My left headlight has declared independence. When I switch the lights on it rises with the right one. When I switch the lights off, it stays up past its bedtime. The lights still work. I'm assuming that this is caused by the downpour I drove to work in this morning, but the problem has persisted all day. When I got to work, I was out of the car before it dropped back to the bonnet level. Tonight, I tested it and had driven 7-8 miles before a mix of switching the lights off and pushing the centre console button before I could get both lights to drop together. Similarly, when I got home, it took 2 goes to get both lights down. As I said, I'm assuming water in the electrics somewhere, (but where?) or if it isn't, what is it? (1/00)

I think you have an electical problem under the bonnet.

This what I know. The motor that raises and lowers the light always turns the same way for both operations. The light must be on a cam or crank arrangement to raise and lower it.

So ( now I am guessing) it must have a little switch to tell it 'the light is up' and another one to tell the motor 'the light is down'. These switches will tell the motor to stop when the light is in the right place

So I guess the 'light is down' switch has failed so that instead of lowering the light, it stays put. However, like I said, this is mostly guess work. Since one light is OK then I think the problem must be on the deffective light.

PLEASE REMOVE THE 'retractor' FUSE BEFORE PUTTING YOUR FINGERS IN THE MINCER! (1/00)
RGEM says it's usually something caught in the mechanism so check for twigs etc. and lubricate the mechanism. He suggests WD40 but I'd use regular oil. There isn't a good wiring diagram, but reading between the lines it looks like the two motors share wiring and relays to a large degree. You really need someone with a manual that's got a wiring diagram to bung you a copy. Fault finding with a wiring diagram is MUCH easier. Though UK cars have the silly dimdip stuff to complicate things. Does the Haynes manual have a wiring diagram? I might get one. (1/00)

.. both off same circuits.. so what one sees .. the other sees..(in Voltage terms).

.. inside the unit there are two diodes, one switch (not sure what drives it), one relay and a motor.

Feeds are;
black/red stripe = from 30A retractor fuse
red/yellow = from control box + switch
red/green = as above

.. so the one switch is just a limit switch with diodes... which second set of wires feed into (one per diode) .. so dirty contacts on the limit switch or sticky relay would be obvious choices.. (1/00)

Thought I'd update you all on the declaration of independence by one headlight. The story so far... One headlight refuses to drop. New relay ordered from Jay, fitted, no change. Car back from automotive electrician today. It seems it was a broken wire in the loom. (3/00)