headlamps stuck on? (and reversing lamps?)

[mid-life-crisis]

Hi Everyone,
New member with weird electrical fault.

My headlamps and reversing lights are stuck on (even with the key out and car locked).
Everything else seems to work fine.
RAC and local garage have no idea and resigning myself to sending it to the main dealer - who want Ã,£135+VAT just to plug in the diagnostic tool...

Anyone got any ideas before I give up and hand over my credit card?
The local garage said something about it being a known fault, but can't find anything on t'internet.

Thanks vey much for any help.

Cheers,
MLC.

[Mirez]

Headlamps and taillights? or just the headlights and reverse lights?

On the older Mk1/2 car's this issue would commonly be caused by the wiring in the tailgate grommet having shorted out however I've not heard of a Mk3 exhibiting this issue! All modern car's light systems are software controlled via an ECU so my only suggestion at this point would be to attempt a reboot of this module - unplug the main battery for 10/20 minutes and then see what happens, although I've not heard of a Galaxy/S-Max platform car having the problem it was common-ish for the C-Max to have a similar issue which was resolved this way!

[mid-life-crisis]

Hi Mirez,
Thanks for replying so quickly.
It's the headlights (not sides or main beam) and the reversing lights.
I tried the reboot (actually it was disconnected all last night to stop the battery going flat) and initially I thought it had worked but the headlights started flickering and are now back on. Also the R/H front and rear indicators have stopped working - the L/H ones and the R/H mirror indicator work fine. 

An ECU to turn the lights on! Sounds expensive  
I remember when lights were 2 wires a bulb and a switch...

I will have a look at the grommets, but not holding out much hope

Cheers,
MLC

[gregers]

might be worth looking at the wiring in the rear hatch,
AND yes these cars are still suffering from wiring problems like the mk1s n 2s,
might also be worth checking all fuses etc.

i have a niggle of a thought that the alarm module has a built in battery but after re reading your post saying you disconnected your battery for the night might well be a red herring.

any faults on the on board diagnostic check?

[mid-life-crisis]

Well, its at the dealership now.
They've performed the 'diagnostic' (Ã,£135+vat) and "think it might be the body control ECU".
- Think this was what Mirez was referring to?
They said this "might fix it  - no guarantee, and it's Ã,£711 inc.vat." and did I want to go ahead?
No option really, if I want to carry on driving my car, so said ok.

Now I wait to see if that really was the problem or if there are other "we think it might be .... and it's Ã,£XXX''s to go...