Headlight problems

I have been trying to investigate a problem with the headlights in the 240D. This is a major project car, so not much of anything works right. Anyway, when I turn on the lights, the driver side one works normally. The passenger side is dim, and when hitting the high beam, the passenger side goes out completely. The headlight is good. I can see where the wiring loom goes out from the fender area easily enough, but cannot tell where it goes from there. I haven't been able to locate it from above or below. Where to look? I am suspecting a bad ground somewhere as I cannot get a tone from my meter on the ground wire on that side. I don't have a book for this car yet, so I'm kinda winging it here for the time being.

[cth350]

You REALLY want the books or the CD for the car. In paperback, there are, the two chassis manuals, the engine manual, climate control & electrical troubleshooting. All of these are on two CDs along with all the other engine manuals for the 123 family (as shipped to the US) and the owner's manual.

If you had the eletrical trouble shooting manual, it would show you that there are TWO circuits to trace, one for low beams and one for hi beams. There are two sets of fuses, then the multifunction switch and then the wiring forward.

-CTH

[cth350]

And since you have a 115 model 240D (I didn't notice the year at first), forget what I said about the 123 set. All of the above is true, except that it's a 1 volume body/chassis book.

-CTH

Thanx. I'm currently watching an auction for the W115 CD.

[cth350]

That should take care of you.

-CTH

[Fisherman]

Hey Diesel,
You might try really and I mean really cleaning the contacts. My car had an intermittent passenger low beam. I had to go through all the fuse holders with emery paper and then take the headlight out and clean all the contacts for it to work.
From what you describe I would check your grounds too. The ground from my battery is directly under the battery tray and the aux connection (not the battery ground but wired in with it) was completely corroded to where it was hanging on by literally a thread of wire.

Thanx for the heads up. I definitely have a ground problem as the ground wire shows no connection at all to the chassis on the passenger side headlight. I'm hoping for some free time to play with it on my next upcoming weekend (wed/thurs).