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Topic: Dim Dip (Read 1350 times) |
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Phil_Waller
Full Member
GSO Person
Posts: 443
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First strange thing I have noticed with my recently purchased Scorpio..
Can you guys sanitise me..
Dim Dip should be visable when I have the lights on the sidelight/dim setting. When I turn the ignition to O the lights should reduce to standare sidelight strength?
If that is what should happen I dont think it is. It hasnt affected the operation of any of the other lighting functions?
Any ideas? I'll check the relay and fuse. I just needed to reassure myself that I was checking the function correctly.
P
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1998Scorpio 2.3i 16v Ultima
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Paul B
Senior Member
'98 24V Ultima saloon
Posts: 2442
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Re: Dim Dip
« Reply #1 on: Oct 2nd, 2004, 7:11pm » |
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I'm not 100% sure, will have to check, but I didn't think the Scorpio had the dim-dip feature like the old Grannies. 
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Two hundred & seven horses and only one jockey!
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Snoopy
Administrator
Very old.BAD tempered and missing friends.
Posts: 6278
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Re: Dim Dip
« Reply #2 on: Oct 2nd, 2004, 7:53pm » |
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Yes the side lights come on with the ignition off in position one and only then if the ignition is one the dim dip works ... BUT i have a feeling that they got rid of the feature on the later ones but I may well be wrong on that one.. someone will know I am sure... but I have an early Ultima with dim Dip......
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scorpio_man
Administrator
Ford Kuga awd
Posts: 5654
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Re: Dim Dip
« Reply #3 on: Oct 2nd, 2004, 8:19pm » |
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hi there
i think it's all to do with the 'one switch does all'. that way you can't run about with the rear fogs left on.
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Badboytunes
Guest
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Ford got rid of the feature in 1995
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Phil_Waller
Full Member
GSO Person
Posts: 443
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Re: Dim Dip
« Reply #5 on: Oct 2nd, 2004, 9:05pm » |
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Thanks - strange that it is in a 1998 Scorpio hand book and there is a fuse and relay for it in the main fuse box..
Thanks anyway.
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1998Scorpio 2.3i 16v Ultima
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scorpio_man
Administrator
Ford Kuga awd
Posts: 5654
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Re: Dim Dip
« Reply #7 on: Oct 2nd, 2004, 9:20pm » |
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hi phil
you'll get used to this. nothing is quite what it seems with the scorpio. just look at how many fuses cover the lights!
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Phil_Waller
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GSO Person
Posts: 443
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Re: Dim Dip
« Reply #8 on: Oct 3rd, 2004, 5:03pm » |
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EricR has now had a look at the car and he is of the opion that dim dip is a legal requirement in the UK...
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1998Scorpio 2.3i 16v Ultima
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scorpio_man
Administrator
Ford Kuga awd
Posts: 5654
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Re: Dim Dip
« Reply #9 on: Oct 3rd, 2004, 5:51pm » |
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hi phil
not sure about this one. i've had my car for nearly two years now and it's never had a dim dip fuction.  could be one of the things ford done away with through out the production run?
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Eric_R
Administrator
Cosworth Owner 1998 - 2006 & site co-founder
Posts: 1792
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Re: Dim Dip
« Reply #10 on: Oct 3rd, 2004, 6:18pm » |
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No, dim/dip has been a legal requirement for some years now, to prevent a vehicle being driven on sidelights only. It's probably a fuse or the dim/dip relay at fault - not a big deal.
Very nice car though. Unmarked paintwork and no OBD DTCs at all. Very quick and smooth through the gears. Did you notice any difference after the MAF clean, Phil?
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Phil_Waller
Full Member
GSO Person
Posts: 443
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Re: Dim Dip
« Reply #11 on: Oct 3rd, 2004, 6:49pm » |
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I think so Eric - thanks very much for your help.. Now we can talk on level terms again.. Scorpio to Scorpio rather than Granada to Scorpio
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1998Scorpio 2.3i 16v Ultima
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Eric_R
Administrator
Cosworth Owner 1998 - 2006 & site co-founder
Posts: 1792
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Re: Dim Dip
« Reply #12 on: Oct 3rd, 2004, 7:16pm » |
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hehe, that's right 
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Snoopy
Administrator
Very old.BAD tempered and missing friends.
Posts: 6278
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Re: Dim Dip
« Reply #13 on: Oct 3rd, 2004, 10:54pm » |
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The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 Regulation 18 Schedule 2relates to vehicles having to be fitted with Dim Dipped Headlights.... The exceptions are
A vehicle having a maximum speed not exceeding 15 mph;
A vehicle first used before 1st April 1986 being an agricultural vehicle or a works truck;
A vehicle first used before 1st January 1931.
