So what have you done to your car today?

[STEMO]

Less than a year ago I fitted a new pair of Halfords H1 dip beam bulbs to my sons Civic.
A couple of days ago he mentioned that the n/s one had stopped working. Found a used one in the shed that worked so fitted that.
This morning he said that one isnt working now either, so fitted another one I had in the shed.
Now all four bulbs (dip and high beam) are on when headlights are switched on.
Switching to main beam changes nothing, and high beam blue tell tale light on the dash doesnt come on.
Dont know where to start to find out why.
Was originally thinking of just fitting four new bulbs, but if theres something else going on, it may blow them in no time and thats almost £50 wasted.
Im not great with electrickery, so any ideas welcomed.

Check the appropriate relay,, also might be the headlight dippy flicky bit on the steering wheel.

Didnt describe it quite right first time so wil have another go.

Switch headlights on and all four bulbs come on (dipped and main beam) but main beam bulbs are noticeably dim.
Switch to mean beam and both n/s bulbs go off completely but o/s main beam becomes brighter as it should be.
All I did to cause this was change the n/s dipped beam bulb.
The one I fitted was an old spare bulb I had in the shed, which isnt very bright and needs swapping for a decent new one, but I can see why that would cause this to happen.
Im flummoxed tbh. 

Have you taken out the old bulb from the shed to see if the lights start behaving properly again?

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Just bought and fitted new bulbs to n/s/ but nothing has changed. 

Some kind of short or earthing problem ?
Who knows, certainly not me.

[countrywoman]

Well it could be an earth but D who repairs cars where I have my workshop had the same fault on a car, we tried earths and by pass feeds but it was the dip switch faulty as lights turn on from the (whats the name for it?) control computer.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Dont like loading  up the parts cannon but might have to get a switch and try it to eliminate it or not.
Thanks. 

[TheBoy]

Changed the brake fluid in hers.  Thought about doing mine seeing as I've never done it, but tester says mine is good...

[Doctor Gollum]

Sold the Bini.

It was fun, if slow, but should make a good first car for its new owner.

[STEMO]

Sold the Bini.

It was fun, if slow, but should make a good first car for its new owner.

Someone probably got a decent car. You did a fair bit on it 

[Doctor Gollum]

Sold the Bini.

It was fun, if slow, but should make a good first car for its new owner.

Someone probably got a decent car. You did a fair bit on it 

I'd like to think so

[Viral_Jim]

Changed the aux and timing belts on the galaxy, also did the water pump while I was in there. Probably only an hour's work for a competent home mechanic, but it took me all day 

I wouldn't mind 5mins alone in a room with the man who did the packaging on the engine bay for that car. 

[Andy B]

.....

I wouldn't mind 5mins alone in a room with the man who did the packaging on the engine bay for that car. 

You want to try working on a Smart Roadster  .... just doing the 6 spark plugs is a task in itself 

[Doctor Gollum]

Uwe Benson apparently. Also noted for the Scorpio.

If you want to make it a full ten minutes, go ahead because that was one of the laziest pieces of automotive design in recent history.

[Viral_Jim]

You want to try working on a Smart Roadster  .... just doing the 6 spark plugs is a task in itself 

I'd almost feel better if it was something like that, at least that's an innovative piece of design. Also, I'd probably just take the engine out, I've got hands like shovels and that looks a little 'compact' to work on  .

If you want to make it a full ten minutes, go ahead because that was one of the laziest pieces of automotive design in recent history.

Honestly I'd take lazy, the placement of coolant and AC pipes in the galaxy feels downright vindictive. Also, compelling someone to remove the lower front crash bar just to access the coolant drain on the rad (yes, really!) deserves a few minutes just on its own. 

[TheBoy]

Ordered a few bits for hers.  Including the best part of £50 for 2 bolts and 4 "nuts" by the time VAT and delivery were added.

Another one of those "simple" jobs that gets expensive fast

[Andy B]

You want to try working on a Smart Roadster  .... just doing the 6 spark plugs is a task in itself 

I'd almost feel better if it was something like that, at least that's an innovative piece of design. Also, I'd probably just take the engine out, I've got hands like shovels and that looks a little 'compact' to work on  .
.....

definitely an understatement  & my hands are on the large side too 

[countrywoman]

I was watching D struggle replacing a DPF sensor  on a Audi V6 twin turbo, he had to take the turbo part off just t get his hand in and putting it back on was a game due to 2 nuts being underneath.