Lighting and light signaling faults (VAZ-2101)

Lighting and light signaling are the most important elements of active vehicle safety. New or upgraded models of vehicles are usually equipped with more sophisticated lighting devices and light signaling devices. This group of devices includes: headlights, sidelights, taillights, turn signals, reversing lights, license plate lights, front door open signal lights, trunk lights, interior lights, underhood lights, instrument panel lights, control lights, lighting and signaling switches, fuses. Of course, the importance of all the numerous devices varies. The serviceability of some of them is directly related to traffic safety. Others provide convenience and comfort, but all of them contribute to the reliable operation of the car at any time of the day.

Everyone who actively uses a car should be able to find the cause of a malfunction of lighting and signaling devices, so as not to find themselves in a situation where you yourself cannot see where you are going, and even worse - when no one can see you. You should always have a set of lamps, bulbs and fuses and be able to replace those that have failed.

The main reason for failure of any of the above-listed lighting and signaling devices is a violation of contacts between the lamp and the socket, plugs and terminals. Wire breaks do occur, but for this there must be special circumstances, for example, contact of wires with metal objects, parts with sharp edges, etc.



Since everyone should know about these malfunctions, we will dwell on them in a little more detail.

Headlights

• a) burn dimly when the engine is not running or is running at low crankshaft speed. In these modes, the only power source for any consumer, including the headlights, is the battery. This is where you need to look for the cause. Checking will show that the battery is discharged and needs urgent help;
• b) burn weakly in all engine operating modes. To find the cause, it is most convenient to use a diagram. If it is the left headlight, then you need to move away from it, and along the way check all the plug connections, the contact of the headlight itself with the ground. A large voltage drop in the lamp power supply circuit can be the result of poor contact, i.e. loose connection, corrosion and oxides. Cleaning the contacts and sealing the connections will eliminate the defect.

An exception is the case when water gets into the headlight cavity. The reflector ages prematurely. It darkens and the headlight light becomes dim. Such a headlight or its optical element is replaced.

On VAZ-2101, VAZ-2102, VAZ-21011 cars, this operation is performed in the following order: use a screwdriver to unscrew the screw securing the trim rim; remove this rim, disengaging it from the bracket; then loosen the mounting bezel screws, turn it counterclockwise and remove it together with the optical element.

On VAZ-2103 cars, VAZ-2106 and VAZ-2121 first, unscrew the frame or decorative trim mounting screws, remove the frame or trim, loosen the headlight optical element rim mounting screws, turn the rim counterclockwise, remove it and take out the optical element. When installing a new element, make sure that the optical element brackets fit into the sockets of the headlight inner rim;

• c) one of the filaments in the headlights does not light. There are no other reasons except for the failure of the fuse. It is necessary to find out why the fuse has blown. To avoid trouble during the check, it is better to disconnect the battery for a while. It is advisable to do this if any fuse fails;
• d) one of the headlights does not light. Usually the malfunction is caused by a failure of the lamp. To replace the lamp, it is necessary to remove the optical element (see item b). The exception is the headlights of cars VAZ-2107 and VAZ-2105to replace them, simply turn the headlight housing retainer from the engine compartment and remove it, then remove the socket with the lamp;
• d) headlight bulbs often burn out. This defect is especially noticeable when driving on a road with an uneven, wavy surface. As a result of vibrations that occur when driving over a large number of small bumps, poorly secured lighting devices shake and the bulbs burn out. The only way to eliminate such faults is to secure the bulbs in the sockets, the optical elements in the headlights, and the headlights on the body.

Outdoor lighting lanterns

• a) The parking light bulb does not light. The most likely cause is that the bulb has burned out or there is poor contact between the bulb and the ground. To replace a burned out bulb, you need to remove the light lens. Depending on the design, lens holders are mounted either outside or inside the luggage compartment. Poor contact with the ground is eliminated by tightening the mount;
• b) the left front and right rear lights are not lit (right front and left rear) side lights. First of all, with this malfunction, you should pay attention to the switched on indicator lamp (green color) turning on the parking lights. If this lamp does not light, then the fuse has blown (or the lamp has a bad contact), chain protector; left headlight (side light) — right rear light — license plate light — underhood light — side light indicator light. As in all such cases, you must first find the cause of the fuse failure and only then install a new fuse;
• c) all exterior lights do not light. This can happen if the side light switch itself is faulty or if the circuit is broken (the wire came off the switch terminal). To determine the cause, the switch must be removed from the socket (carefully prying it up with a screwdriver blade), put the jumped off wire back in place, and if it is in place, connect the black and black with white stripes wires together, removing them from the H and D terminals of the switch, respectively. The external lights that come on will tell you that the switch is at fault and needs to be replaced.

Instrument lighting lamps

The instrument lighting lamps do not light. This is usually the result of a failure of the instrument lighting switch or burnt-out lamps. To check the switch, remove it from the socket in the instrument panel, and connect the switch terminals together with the parking lights on. The light that comes on will confirm the cause: the switch is faulty and must be replaced. If a burnt-out lamp is the "culprit", then it is replaced after first removing the instrument panel from the panel. How to remove the panel on VAZ-2101, VAZ-2102, VAZ-21011, VAZ-2105, VAZ-2107 cars is already known.

(The material is posted on the online resource: vazbook)

Direction indicators

• a) when the turn signal is turned on, the headlights are constantly on. The reason for this constancy is a faulty turn signal relay (Fig. 73). The relay is located behind the instrument panel. To find it, you need to remove the panel from its socket. If the turn signals do not blink, it is best to replace the relay. However, a new relay is not always at hand, so you can try to restore the functionality of the existing one. It must be removed and disassembled. The relay can still be repaired if contacts 8 are closed. They are disconnected and cleaned. Relays with open contacts are not restored, they are replaced;
• b) when the turn signal is turned on, the headlights do not light. This "behavior" of the lamps is caused by the failure of the fuses. This is confirmed by the inactivity of the control and measuring devices and a number of other consumers;
• c) one of the turn signal lights does not light. There is only one reason - the bulb has burned out. Unlike headlights and sidelights, to replace a burned out turn signal bulb (side), the diffuser does not need to be removed. However, such benefits are only provided to owners of VAZ-2101, VAZ-2102, VAZ-21011, VAZ-2106 and VAZ-2121 cars. The bulbs are replaced from the inside of the wing after removing the protective rubber cap with the socket in a set with the bulb. On VAZ-2103 cars, the bulbs can only be replaced after removing the diffuser;
• d) the frequency of the indicator lamp flashing has changed when the turn signals are working. This malfunction usually occurs for two reasons: the lamp in one of the lights has burned out; the circuit is damaged: relay - turn signal switch - control lamp. In both cases, it is necessary to check the condition of the circuits and eliminate the defects.

Brake lights

a) The brake lights do not turn on when the brake pedal is pressed. There are two known reasons:

• the fuse has blown. This can be confirmed by the dashboard instruments not working, since the brake lights and instruments share the same fuse;
• the brake light switch is faulty. The switch is located at the top of the brake pedal lever. Short-circuit the wires supplying the switch and check if the brake lights turn on. If they do, the switch must be replaced;

b) one brake light does not light, most likely the bulb has burned out. To replace it, you need to remove the diffuser, which is attached differently on different VAZ models.

Front door open alarm lights

• a) Both lights do not work. To accurately determine the cause, press the horn switch. Silent signals confirm that fuse #1 (16A) has blown. Find out the cause, eliminate it and install a new fuse;
• b) one of the lamps does not work. Check the condition of the lamp by unscrewing the screws, removing the housing with the socket from the cover, disconnecting the socket from the housing and removing the lamp.