Headlight Gremlin

timberhollow9310;2280 wrote: Thanks James. Tried your suggestion, but no go. Once the ignition is turned to start the lights go out (stay up) and don't come back on until I recycle the ignition back to pre-start position. Forgot to mention, this vehicle has been a garage queen with collectors and had the best of maintenance (less than 40K miles). Minor problem, but thanks for the help.
Ed

Can you put your car year and details in your sig so that we all can help with the correct year info.

Relay, relay, relay.

Same exact symptoms I had once. Replaced the relay, fixed the problem. James is right also. A failing ignition switch will show similarly crazy symptoms. I would expect more trouble on a number of other functions if it were when terminal 50 (starter circuit) was energized if the ignition switch were suspect.

Austin,

I had all kinds of strange stuff when my S4 ignition went bad. A strange click behind the dash when you would hit the brakes. Brake lights would not come on and the warning could not be canceled. I can't remember the other stuff but there were a couple of other non-brake related crazy things that happened too!

KilnRed;2290 wrote: Relay, relay, relay.

Same exact symptoms I had once. Replaced the relay, fixed the problem. James is right also. A failing ignition switch will show similarly crazy symptoms. I would expect more trouble on a number of other functions if it were when terminal 50 (starter circuit) was energized if the ignition switch were suspect.

Thanks everyone for help on this. Is there anything difficult or concerning about replacing a relay? Is it necessary to disconnect the battery? Would it be a good idea to clean out the relay box and spray with an electrical spray while I am in there? Have good weekend all.

Shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes. Sometimes the most difficult part is just simply removing the old relay from its socket as it can be rather stuck. Cleaning the grounds above the CE board may be a good idea while you're in there. There are two. Each of the bolts securing the wires to the firewall are 10mm, I believe.

I can't get most of the relay's OUT of my cars! They are stuck in there so good. I thought there was some trick to it...there is a "relay puller" but I think it is not much more than a glorified bottle opener.