Missing Headlight ?

[Exie]

Hi Folks,

Just drove my dads Polo last night, noticed something very weird with it.

When you turn the headlights on, it goes to parkers, fine, then dipped beam... but still only shows the parkers.

Then you push the stick forward to get "main beam" (thats what the manual calls it) which seems to light up the main globes, but then there seems to be no high beam. You just drive around with the high beam light on the dash.

I actually thought it could just be the globes, so stupidly I went and brought some H7 globes and replaced the drivers side one, but same thing.

Following that, I downloaed the fuse listing for the panel under the drivers column, and checked the fuses, very wierd.
The dipped beam fuses (39 + 59) were there and ok, but fuse 36 wasnt there, or wired in.

So what gives ? how can they sell a car with only 1 beam ?!

[Raiden337]

Why do you say only the parkers light up? As in what makes you think that?

As in you turned on the headlights, got out and walk in front of the car to see only dull parkers? Or is it the dash lights you're talking about?

My car is the GTI with LED headlights so they're full auto, but the lights on the dash are a bit strange from memory, I'll check once I get back to my car tonight

[alexaescht]

Yeah there's no light on the dash for dipped beam lights, only for the main (high) beam.

[Exie]

Why do you say only the parkers light up? As in what makes you think that?

As you described. Turn the headlight knob 2 clicks to the right, get out and have a look at the front of the car and all you get is the little tiny globes on the side.

There is no way I could drive up to the pizza shop like that.

So I have to push the indicator stalk forward, the manual describes this as the "main" beam.
But in my Skoda and my wife's Golf, that applies the high beam, and I wouldnt want to drive down to the pizza shop like that either.

Note - This is a basic 77TSI with a "sport" pack. No fancy LED's or auto lights. Seems no high/low beam either.

[alexaescht]

Pushing the indicator stalk forward when the lights are on activates the Main Beam headlights, also called the High Beam. When the stalk is pulled back to the middle position, that is the Dipped Beam setting, which is the same as Low Beam.
There must be a fault with the car because turning the headlight switch two clicks to the on position should turn the dipped beams on, and then pushing the stalk forward should activate main beam.
When you push the stalk forward, and have a look at the front of the car, which bulbs are illuminated? The two inner bulbs, or the two outer bulbs? The inner bulbs (closest to the grille) are the Main/High beam, and the outer bulbs are the Dipped/Low beam. Send us some pictures if what I said didn't make sense and we'll have a look.

[LukePolo]

Maybe the turn knob thing is broken?

If you have the sport pack... when you have the headlight switch on "dipped beam" and turn the steering wheel, does the corresponding static cornering light come on?

I think there must be something wrong with the wiring loom.

[Exie]

Thanks for the feedback,

Deciding it just wasnt normal, I phoned a few dealers today, but all of them wanted me to book in days or weeks in advance (PITA).

Ended up phoning a mob called Volkspower, dropped in to see them and they fixed it lickety splits. Turns out, it was just 2 globes.

I think I changed the H7 ones, not realizing the dipped beam globes were separate. All the lights are now normal again, cheap and easy fix. Some times its just better to see the experts first time around.

[JustCruisn]

ahh you missed step one in your original post.
Here I fixed it for you

Hi Folks,

Just been screwing around with the headlight bulbs on my dads Polo last night, noticed something very weird with it.

When you turn the headlights on, it goes to parkers, fine, then dipped beam... but still only shows the parkers.

Then you push the stick forward to get "main beam" (thats what the manual calls it) which seems to light up the main globes, but then there seems to be no high beam. You just drive around with the high beam light on the dash.

I actually thought it could just be the globes, so stupidly I went and brought some H7 globes and replaced the drivers side one, but same thing.

Following that, I downloaed the fuse listing for the panel under the drivers column, and checked the fuses, very wierd.
The dipped beam fuses (39 + 59) were there and ok, but fuse 36 wasnt there, or wired in.

So what gives ? how can they sell a car with only 1 beam ?!

What have I done ! What should I check to fix this mess ? Dad is gonna be pissed !

but seriously glad you got it sorted.