Just taken van to the petrol station, lights and everything fine - got back in van, switched lights back on to dip beam and the high beam light started to glow ever so slightly. Got the van home and this is what is happening with engine running:
Light switch on first click (dip) and the high beam light just glowing on instrument panel:
This is how the light beam is showing:
Now if i click the light switch to the second click (main) the high beam light shows as being on full:
This is how the light beam is showing:
I can't switch the high beam off at the stalk - it's getting dark so all i've done at the moment is remove and reconnect the connector to the dash but it hasn't made any difference.
Any ideas much appreciated peeps!
Last edited by 300CE on 24 Oct 2015, 14:43, edited 1 time in total.
If you lose earth from the dashboard, the dashboard earths through the main beam telltale and bulb filaments, that will put the telltale on faintly.
When you switch lights on then the dash lights will earth that way as well and the telltale may be brighter. You should then find that putting main beam on will put the telltale out and cause other weirdness with the dashboard.
Justin, I have had very similar issues in the past that where caused by bad connections on the back of the dash , may be worth removing the binnacle and having a wiggle of the main connection block ... where it makes contact with the ribbon cable. Also check the earth crowns.. they can result in lots of weird electrical gremlins .
2.5 Quad Cam Scooby engine . Westfalia California 1989
Many thanks for all your input chaps! I think the next step is as suggested Martin and go through the earths on the dash and the earth crowns (although have already given those babies a good clean up). Next step will be to check the wiring on the blocks behind the headlights.
I'm wondering whether this is another issue that may have been caused by going over those many cattle grids in the new forest the other week - they would've rattled your fillings out!
If I get a chance I'll give it a go through the week, failing which it'll be the weekend but will keep the thread updated.
I'm going to take a guess that it's one or both of your headlight grounds that have broken away.
The front side lights share this ground so if the ground goes away and you put your side lights on then the side lights try to ground 'backwards' through the headlight (low and high beams), then on through the high beam indicator light and down through the dash ground!
So I'd guess your dash ground is actually working very well and attempting to ground your side lights, low beam, high beam and high beam indicator!!
Check the headlight ground connections!!
The culprit - side light bulb had blown - who would have known it could cause such shenanigans:
Now replaced - I also put some new headlight bulbs in as well and cleaned up the connectors as they were looking a bit green:
Side lights:
Main Beam:
High Beam:
Now although this resolved that problem - my led dash light bulbs have all stopped working so need to check if these have blown (possible surge?) or there's another problem somewhere!
Going to find and try the culprit today Ralph - bloomin typical in that the dash lights have been fine since I bought the van, I treat the old girl to new bulbs and this is how she repays me!
You can kind of see why I ended up hardwiring my dash. It may just be the connector to dash if you're lucky. Power to dash lights emanates from headlight switch ofcourse, so you may need to check all is correct there.
The membrane, although it looks complicated due to the tracks having to run all over the place, is a very simple circuit and can be replicated on a piece of veroboard fairly easily which also gives you the option to add to it as well as virtually eliminating the temperamental nature of the original membrane and connector.
Could be the power or the earth track on dash lights circuit - bit of probing with a multimeter may help.
saw Op on phone and read it as mains wernt coming off. sorry for the dross post 
