My Fabia 2 has just failed its MOT because the blue main beam dashboard light "tell tale" has stopped working.  It feels suspiciously like it is linked to the headlight replacement I had to do  a while back.   The blue light doesn't show at all (e.g. not on ignition) and going to main beam flickers the fog light dashboard light very briefly then nothing.  The actual headlights all work fine.

 

Any ideas what might have caused this, and the big one, any idea how to fix it please?

Edited 21 June, 20232 yr by Fba

What year is the car?

Not sure if it's true of all mk2s, but early ones at least have the input for the main beam warning light on pin 2 of the 32-way green connector of the instrument cluster.

Check that there is 12V there  (on the white wire, probing down from cable entry with everything connected, ideally) when headlights are on main beam, and if so, expect that the solder joint of the male connector to the circuit board has a dry joint.

5 hours ago, Fba said:

My Fabia 2 has just failed its MOT because the blue main beam dashboard light "tell tale" has stopped working.  It feels suspiciously like it is linked to the headlight replacement I had to do  a while back.   The blue light doesn't show at all (e.g. not on ignition) and going to main beam flickers the fog light dashboard light very briefly then nothing.  The actual headlights all work fine.

 

Any ideas what might have caused this, and the big one, any idea how to fix it please?

Hi, cannot help with the cause but a fix for the MOT is get a blue 12 volt warning lamp and connect to the main beam light

so when the High beam is on the warning light comes on so sorts the MOT problem

5 hours ago, Breezy_Pete said:

What year is the car?

Not sure if it's true of all mk2s, but early ones at least have the input for the main beam warning light on pin 2 of the 32-way green connector of the instrument cluster.

Check that there is 12V there  (on the white wire, probing down from cable entry with everything connected, ideally) when headlights are on main beam, and if so, expect that the solder joint of the male connector to the circuit board has a dry joint.

2009?  Is it a huge effort getting behind the dashboard?  I like the 12v blue light to main beam solution but would still have to bury my way behind the dashboard. 😞

The instrument cluster is usually very easy to get out far enough to access the connectors. A mk2 owner will hopefully guide you to the exact method. Youtube may well have a video guide.

 

 

Thank you very much all for your replies.  I ended up getting an auto electrician to put a blue light on the dashboard, very much as suggested - I didn't have the time to do it so it cost me £££.  But...having pointed it out to the garage, it got me through the MOT