Headlights

[gedchurch]

We've a Peugeot 406 HDi estate 2001. The Dipped headlights and nearside bright ( mainbeam? ) stopped working. Using handbook I identified the fuse for the offside bright and swapped it - didn't work. Bought H7 bulbs. Motor factor chap identified same bulbs for main & dipped beam. Fitted what handbook indicated to be the dipped bulbs. These were said to be within the inner of two plastic capped units ( 2 on each side ). Tried dipped lights - didn't work. Switched to mainbeam - both worked. I guessed I had replaced the mainbeam bulbs ( 1 good bulb & 1 duff bulb ). It seems the manual is mistaken in its labeIling. I still have 2 bulbs to fit but am puzzled about the location of the dipped bulbs. To be honest I thought there would be only 1 bulb with a double filament and the Haynes manual only indicates 1 headlight bulb ( page 12.10 - 7 ) I'd appreciate some guidance here before going further. I have changed all the relevant fuses to no effect.

[GingerMagic]

Hi, welcome to the club.

Its an easy mistake to make, I think we have all done it at some point...

There are 2 H7 bulbs in each headlight, the ones nearest the front grill are the main beam - the ones which are nearer the wings and harder to get to are the dipped beam.

The fuses I think are little 10v red ones in the engine bay fuse box.

[gedchurch]

Thanks - I will proceed with more confidence. You confirm what I had guessed might be the case. I think my handbook is mistaken . On page 39 it appears to point at the one nearest the grill labelled 1 and identified as dipped nbeam. As you say this proved to be mainbeam. I am still a bit concerned about its fuse id. The engine compartment fuse box is illustrated on page 46 the diag shows the 4 relevant fuses 9,10,11 & 12.

9 & 10, said to be for dipped beam, are given as 15amp.
11 & 12 said to be for main beam ( p 47 ) are given as 10 amp.
Since all the bulbs are identical this seems strange. The fuses fitted do correspond with the manual. I'm now thinking I should change the dipped beam ones from 15s to 10s before swapping the bulbs. Don't know if you can help further here. - Ged

[steve_earwig]

Hi there. Maybe it's done because the sides are on for longer, maybe it's just Gallic madness. They are indeed the same bulb, for 55 watts 10 amps is plenty, changing them is up to you really.

I suspect the reason no-one's noticed the cock-up in the manual before is because all double headlamps run like that, outers main, inners dip.

I do remember getting to the bulbs is a fiddle, maybe you could change the one that's easier to get to (ecu side) with your remaining spare and see if that works, then we'll know if we need to panic or not

[gedchurch]

Thanks - That all sounds likely - Will have ago tomorrow if weather eases - Ged