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        General >> Problems >> Dim Dip
        
(Message started by: Phil_Waller on Oct 2^nd, 2004, 7:08pm)

Title: Dim Dip
Post by Phil_Waller on Oct 2^nd, 2004, 7:08pm

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

Title: Re: Dim Dip
Post by Paul B on Oct 2^nd, 2004, 7:11pm

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. :-/

Title: Re: Dim Dip
Post by Snoopy on Oct 2^nd, 2004, 7:53pm

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......

Title: Re: Dim Dip
Post by scorpio_man on Oct 2^nd, 2004, 8:19pm

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.

Title: Re: Dim Dip
Post by Badboytunes on Oct 2^nd, 2004, 8:55pm

Ford got rid of the feature in 1995

Title: Re: Dim Dip
Post by Phil_Waller on Oct 2^nd, 2004, 9:05pm

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.

Title: Re: Dim Dip
Post by Phil_Waller on Oct 2^nd, 2004, 9:10pm

Check this - bottom left hand corner

http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/handbook016.gif

Title: Re: Dim Dip
Post by scorpio_man on Oct 2^nd, 2004, 9:20pm

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!

Title: Re: Dim Dip
Post by Phil_Waller on Oct 3^rd, 2004, 5:03pm

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...

Title: Re: Dim Dip
Post by scorpio_man on Oct 3^rd, 2004, 5:51pm

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?

Title: Re: Dim Dip
Post by Eric_R on Oct 3^rd, 2004, 6:18pm

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?

Title: Re: Dim Dip
Post by Phil_Waller on Oct 3^rd, 2004, 6:49pm

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

:D

Title: Re: Dim Dip
Post by Eric_R on Oct 3^rd, 2004, 7:16pm

hehe, that's right ;D ;D ;D ;D

Title: Re: Dim Dip
Post by Snoopy on Oct 3^rd, 2004, 10:54pm

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

Title: Re: Dim Dip
Post by Eric_R on Oct 3^rd, 2004, 11:27pm

Yep, that was it, Snoop.
Good ol' Con & Use Regs ;)

Title: Re: Dim Dip
Post by scorpio_man on Oct 4^th, 2004, 2:35pm

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. ???

Title: Re: Dim Dip
Post by scorpio_man on Oct 4^th, 2004, 4:04pm

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.

mind you, most of the regs go over my head! ::)

Title: Re: Dim Dip
Post by Snoopy on Oct 4^th, 2004, 4:56pm

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

Title: Re: Dim Dip
Post by Danny_R on Oct 4^th, 2004, 9:26pm

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

Title: Re: Dim Dip
Post by Phil_Waller on Oct 4^th, 2004, 9:31pm

Yes Danny - that is dim dipp.

Title: Re: Dim Dip
Post by Danny_R on Oct 4^th, 2004, 9:33pm

Thanks phil, just checking ;)

Danny R

Title: Re: Dim Dip
Post by scorpio_man on Oct 4^th, 2004, 10:15pm

hi phil

did you manage to check if you had the relay fitted to your car?

Title: Re: Dim Dip
Post by Badboytunes on Oct 4^th, 2004, 10:50pm

What year did it become a legal requirement? I had the feature on my 1994 Citroen Zx but not on scorp, nor 1998 escort nor fiesta 1999 nor current Megane ..........

I R therefore very confuzzled!

Title: Re: Dim Dip
Post by JohnJ on Oct 5^th, 2004, 4:36pm

My 1992 Sierra didnt have it,
My 1995 Mondeo did have it,
and the Scorpio does not have it >:(.

Now I want it going if its supposed to be there.

I wonder if we put the fuse in and relay in would it start working.

JJ

Title: Re: Dim Dip
Post by sparrrky on Oct 5^th, 2004, 6:10pm

My 95 scorp has the dim /dip without the relay in it!! but at present i dont have the dipped headlights :'(
i do have the main beam when the switch is turned fully clockwise, however when i put the relay in the fuse box i get the dipped headlights :), but when i turn the switch off again, the lights remain ON! ??? ???

Title: Re: Dim Dip
Post by Phil_Waller on Oct 5^th, 2004, 6:50pm

I have checked the fuse box and there is no relay where it says there should be.

There is a fuse for dim dip...

Weird...

Title: Re: Dim Dip
Post by Paul B on Oct 5^th, 2004, 8:43pm

My 1990 Granada Scorpio had it but.... I once developed a problem whereby if I operated anything electrical (especially windows) whilst headlights were on, the lights would go dim. >:(
I 'fixed' this problem by pulling out the dim-dip relay :o Didn't miss the feature and to be honest, didn't know it existed until I starting fiddling about.

Current Scorpio... still don't know if its got it or not - haven't checked yet.

Title: Re: Dim Dip
Post by Phil_Waller on Oct 6^th, 2004, 8:08am

All the Fords that I ever had from about 1987 have all had dim dip..

I know it is nothing much to worry about but I am interested as to why the position within the relay cluster is empty.. The spades to connect to a relay are all present.. I wonder what would happen if I stuck one in? The same relay and position are found in the Mk3 Granada facelift, of which I still have one of.. I might swap them out and see what happens..

:D

Title: Re: Dim Dip
Post by JohnJ on Oct 6^th, 2004, 8:25am

watch it go BOOOOOOOM! ;D