light out indicator wont turn off

pynkphizee · Oct 1st, 2016, 21:54

I have a light in the dashboard that indicates a bulb is out, checked all lights and yes the parking light passenger side was out, so I changed it and the light is still on. tried a different bulb and it went white.

the bulb I took out was silver in colour not burned out, the only bulbs in Halfords are clear.

need some advice and help

Rumbo · Oct 1st, 2016, 23:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by pynkphizee

I have a light in the dashboard that indicates a bulb is out, checked all lights and yes the parking light passenger side was out, so I changed it and the light is still on. tried a different bulb and it went white.

the bulb I took out was silver in colour not burned out, the only bulbs in Halfords are clear.

need some advice and help

This happens on E46 BMW's,check the earths round the lights,also have you checked the brake light on the rear window if you have one?

DaveNP · Oct 2nd, 2016, 15:30

In my experience-
The 'silvered' bulb is just a bulb on its way out, unless it looks positively deliberately chrome plated, so a clear one would be the right replacement. Bulbs going white are often due to water getting in the light fitting and on the bulb while it is turned on.

Rversteeg · Oct 3rd, 2016, 09:12

The light out indicator works like a pair of scales; if the NS and OS light system it is out of balance the indicator will light up. It is intended to light up if the balance is disturbed by a defective light bulb, but a different wattage will have the same effect. Or bad earthing of the fitting. I don't know how sensitive it is, but I can imagine that even cheap Chinese replacement bulbs with a large tolerance on the indicated wattage might trigger the indicator.
For the same reason you cannot just take power from one of the rear light units for a trailer or third braking light. Also two broken lights NS/OS will not trigger the indicator...

tofufi · Oct 3rd, 2016, 12:33

What Rversteeg says ^^

I try to buy 'premium' bulbs when changing them, and change them in pairs.

The last time mine came on, changing the bulb failure relay solved the problem.

Oct 1st, 2016, 21:54	#1
pynkphizee New Member Last Online: Mar 25th, 2021 17:56 Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: stevenage	light out indicator wont turn off I have a light in the dashboard that indicates a bulb is out, checked all lights and yes the parking light passenger side was out, so I changed it and the light is still on. tried a different bulb and it went white. the bulb I took out was silver in colour not burned out, the only bulbs in Halfords are clear. need some advice and help

Oct 2nd, 2016, 15:30	#3
DaveNP Non VOC Member Last Online: May 29th, 2024 18:03 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Milton Keynes	In my experience- The 'silvered' bulb is just a bulb on its way out, unless it looks positively deliberately chrome plated, so a clear one would be the right replacement. Bulbs going white are often due to water getting in the light fitting and on the bulb while it is turned on. __________________ David V70 2.5 10v Torslanda Manual 98 Sreg

Oct 3rd, 2016, 09:12	#4
Rversteeg Master Member Last Online: Today 14:53 Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Amersfoort (NL)	Balance The light out indicator works like a pair of scales; if the NS and OS light system it is out of balance the indicator will light up. It is intended to light up if the balance is disturbed by a defective light bulb, but a different wattage will have the same effect. Or bad earthing of the fitting. I don't know how sensitive it is, but I can imagine that even cheap Chinese replacement bulbs with a large tolerance on the indicated wattage might trigger the indicator. For the same reason you cannot just take power from one of the rear light units for a trailer or third braking light. Also two broken lights NS/OS will not trigger the indicator...

Oct 3rd, 2016, 12:33	#5
tofufi Premier Member Last Online: Today 13:26 Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Bristol	What Rversteeg says ^^ I try to buy 'premium' bulbs when changing them, and change them in pairs. The last time mine came on, changing the bulb failure relay solved the problem.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)