Saab 9.5 problem with front light high beam

[ChangeAgent]

My high beam has an intermittent fault, left side looking forward.  Does anybody know if this is a standard fault?  Like the one where the cable to the rear lights gets squeezed by the rear lid.  Any tips as to where to look?

Thanks.

[sgould]

What year is it?

Cars came with a bulb failure device. Look for the orange "relay" in the fuse box by the battery. The solder cracks and gives all sorts of odd headlamp faults. Re-melt the joints to the circuit board and see if that helps.

Around 2003/4 there was a fault in the headlamp connector. One of the pins could be pushed back and not make contact.

[ChangeAgent]

it is a 2005 model, first on the road end 2004.

Thanks for the tips. I will have a look.

FYI.  My fault is intermittent though.

[ChangeAgent]

had a quick look.  I found a high square orange box, it even has Head Light written on it.  However I do see nothing that can be soldered? Or does one need to open it? And if so any tips?

[sgould]

You need to prise the orange cover off. The cracks in the solder are around the pins in the circuit board that the cover clips on to. They may not be visible. But cracks are common.

[ChangeAgent]

OK so I see if I can open it up.

Not sure where those cracks would be.  You mean where the pins are soldered on to the main board? Are these the pins that the box uses to be connected to the car?  or maybe this ios easeir, is this it?  http://nodomainname.co.uk/Saab/lampcontrol2.jpg

is it hard to do?  does one need a very fine soldering iron?  or? 

[sgould]

That's the one.  It's usually the solder to the pins that go through the board and make the connection to the fuse board.  The cracks are difficult to see, but you may see some signs.  Best to try and do a quick melt of all the pins.  Don't overdo it, you just need to melt it, you don't want ot to run.

[ChangeAgent]

brilliant will give it a go.  and thanks for your help.

[ChangeAgent]

just finished working on the orange box and it fixed it.  had to adjust the tip (make it smaller) of the soldering iron to get in there.  I soldered two point that could be seen to have a crack in the solder, that was it.
Thanks everybody!

[sgould]