General Ducato headlight issue

[Ceri4924]

I have a Swift motorhome built on a 2005 2.3 Ducato. My dipped headlights and rear fog warning lights were not working. The Main beam was working. I have carried out checks on fuses and bulbs and checked the earth wires on the rear fog warning light. All other lights are working properly.
I’ve obviously disturbed something doing these checks as my dipped beam now comes on when I switch on the Mainbeam or ‘Flash’ the Mainbeam, but the Mainbeam themselves are not working.
Any advice is welcome. Thanks in advance.

 

[Communicator]

I have a Swift motorhome built on a 2005 2.3 Ducato. My dipped headlights and rear fog warning lights were not working. The Main beam was working. I have carried out checks on fuses and bulbs and checked the earth wires on the rear fog warning light. All other lights are working properly.
I’ve obviously disturbed something doing these checks as my dipped beam now comes on when I switch on the Mainbeam or ‘Flash’ the Mainbeam, but the Mainbeam themselves are not working.
Any advice is welcome. Thanks in advance.

For main beam headlamps check fuse F37, in LH cab fusebox. While not documented correctly, the dipped beams do stay on when main beams are selected.

All lamps at ther rear will have wiring extended by Swift, so probably a junction box or other connecting point to investigate, but first check F37.

A selection of modified, applicable, diagrams, and original lists are attached.

I appreciate that "Thanks in advance" may be your standard close, but please report the resolution of you problem on this thread.

 

[Ceri4924]

For main beam headlamps check fuse F37, in LH cab fusebox. While not documented correctly, the dipped beams do stay on when main beams are selected.

All lamps at ther rear will have wiring extended by Swift, so probably a junction box or other connecting point to investigate, but first check F37.

A selection of modified, applicable, diagrams, and original lists are attached.

I appreciate that "Thanks in advance" may be your standard close, but please report the resolution of you problem on this thread.

Thank you. I’m about to see if I can interpret the diagrams.
I have managed to take the bottom cover off the steering column, but the top cover is being difficult are there any hidden fixings? I also see in other threads that there is a fuse box in the engine compartment. Does that hold any relays?

 

[Communicator]

I am not sure why you have removed the steering column cover. From multiple experience more difficult to replace than remove. If available place thick tube over simple PZ2 driver, or perhaps wrap tape around magnetic chuck of hex bit driver handle. Screw recesses are not at right angle to surface of cover. The top cover may be a fiddle, and you will have to lower the steering column to its lowest position. Possibile to trap cables when replacing. This could include the immobiliser arial connection. If removing, take care when replacing.
Do please check F37, as it could cure both of your problems.
Yes there are 11 relays in engine bay fusebox, 12 if you have aircon. fitted. I keep repeating on forum, that relays are rarely the cause of faults, more often it is defective connections, which may be those at the relay.

 

[Ceri4924]

I am not sure why you have removed the steering column cover. From multiple experience more difficult to replace than remove. If available place thick tube over simple PZ2 driver, or perhaps wrap tape around magnetic chuck of hex bit driver handle. Screw recesses are not at right angle to surface of cover. The top cover may be a fiddle, and you will have to lower the steering column to its lowest position. Possibile to trap cables when replacing. This could include the immobiliser arial connection. If removing, take care when replacing.
Do please check F37, as it could cure both of your problems.
Yes there are 11 relays in engine bay fusebox, 12 if you have aircon. fitted. I keep repeating on forum, that relays are rarely the cause of faults, more often it is defective connections, which may be those at the relay.

I have checked F37. It was OK but I’ve replaced it with a new fuse. No change in the problem. I’m about to trace the wiring for the Rear Fog light from the light cluster back to wherever it is connected to the original Fiat wiring. If there is a break in that wiring and it was shorting or earthing it may feed back to the headlamp issue?

 

[Communicator]

I have checked F37. It was OK but I’ve replaced it with a new fuse. No change in the problem. I’m about to trace the wiring for the Rear Fog light from the light cluster back to wherever it is connected to the original Fiat wiring. If there is a break in that wiring and it was shorting or earthing it may feed back to the headlamp issue?

Perhaps I was taking it for granted, but have you checked fuse F30 15A, located in the engine bay fusebox, B001?
I cannot currently envisage a connection between the main beam, and the rear foglight.
If F30 checks OK, then there are other things to try.

 

[Ceri4924]

Perhaps I was taking it for granted, but have you checked fuse F30 15A, located in the engine bay fusebox, B001?
I cannot currently envisage a connection between the main beam, and the rear foglight.
If F30 checks OK, then there are other things to try.

I checked the fuses in the engine bay fuse box and they seemed to be OK, however I changed them and it solved the issue. A bit of cleaning of cobwebs and seeds from a neighbours silver birch tree could also have contributed.
Thank you for pointing me in the right direction. The tip about tape around the screw driver end was invaluable!

 

[Communicator]

I checked the fuses in the engine bay fuse box and they seemed to be OK, however I changed them and it solved the issue. A bit of cleaning of cobwebs and seeds from a neighbours silver birch tree could also have contributed.
Thank you for pointing me in the right direction. The tip about tape around the screw driver end was invaluable!

Thanks for the reply, which is appreciated. The style of fusebox used in Fiat engine bays, can cause problems. Scan this linked guide for background info.
One of my PZ2 screw drivers has a short piece of reinforced plastic hose slipped onto the shaft. Yes silver birch tree seeds can get into many places, but my biggest problem is with beech leaf bud covers, and catkins in spring. Similarly, spiders are everywhere. These last two summers we have a constant battle with spiders in the house. As soon as they are vacuumed up , you find more elsewhere. I have read that conkers are a deterrent,and as Ihave some on site, I may collect and try a few this autumn.