Head Lights / Fog lights not working - doing my head in 😩

[TiMiX]

Hi All, I'm having a real issue with my dipped head lights and fog lights. They don't work and I'm running out of ideas. 

Really need to get this sorted by Friday as I need to MOT it and drive the car up north Sunday 😩 

Its a 1997 JDM ST205 GT-Four 

Symptoms:

• Full beam works 
• Side lights front and rear work
• Dipped beam isn't working
• Front fogs aren't working
• bulbs checked out ok
• Fuses checked out ok
• Changed headlight reply
• Reading 12v+ / 0v- at bulb socket with dipped beam switch on (which is odd)
• Reading 0v+ / 12v- at bulb socket with dipped beam switch off (which is even odder)
• With side lights only switched on and full beam stick in on position, all lights come on (when they shouldn't)  but are very dim... which is very odd (pic below)
• Checked both wing earths, they are fine
• No sign of water ingress in sockets (all bulbs unplugged and checked)
• Fuse box has been dismantled and checked for water ingress
• wiring loom checked, no issues found

Cheers for any ideas with this puzzle 👍

[flash22]

Let me see if i can pull up some diagrams,

 

 

[flash22]

Any issue with the tail/brake lights ?

[TiMiX]

Thanks Bob, no rears seem to be working as they should 

[flash22]

it's a bad earth check both ground points on the inner wings at the front of the car, not sure if it's the engine bay or wheel side

do the lights dim if you press the horn

[TiMiX]

Was thinking that the first time round too.

I have removed and cleaned up both earth straps on the wings, also buzzed them out using a multi meter and there is a connection to earth. 

The odd thing is the earth on the bulb connector only works with the lights off; As soon as I turn them on the negative connection is lost. I can no longer get continuity between the negative on the plug and the earth strap. 

I assume the Neg should will always be on, its just the Positive which is being switch? 

 

Its like

Lights on= 12v+ ON only

Lights off= 12v- ON only 

just not both at the same time, which is odd. 

[Parts-King]

Bulb holders on the back of the headlights were a real problem burning out on those, have a real good inspection of them 

[flash22]

in your pic the white/black looks to be kinked

what colours do you have at the headlights ?

tap into the ground near the headlight and earth it to another point