Help, Headlights won't turn off! SOLVED!

[FlySpeck]

ok, the big weird multi plug, the large round one - did you split that and see if corrosion or damage inside there is leading 12v onto the lighting wires?

[Mars Attacks]

hi, sorry about my lack of terminology with the big weird large round multiplug!

yeah i opened that up and it looked like it had never been opened in its life, was pristine inside. i used the multimeter and found the centre wire as being live at 12.5v. That being said, at least that eliminates the right hand side of the car as to where the bad earth could be i suppose. the fault lies somewhere from that multiplug, past the left headlamp and back to the fusebox

taking the steering wheel off when i get home to unplug the indicator stalk to see if that does anything. oh and straigtening up the steering wheel which has been cock eyed since we bought it 2 years ago!

[Mars Attacks]

i give up! the car has beaten me!

have removed the airbag, then steering wheel and then the indicator stalks and the headlights remain permanently on! 

so i've tried pretty much everything, and its going in for its MOT tomorrow so i'm guessing this might be a fail!

can anyone think of anything else?

so far i have tried
checked the wiring from the plugs in the back of each cluster back to where they dissapear into the car
removed all the fuses one by one and nothing killed them (apart from no1 and no2 obviously)
removed the headlight switch and they still stay on
removed the indicator stalks and no difference
removing each bulb one by one

must be an earthing problem somewhere thats all i can think. but i can't find it. 

[javalin]

doesn't sound earth related to be honest - more a short and a supply problem.

Is it a garage doing the MOT or just a test station?  Perhaps they'll have to find it.

Good efforts anyway!

Let us know the outcome!

James

[Mars Attacks]

yeah you could be right. its a small one man band garage we use so hopefully he'll be able to find it and not spend too long finding it!

was worth having a go and i've learned a bit more about mk3's at least. plus the steering wheel looks nice and straight finally so not all lost!

cheers for the help everyone, will let you know how we get on. glad i get back in the sportline tomorrow anyway, much more simpler!

[Matty-MK3]

Hope the MOT goes well.

That has pretty much confirmed there is a short somewhere, something's touching, it's a matter of where.

[DUBBEDMK3]

hey i just found a diagram on a disc i have and there should be a multi plug around the radiator according to this make sure the fan aint chopped any wires down there its just an idea .i can try and post the diagram if you want?

[Mars Attacks]

cheers, yeah had the multi plug out and it was in perfect condition from what i could see.

the car has gone off with the missus for the mot now so its out of my hands, gave the mechanic a list of the things i tried so should give him a headstart so we'll see.

the good news is though that i'm back in the sportline again today! every cloud and all that! 

[Matty-MK3]

Right, when you took the multiplug out, did the lights go off? If not then good,  if so then it it's a nightmare, because there is a short somewhere in the dash loom.

[Mars Attacks]

hi mate, well when i unplugged it the lights on the right went out as i had basically disconnected them from the live feed, and the left ones stayed lit.

i took a call from the missus who tells me the problem is sorted. and she is trying to claim credit for it as well!! ....but i'll believe that when i see it later when i get home.

plus i bought a vag-com lead as well of ebay today so i can try and clear the airbag light which stayed on after i removed the steering wheel last night. don't fancy taking it back off and putting it on with the battery connected. my luck isn't that good as you can see by the current problem! 

will update a bit later on....