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Headlights causing a odd noise behind dash

Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2014 3:46 pm
by GT250
hi, had an issue this morning, when i switched headlights on (park/full) there was a buzzing/whirring noise from behind the dash.

googled the problem and relay is suggested as the culprit, but the sound wasn't from the fuse box area, more behind clocks or MFD.

just to confirm, this wasn't the door open warning, or the beam adjust, just came from turning lights on.

i do have some issues with the MFD, which turns off when lights are on, and resets time/date often, related maybe?

any idea's, doesn't seem to be doing as much now as it was earlier, so it's difficult to pinpoint where the sound came from.

Re: Headlights causing a odd noise behind dash

Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2014 5:35 pm
by johnny
Buzzing usually indicates a bad connection and the buzz is the connection arcing, so I'd plug out the mfd and see if it buzzes

Re: Headlights causing a odd noise behind dash

Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2014 6:08 pm
by GT250
hi, haven't had much time to look at the car, but had a quick look today and when my head is down in the footwell i think it is coming from the relay at the top of the fuse box.

the sound kind of travels across and comes out of the open middle air vents, which caused me to think it was from behind clocks or MFD, i should of described it as a "screech" rather than "buzz"

i will need to investigate the MFD connection at some point regarding the other issues, but first will try replacing the relay.

local motor factor doesn't supply them, can anyone point to an online supplier?

also, my front fogs don't work, after looking at the haynes manual, i might be missing the relay for those, would that be the same part num?

Re: Headlights causing a odd noise behind dash

Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2014 6:25 pm
by johnny
If you think it's the relay just put your finger on it and you'll fell which one it is, what fogs have you? Your car wouldn't have came with front fogs so they might not be wired

Re: Headlights causing a odd noise behind dash

Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2014 6:55 pm
by GT250
hi, it's a 1.6 Sport, the fogs were an optional extra, i think they're part of the irmscher options the car was fitted with. (wheels/sideskirts/brushed ally interior)

the haynes manual shows a relay for front and rear fogs on the fusebox for a 1.6, and the dash has buttons for front/rear fog, so i guess they're factory fitted.

Re: Headlights causing a odd noise behind dash

Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2014 7:41 pm
by johnny
GT250 wrote:hi, it's a 1.6 Sport, the fogs were an optional extra, i think they're part of the irmscher options the car was fitted with. (wheels/sideskirts/brushed ally interior)

the haynes manual shows a relay for front and rear fogs on the fusebox for a 1.6, and the dash has buttons for front/rear fog, so i guess they're factory fitted.
You've got an actual original irmscher corsa? That's super rare, get some pics up

I still don't think it came with front fogs though, put a pic of the bumper up

Re: Headlights causing a odd noise behind dash

Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2014 8:03 pm
by GT250
no, nothing special i think, i have the original brochure for a 1999/2000 Sport, and it shows the optional irmscher "i line" extras,

Re: Headlights causing a odd noise behind dash

Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2014 8:21 pm
by GT250
if you do a google image search for "corsa b irmscher" one of the first results is a green 5 door, mine has the same front spoiler/fog lights and wheels as that.

Re: Headlights causing a odd noise behind dash

Posted: Fri Jan 24, 2014 9:28 pm
by johnny
Aw ok thought you had the air dam irmscher

The fogs aren't the likely problem so we'll stick to the relays for now

Re: Headlights causing a odd noise behind dash

Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 12:32 pm
by GT250
gave my local vauxhall dealership a ring, parts department, he tells me there isn't a headlight relay, but there are relays for front and rear fogs.

so now i'm lost as i assumed it was a relay.

their suggestions were alternator belt (but engine isn't running) or door open buzzer (but doors shut and buzzer works when door opens)

Re: Headlights causing a odd noise behind dash

Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 12:43 pm
by GT250
http://tinypic.com/r/vxd83l/5 recorded a video clip, doesn't sound as loud as it does in the car.

Re: Headlights causing a odd noise behind dash

Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 1:30 pm
by GT250
have possibly located the noise, under the bonnet, next to brake fluid res is a small box with numbers 1-5, this seems to be whats causing the noise, no idea what it is though, any suggestions?

http://tinypic.com/r/14lrmmd/5

Re: Headlights causing a odd noise behind dash

Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 6:14 pm
by GT250
only mention i can find in the haynes is "some relays may be located in the engine compartment junction box, located next to the master cylinder brake fluid reservoir"

it then gives schematic drawings of the other 2 fuse relay sites (driver side facia & behind glove box) showing what goes where, but no details of those in the engine bay.

hopefully i can get time tomorow to open it up and see which relay is causing the problem and buy a replacement from my local vauxhall dealer monday, and find out what it is/does.

will post back with the outcome.

Re: Headlights causing a odd noise behind dash

Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 6:44 pm
by johnny
I can't view the links on my phone, but yeah some don't have relays behind the glove box, not sure why but just pop the cover off and you will feel which relay is buzzing by touching it

But just to make sure, when you find the dud relay swap it with one of the others

Re: Headlights causing a odd noise behind dash

Posted: Sat Jan 25, 2014 7:08 pm
by GT250
thanks, will try that, wasn't sure if they'd be interchangeable.