Need help with headlights; they didn't come on after 1 month in storage.

[loosenut]

Coming out of storage Dieter, Neoplan, started up immediately as always.  The running lights, blinkers etc all light up, just not the headlamps  The headlight setup has four halogen lights with the outside two having 3 prongs and the inside 2 having 2 prongs.  I don't detect power in the lamp socket. 

The running lights and headlights are switched through the ignition switch, 1st position, no lights, second position, running lights, 3rd position headlights.  The switch seems to be operating correctly.

Since all electrical chassis problems seem to have bad grounds where should I look to check for a bad ground.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Mike

 

[robertglines1]

Mike un familiar with your coach.  operate that switch several times(corroded contacts?) grounds (usual culprit) add remote temp ground to system.  good luck hope someone familiar with your particular set  up will reply 

[eddiepotts]

I know my switch is for the relay. The relay is what turns them on. Check there

[Busted Knuckle]

I second the relay issue! I don't know Neoplans but with having owned (still do most of them) 8 Setra's I do know German buses and some common issues.

To bad our resident Neoplan GURU is absent at the moment due to his commitments to the Red Cross he is somewhere tied up with Hurricane Irene being the only thing on their minds @ this moment!
  BK 

[luvrbus]

Aren't those buses 12/24 and the headlights work off 12v through a Vanner ?

good luck

[belfert]

Aren't those buses 12/24 and the headlights work off 12v through a Vanner ?

Probably.  If things are wired properly you should still get 12 volts even if the Vanner is dead.  The 12 volts comes from center tapping the battery bank.  The Vanner just equalizes the load two sides of the battery bank so you don't fry one side of the battery bank.

[luvrbus]

I think MCI is the only one that uses the center tap on Prevost the Vanner draws 12V from all the batteries and if the fuse blows there is no 12v I don't know how it is wired on a Neo

good luck

[belfert]

I believe Dina has it set up with a center tap.  I doubt the OP has a problem with lack of 12 volts if parking lights work and just not the headlights.

[luvrbus]

I don't have any idea how he is wired,I have 24 volt GM here and all the 12v from the Vanner goes to a fuse block and is distributed from there the marker,brake and head lights are on a different circuit I have no idea if this factory or owner installed

good luck

[loosenut]

Thank you for your answers.  There are 3 relays labeled headlight.  One of the relays is slightly warm to the touch and the others are ambient.  How do I test a relay?

Thank you all for your help.

Mike

[luvrbus]

Oh boy how many prongs (blades) do you have on the relay with it getting warm check the circuit breaker also it should after the relays

good luck

[belfert]

Are the relays the same?  How about switching them around to see if another relay in the same socket is still warm to the touch?

[zubzub]

read up on relays online...there are many sites etc explaining automotive relays....also with a wiring diagram you can temporarily bypass a relay to see if you have  a bad relay.

[hargreaves]

Try jumping on the dimmer switch a bunch of times. The contacts get corroded and the result is no headlights. good luck   Gerry

[artvonne]

Try jumping on the dimmer switch a bunch of times. The contacts get corroded and the result is no headlights. good luck   Gerry

  That one made me laugh. Id like a few bucks for the times that ones bitten me.