Connie born 1 July 1999, 24 kOhms resistor, 10 kOhms manual starter, full E85, modified airbox, full derestricted SS exhaust line, power & torque remap -> 202 bhp This vehicle was the 7,517th 75 to run off the production line, out of 112,381 This vehicle was the 1,190th 75 2.5 V6 Contemporary to be made out of 8,214 This vehicle was the 2,032nd 75 in Atlantic Blue Pearlescent (code: JEY) to be made out of 2,572 Atlantic Blue Pearlescent 75s

30th October 2018, 17:26	#2
Mike Noc This is my second home Rover 75 CDT Manual Connoisseur SE, Rover 75 CDT Automatic Connoisseur SE & a Freelander Td4. Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Hampshire Posts: 11,548 Thanks: 3,470 Thanked 3,119 Times in 2,247 Posts	If it was me I'd whip the bumper off and check the wiring and connection plugs.

30th October 2018, 17:52	#4
Mike Noc This is my second home Rover 75 CDT Manual Connoisseur SE, Rover 75 CDT Automatic Connoisseur SE & a Freelander Td4. Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Hampshire Posts: 11,548 Thanks: 3,470 Thanked 3,119 Times in 2,247 Posts	It's a bit cleverer than that Dave. The headlamps are supplied directly from the LSM, which incorporates circuit protection with FETs. If a short circuit occurs the power to that circuit will be cut, and when the short circuit is cleared, the power is restored.

31st October 2018, 07:50	#7
vitesse I really should get out more....... Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Gävle Posts: 2,534 Thanks: 395 Thanked 823 Times in 652 Posts	Had a similar issue some time back - https://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/for...d.php?t=279150 Luckily it hasn't happened again and guess it's one of the many gremlins that seem to appear in our cars. Regards

31st October 2018, 13:03	#9
Mike Noc This is my second home Rover 75 CDT Manual Connoisseur SE, Rover 75 CDT Automatic Connoisseur SE & a Freelander Td4. Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Hampshire Posts: 11,548 Thanks: 3,470 Thanked 3,119 Times in 2,247 Posts	Have you had the bumper off and checked all the suggestions posted up?

31st October 2018, 15:30	#10
vitesse I really should get out more....... Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Gävle Posts: 2,534 Thanks: 395 Thanked 823 Times in 652 Posts	I mentioned it as there was no logical reason for my experience other than “gremlins”. I don’t know how many times I’ve read of others experiencing weird electrical issues, normally solved by half an hour battery disconnect. While it might be a true electrical issue, I think I’d try the battery disconnect first and then unplug the LSM (light switch module) a couple of times (only two or three screws) and if that doesn’t solve things then off with the bumper which is not as difficult as it would seem. Regards