Headlight Dimmer: GRA Switch Installation

Hello everyone!

First, the good news:
I bought a new steering column switch for my Vento TDI 95.
Purchased with cruise control function, installed, searched for and routed cables.
engaged, activated -> cruise control is working.
It's really great on the highway!

'Then, during the night, I noticed the following:'
It's dimmed, and I pull the light switch back.
Then the low beam turns off, and the high beam turns on.
So far, everything is normal.

If I don't engage the lever, the high beam headlights will become dimmer!!!

'That is, EVEN IF ONLY THE HIGH BEAMS ARE ON, there is still...'
another type of 'light flash' (it's getting even brighter).

The funny thing is, that's not the case with my old switch.
(After a while, it started to smoke, which is why I replaced it in the first place.)

Can anyone test this on a Golf 3 or Vento?
I think it might be the switch, but I've already tried several different ones.
It's always the same.

Sigi.

It's perfectly normal; when you activate the high beam, you're essentially adding another set of contacts and wires in parallel with the headlights, and you'll definitely notice a few hundred millivolts of extra voltage.

Furthermore, your description is incorrect.

I'm blurred and you're drawing.
The high beams turn on, and the low beams remain on.
The low beam headlights turn off only when you release the accelerator pedal.


Otherwise, what Roger said applies.

"I only got 10 volts at the high beam on my G2 (>200W double headlight grill)."

I then disconnected everything using relays - after that, I had a real photon cannon .

m;

@hollari
'Mine does too (the cause is the same as Roger described).'

@Martin
Did you integrate the relay yourself, or was there something else 'accidentally' included?
A slot on the relay panel (also known as a terminal block) that you could fill with a relay.


Best regards,
Rudi

I installed everything perfectly cleanly.

- 2 extra Relaistraeger (org VW )
- A 4-square connection directly from the battery to the relays.
- The relay is switched using the cables from the selector lever.
- Connect the relay output terminals to the original wiring of the control panel.

Therefore, I didn't have to mess around with any fuses, and it remains largely original.

My main reason was the constantly overloaded main headlight switch, which had to handle the entire power draw of 2x60 + 2x55 watts when the high beams were left on.

As I mentioned before, it was a Golf 2 with an older engine (the one from 4/85).

m;

Photon Cannon Rules!

Unfortunately, this comes at the cost of having to replace the bulbs regularly - in my old Polo, I didn't have to replace a headlight bulb in 7 years, thanks to the 10-volt technology.

It was a bit gloomy for that.

I only needed one attempt with the photon cannon - after I fell asleep and "touched" that stupid barge at a highway construction site.

Besides, there were also 3 welding seams in the dome, and the windshield was cracked .

m;

Thanks for your quick responses!



It all sounds quite logical.
But what made me suspicious was that...
I do NOT experience this behavior with the old light switch.
was I was able to observe.

-> Something has to change now.

Sigi.

PS: I'll check the voltage at the headlights sometime.
I think it's significantly more than just a few hundred millivolts.
because you can also clearly see it on the LED in the dashboard.
Difference seen!

Remember that you need to take all the measurements with the engine running.

You'll also need someone to pull the lever.

Furthermore, you should use *all* the lamps, and don't unplug any to take measurements, because that will distort your readings by 50%!

I don't think that's a problem with the Vento, though.


Okay, hier ist die Übersetzung:

And please provide the result here, so we all benefit from it.

m;

@hollari:

Your old switch seems to be a bit "special," considering the smoke signals I mentioned earlier...

If you run an eFH (electric front headlight) test, the brightness of the low beam will change by a similar amount. If you experience the same thing, then there's no need to worry.

You misunderstood something.

The old switch would occasionally smoke.
However, the high beams were ALWAYS the SAME BRIGHTNESS.

-> A new switch was needed, so I got one right away.
'Driven with cruise control. It does NOT smoke, but it shows...'
the phenomenon described above.

I already mentioned that.

Quote:

Your old switch seems to be a bit "special," considering the smoke signals I mentioned earlier...

That's no reason to yell like that.

I didn't actually want to shout, I just wanted to say that.
Sure, here is the translation of the text from German to English:

'Please highlight the important parts.'
Sorry if that affects you.

In my opinion, the old switch isn't particularly special.
It had about 200,000 km on the odometer, and I almost always drove with the lights on.
and more often than 'normal,' driven with the high beams on.
Now, you can clearly see signs of scorching on the inside.
It's not designed for that, or it might even be a 'weak point' intentionally built in.
so that the workshops can also make a profit.

I think so, at least.

That's exactly why I stopped because of...
switches that were sold as 'new' by the dealer, causing concern.
that he's also a bit damaged.