Headlights only work in reverse

[Deleted member 132499]

Hi All,

I have a 2013 Seat Ibiza CR FR 2.0TDi, however driving home tonight, I noticed that my headlights weren't working, so I pulled over and noticed my front park lights were on, rear lights were on, brake lights and reverse light were all working but I noticed when I went into reverse my headlights sprung back to life as long as I stayed in reverse, as soon as I came out of reverse they dimmed off.

I am thinking it might be an electrics issue but I am a noob when it comes to cars, anyone seen this before or have any ideas?

 

[Deleted member 132499]

On second thoughts.....they might be the fog lights that came on which means the headlights just randomly stopped working both at the same time.

 

[RUM4MO]

On second thoughts.....they might be the fog lights that came on which means the headlights just randomly stopped working both at the same time.

I'd think that would be correct.

I can't suggest why the headlights do not work though, do they not even work on main beam as opposed to dipped beam, ie they don't work on either beam or flashing the main beam?

 

[Deleted member 132499]

I can use the high beam but the only other front lights that work are the park lights.

Its weird, I can flash / hold my beams but my headlights don't work.

 

[RUM4MO]

So it is "only" the normal headlight dipped beam that is not working.

Maybe a silly question, but have you removed a dipped beam bulb to make sure that it it is still okay, either by testing it with a meter and/or visually looking at it to make sure the tungsten filament is still intact. It is not too unusual for one dipped headlight bulb to fail and you don't notice it has failed, then the other other bulb fails and now you don't have any dipped beam headlights. I'm guessing here that your car does NOT have LED headlights.

 

[Deleted member 132499]

Yeah it is only the dipped beam that isn't working.

Yeah no front LED lights.

I was driving at night the day before down a country road in the pitch black and both lights appeared to be working properly, if one side wasn't as bright as the other I would have noticed it then.

I am going to go and get some new headlight bulbs today to see if its the bulbs that have gone, hoping its just coincidence that they both went at the same time but its never happened to me before, headlights have always went out one at a time.

 

[Deleted member 132499]

I don't think its the bulbs since they both went out at the same time, I have 2 fuses, one for passenger side headlight and one for drivers side, I doubt they would both be blown at the same time unless there was perhaps a deeper problem, so I am going to check the relay.

Failing that I'll need to take it into the garage I think since i'd be getting in over my head at that point.

 

[Deleted member 132499]

Fuses are fine, most likely relay (which are all hidden behind the fuse box) or wiring.

Out of my depth now :-(