So it does have to be fitted with dim dip is the way I read it
its all in here if anyone is interested
http://www.legislation.hmso.gov.uk/si/si1989/Uksi_19891796_en_1.htm#end
Cheers
Snoopy
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Eric_R
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Cosworth Owner 1998 - 2006 & site co-founder
Posts: 1792
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Re: Dim Dip
« Reply #14 on: Oct 3rd, 2004, 11:27pm » |
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Yep, that was it, Snoop.
Good ol' Con & Use Regs 
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scorpio_man
Administrator
Ford Kuga awd
Posts: 5654
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Re: Dim Dip
« Reply #15 on: Oct 4th, 2004, 2:35pm » |
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hi there
well i've been out and check my car. no dim dip relay fitted, but fuse 18 (rhd=right hand drive?) is there. what reason would there be to remove it? can some others check to see if their car has the dim dip function.
phil, does your car have the relay fitted?
strange one this.
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scorpio_man
Administrator
Ford Kuga awd
Posts: 5654
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Re: Dim Dip
« Reply #16 on: Oct 4th, 2004, 4:04pm » |
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hi there
i've had a quick look at the road traffic act stuff. dim dip seems to come under.....
Quote:Optional lamps, reflectors, rear markings and devices
20. Every optional lamp, reflector, rear marking or device fitted to a vehicle, being of a type specified in an item in column 2 of the Table below, shall comply with the provisions shown in column 3 of that Table.
TABLE(1) (2) (3)
Item No. Type of lamp, reflector, rear marking or device Provisions with which compliance is required
1 Front position lamp Schedule 2, Part II and Parts I of Schedules 2 to 5, 7, 9 to 13 and 17 to 21 to the extent specified in Parts II of those Schedules.
2 Dim-dip device and running lamp Schedule 3, Part II and Parts I of Schedules 2 to 5, 7, 9 to 13 and 17 to 21 to the extent specified in Parts II of those Schedules.
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mind you, most of the regs go over my head! 
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Snoopy
Administrator
Very old.BAD tempered and missing friends.
Posts: 6278
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Re: Dim Dip
« Reply #17 on: Oct 4th, 2004, 4:56pm » |
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Hi , If you remove the relay for the dim dip then obviously the system become inoperable and only operates as 'normal' ie, side lights and main beam.. My understanding of it is that all UK vehicles have a dim dip facilty built in and as such if its removed the law is contravened .. but In all honestly who is going to enforce it.. Most people drive with headlights on in the night anyway and dim dip really does not matter.... Its only in very well lit aras do I use side ligts only and then of course then are dim dipped headlights...
A quick check with the traffic men at the local Police Station should get you the answer...
Anyway thats how I read the regs....
Mines got it so I am not bothered one way or the other...
Cheers
Snoopy
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Danny_R
Full Member
97 Ford Crown Vic 4.6L V8 ,88 Mercury GM 5.0L V8
Posts: 381
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Re: Dim Dip
« Reply #18 on: Oct 4th, 2004, 9:26pm » |
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This is a strange one!!!! I remember back in my fiesta days when I used to have a 1981 MK1 fiesta. Being a young lad I used to put the illegal coloured side light bulbs in (e.g. Blue). Whenever you had the side lights on and driving only the side light bulbs illuminated.
I then progressed onto a 1986 MK2 XR2 Fiesta. Again I replaced my bulbs with the illegal ones only to find this time, whenever I started the car not only did the sidelights illuminate but the main headlight bulbs illuminated very dimly too.
On my Scorp if I turn the sidelights on with the ignition off the sidelights are only illuminated, but if I turn the ignition on, the sidelights remain illuminated and the main dome lights in the middle of each headlight illuminate dimly!!! Is this the Dim Dip feature everyone is talking about?
I appreciate that its law to have the Dim Dip feature on cars over a certain date. But how is it I owned a 96(N) Vauxhall Astra prior to the Scorp which did NOT have this Dim Dip feature. ONLY the sidelights illuminated even with ignition on! I had often wondered at the time whether my Astra had popped a fuse or something but I found all Astra's to be like this!!! I can only guess there are exemptions.
Danny R
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Phil_Waller
Full Member
GSO Person
Posts: 443
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Re: Dim Dip
« Reply #19 on: Oct 4th, 2004, 9:31pm » |
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Yes Danny - that is dim dipp.
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1998Scorpio 2.3i 16v Ultima
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