Lights not bright

My C3 lights are as dull as anything these days. I have tried turning the beam up with the switch in the cockpit but it does nothing. Has anyone had this where the main beam is only showing 2 merers in front of them if they are lucky? Did you just change the bulbs or was it something g more serious?

Ukphiltr7 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 02, 2018 10:04 pm My C3 lights are as dull as anything these days. I have tried turning the beam up with the switch in the cockpit but it does nothing. Has anyone had this where the main beam is only showing 2 merers in front of them if they are lucky? Did you just change the bulbs or was it something g more serious?

Hello Ukphiltr7, you probably have a blown lamp (or two) in there. The C3 has two lamps each side for driving and when one blows it still looks on but doesn't light up the road.

The switch for beam angle won't help you make anything brighter.

You need some of these H7 lamps (click here). Not easy to change. But there are some pictures in this topic to help change the lamps in a C3 headlight assembly.

One addition to the photos I would like to add is this (mainly to reinforce the photos):
When removing the old bulb, unplug the connector first (as shown in the photos) and only then try to undo the clips. If you do it the other way you will have to manoeuvre the clips around the connector/wires before undoing the connector.
For installing, just the reverse. Firstly fasten the clips after inserting the new bulb and only then plug the connector in.

This all saved me quite some headaches and time after doing it 'wrong' the first time round.

Thanks for that guys. I think I may have to replace them to be sure. Thankfully I have a few spare unopened bulbs, so the cost will be kept down. I will follow the instructions as I have always found trying to replace the bulbs a bit of a challenge when you have big hands.

I had a look just after getting my son from daycare and noticed that all lights were working. When the normal beam was on there was the big H7 bulb and the side light bulb on. I will change them to make sure that it is not the bulb going.

However, I did hear a noise coming from the fuse box/battery area in the engine bay, only when the dipped beam was on. It sounded like a moror going around, like the old window wiper motor. It only happens when the dipped beam is on and sounds rather strange.

|The noise that I heard coming from the fuse box area seems to be the light trying to auto correct itself, There must be a motor trying to level and then being unable too. I think it may be a new light unit.

Ukphiltr7 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 03, 2019 10:43 am |The noise that I heard coming from the fuse box area seems to be the light trying to auto correct itself, There must be a motor trying to level and then being unable too. I think it may be a new light unit.

Try adjusting the headlamp level control switch,
And if that doesn't fix it, you may need a new headlamp unit.

The squealing C3 headlamp topic.

try parking close to an object, a wall another car etc. and revving the engine. If the lights brighten under engine revving it could be pointing towards an alternator or battery fault.

get a multi meter and check the battery voltage. when first starting the car in the morning, see how much voltage the battery has under engine crank. (you'll need somebody else to start whilst you look) - it should be sitting at 12v+ before cranking. if under crank it drops much below 12v you have a bad battery. Bad batteries will still work but not efficiently and could explain the poor headlights

you could also look at the battery terminals. corrosion could also be causing problems.

when the engine is running you should be seeing a voltage of around 14v + if its sitting below this it could indicate a failing alternator.

as the alternator isn't creating enough charge to run all the cars auxiliaries.


could be a lose belt of course, do you ever hear squealing noises in damp conditions?

Thanks for the replies guys and I will for sure check the battery and the volt reading.

There is no squealing n damp conditions, but I would imagine that the battery terminals need cleaning.

Marcianyn wrote: ↑Mon Dec 03, 2018 3:14 pm One addition to the photos I would like to add is this (mainly to reinforce the photos):
When removing the old bulb, unplug the connector first (as shown in the photos) and only then try to undo the clips. If you do it the other way you will have to manoeuvre the clips around the connector/wires before undoing the connector.
For installing, just the reverse. Firstly fasten the clips after inserting the new bulb and only then plug the connector in.

This all saved me quite some headaches and time after doing it 'wrong' the first time round.

I will add this to the tips section