Xenon Headlights

[Guest w1ll]

Hi i have just got a 05 plate c5 estate.

 

i have only driven it a a few times at night. but a few times the head lights have turned off for about 3 seconds then turned back on again.

 

they are xenon headlights. is this a sign that the lamp/s are going? they are still very blue white. or is it the ballast? if so can i get it on its own or do i have to get a whole headlight?

 

i have tryed running with auto headlights on and off n that doesnt seam to make a difference.

 

all help welcome

 

thanks

[Guest shenden]

Hi i have just got a 05 plate c5 estate.

 

i have only driven it a a few times at night. but a few times the head lights have turned off for about 3 seconds then turned back on again.

 

they are xenon headlights. is this a sign that the lamp/s are going? they are still very blue white. or is it the ballast? if so can i get it on its own or do i have to get a whole headlight?

 

i have tryed running with auto headlights on and off n that doesnt seam to make a difference.

 

all help welcome

 

thanks

 

I have no idea but it sounds like a bad earth or there is a over heating problem on a relay or it could even be a loose relay. Do the back lights go out as well. Of course it could even be a power serge to some thing else looking for a big amount of power at that time. My front lights flash people all on there own but thats a common fault with c5 from power serge to the suspension i think it is if i remember right. I am not shore if there is any way of checking a relay switch but 3 seconds sounds like its getting hot or starved. I have a wiring diagram here for that car let me have a look at it and if i cant get my head around it i will explode it and upload it to my crappy web site and drop a link on here and maybe some one that understands the tec side of electrics on that car may have a look at it and get back to you. Complete power loss you say it really does sound like some thing is getting over loaded and has to cut its self off before it blows a fuse. Have you tried banging all the lights on every light the car has even reverse hazards lights interior lights maybe put the heater on full bore and the air con and radio basically try to draw as much power as you can and i think i would do these one at a time so you start with the lights high beam then so on and so on so your switching things on one at a time and as your doing all this hit the button to make the car go up then when its up bang it back to the ground so your drawing power and heating things up to the max but i am just a old DIY fan so don't take to much on board what i say but its worth a try. Sounds like relay to me or a relay that controls some other part pulling it away but i don't think it would shut its self right down like that. Ah well have a go you have nothing to loose.

[c5 and mostly happy]

I had the same problem just after I bought the car.  Replaced the Xenon lights and not had the problem since (nearly 3 years) so I put it down to them.

 

Easiest fix to attempt first too.