when you start the car should the headlights go out and come back on if already on?
Yes. The headlights go off while the engine is turning over (to give more power to start the engine)
SB, can you confirm that? I'm just looking at the wiring diagram for another project and the load reduction relay looks to only effect xenon lights?
I can confirm that the halogen headlights go off while cranking engine, isn't that what they call the "X relief relay"
Never head of that one?
The load reduction relay drops quite a few circuits on crank but appears not to touch the halogen lamps and only the xenon controllers not the supply to them either - looking at the whole diagram for headlights I can't see anything that would cause that behaviour so it must be the CJB controller itself doing that.
X relief relay on elsawin = consumer cut off in the galaxy handbook
Relay position 26
Iv'e not checked this out myself just assumed that's what it's for.
Rightly or wrongly I'd always just assumed that the headlights if switched on didn't go out whilst cranking but just dimmed due to the drop in battery voltage under load whilst cranking!
Well see thats what I thought - Chris, without trying to be rude, have you actually been out and checked?
Its not easy Mark to say without being rude but will try lol.
When cranking the engine whilst the headlights are switched on they extinguish while starter is operating this goes for the mk3 aswell I've seen it with my own eyes on my own two cars which both have halogen lights.
Lol no thats perfect mate, cheers!
Mine too.
(i) Ignition on (engine off). Headlights are on.
(ii) While cranking headlights got out, think sidelights stay on (seen refelected in house windows). Come on again when engine is running.
Same as when you take the keys out of the ignition and leave the headlights on, only sidelights stay on..