Poor headlights

Hi, just noticed driving back from the race of champions in the dark that the headlights on my A610 are extremely poor, to the point that i couldn't see the lane markings properly when there were no other cars around to light the way! Pulled over to check them and they were illuminated, looked fine from the outside. It passed it's last MOT no problem. Is there an adjustment to lift them a bit or are the halogens showing their age? Any advice please.

PS on low beam the inside pair of the four lights are lit, on high beam it switches to the outside pair... Correct?

Thanks,
Alex

[mettersl]

Sadly Alex, My A610 lamps are pretty poor too- on dip, on full they are just about OK. One of the reasons I don't use it much in the winter. The reflectors are OK. As Renault listed the dip units at 235 each last time I asked, I decided not to change them (before trying the "special fax" to find out if they actually had any).
Bulbs do get dim with age, so maybe some new ones will help. I have even wondered about installing some HID retrofits to make it brighter, but so far this hasn't got beyond looking at kit prices.
I know it sounds silly, but are the lenses clean? As they fold away I "forgot" to wash mine one year and when winter came I couldn't see anything, a quick wipe helped a lot.
Anyone know where the headlamps come from? As they have unused side lamp bulbs they must be "borrowed" but apart from an unnamed tractor no one seems to know.
Cheers
Lee

." Is there an adjustment to lift them a bit"
"PS on low beam the inside pair of the four lights are lit, on high beam it switches to the outside pair... Correct?"

Alex, You should find when everything is working, that on fullbeam the inner and outer pair of lights are on, and on dip, only the two outer pair would be lit. Confirm this with the highbeam telltail high beam warning light on the dash, which in your case should light up when the two inner lamps are on. If this is the case what you have lost only is the two highbeam filiments in the outer pair, either the filiments have blown, or the high beam relay is faulty. (there appears to be no fuses in the headlamps circuit) Remember also low light output could be caused by poor earth contact of wiring from lamps to chassis which should be near the lights themselves. Suggest you check this as a matter of course. The owners handbook should give information on how to adjust all four lights, and also replace bulbs, it does the GTA handbook. Hope this helps you. John

[mettersl]

John,
You've got me puzzled now. On My 610 the dip OR the mains are on, but not both. With the mains on, the in-bumper spots also light- which is why the main beam is OK. I haven't found a way to turn them off, not really looked as its useful.
My main lamps are the centre ones, and the dips are on the outside. I though they were all single filament bulbs, but I'll check (its outside now....)
I haven't checked the wiring diagram to find out what should be happening, but will tonight.
Sadly this still won't help the dipped beam performance.....
may be a set of image intensifying goggles from Santa will help me.

Cheers
lee

Yeah, sounds like your lights work the same as mine Lee. I think I'll try replacing the bulbs for now and see what happens. Thankfully I don't live in the country, I have plenty of street lights to drive under! Are the bulbs a standard part... ie available from Halfrauds?

Alex

Lee, When you have checked your lights, let me know what you find. I have to say that I was going on what the lights on my GTA do, I have the wiring diagrams for the 610, but would you believe there is no circuit for the headlamps in my wks manual. It appears that Alex and you are saying two different things. Alex says "on low beam the inside pair of the four lights are lit, and on high beam it switches to the outside pair" however you say " My main lamps are the center (inner) ones, and the dips are on the outside" I suspect that you are right, that is why I suggested to Alex that he should check against the dash telltail light. However I am surprised that all four lights do not come on, on full beam, perhaps it is because you also have extra spots in the bumper. Also in that type of system all lamps could well be single filiments, let me know what you find, you have got me intrigued.

[mettersl]

Hi-
I have looked at the car, the handbook and the Renault workshop manual.
Dips are the outer lamps, the mains the inner lamps &only one should be on at a time. The bulb is listed as a "H1" mono filament.
Strangely the "long range headlight"- spotlights to us Brits- are missed off the wiring diagram index- even though they have their own diagram, clearly Renault checked this manual closely before release(it is the English version). They come on with the mains, no switch, bulb H3.
Having looked at my dipped lamps, they appear to be dirty on the inside as well as the outside (well I had driven for 30 minutes in the winter since wiping them) so I think I should take them out and clean the insides as well as the outsides to maximise the beam. This may be a general problem. I think I'll leave that treat until after Christmas.

Now I think Christmas is sometime soon isn't it, I'd better go and prepare or I might miss it, or maybe I'll spend the time browsing the workshop manual....difficult choice.
Good luck
Lee

Now I think Christmas is sometime soon isn't it, I'd better go and prepare or I might miss it, or maybe I'll spend the time browsing the workshop manual....difficult choice.

Know the feeling Lee.

Anyway thanks for the info, it should also help Alex with his problem. All the best to you both. John

The lights do function the way Lee was saying. I got the pairs mixed up! Sorry for the confusion. As suggested,I did check my lenses properly, whereupon I noticed a thin film of crap over them. I know it sounds stupid but the stuff was very hard to see! So I got all that off... seems to have made it a little better as you'd expect. Think when I get chance I'll clean 'em out on the inside too. Clean headlights is the future!

Cheers
Alex