[Rtech]

Car: '05 M800 5 Speed

Problem: Engine and all electrics shuts off when idling if the headlights are switched on. After a few minutes, the electricals start up again and the engine can be started and the car driven normally. Try and turn on the lights and the same problem arises.

Possible causes:
- Short in the wiring maybe brought about due to frayed/rat eaten wires
- what other things should I look out for ??

[ramie2400]

remove the headlight bulbs and then try switching off/on.. this will confirm if any of the one bulb is malfuncuning or faulty.

[gemithomas]

have a look at this. must be a simmilar issue

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/techni...-switched.html

[Jaggu]

bulb holder, check if its melted. Battery terminals/earthing for the whole car as well as the head lights.

again it can be anything in the head light circuit, from switch to other bulbs like tail lights acting up.

[Rtech]

Thanks. Will check this today, (day)light permitting!

[arunforu1]

had the same problem in my indica once, not only headlights be it any electrical operated such as indicator , the engine would shut off, it could be strated after some time.

probable cause:

1. short circuit(possibly some wire getting earthed with body), difficult to locate.
2. faulty main battery cable connector(a fusible link), open -clean& retighten it or replace the fusible link.

got it done my self & now its fine.

[Rtech]

I checked the battery connections last night itself. They were fine. Will check the bulb holders and whatever visible wiring I can this evening.

[Revvhead]

sounds like a short to me.
do your lights come on when only the ingnition is on but the car
is not started??

[Mpower]

Check to make sure you have a good ground. Sometimes the ground cable is loose or corroded.

[Rtech]

Update: Went over this evening. First thing I did was remove the headlight bulbs and checked the connections. They had a lot of surface rust build up on them, along with a lot of sand under the rubber protective boot. No sign of frayed wires anywhere.

Cleaned all that up. Left the bulbs unconnected. Started the car up and let it idle. All fine. Turned on the AC. All fine still. Turned on the indicators and parking lights, no probs again. Then connected the headlights, one at a time. All fine.

Car ran fine in the 20 minute drive. So I guess corroded connectors was the issue, which is now solved. Thanks for the tips guys.

[ramie2400]

thats great,so the funda worked,some years ago the same problem happened with me in my dad's Tata Estate, so he did the same thing..congrats saved from getting charged from mechanics or the service people