Discussion
Been struggling with this one all evening and now stumped. I have sidelights, but no headlights, dip or main. I am pretty sure I did have them a couple of days ago, but not absolutely sure. The car is new to me.
So some questions.
Is fuse "b" (second from the left top row) the correct one for headlight power?
Does anyone have the correct colours for the headlight wiring at the switch? What I have is nothing like what is on the diagrams I have.
What does the dim/dip module actually do?
Any hints that may point to both headlights being out?
Many thanks in advance, Dave
So some questions.
Is fuse "b" (second from the left top row) the correct one for headlight power?
Does anyone have the correct colours for the headlight wiring at the switch? What I have is nothing like what is on the diagrams I have.
What does the dim/dip module actually do?
Any hints that may point to both headlights being out?
Many thanks in advance, Dave
If both lights have failed it could be a wiring problem at the switch; check the earth wire if there is one there, I can't remember now. If you've cheeked all the obvious stuff have a look at the crappy connectors by the bottom of the radiator on each side. They can cause all sorts of weird problems.
That's normal, welcome to the wonderful world of 'S' ownership
See the other post on the dim/dip module
Good luck
dwhitaker said:
.......Does anyone have the correct colours for the headlight wiring at the switch? What I have is nothing like what is on the diagrams I have.
That's normal, welcome to the wonderful world of 'S' ownership
See the other post on the dim/dip module
Good luck
Are you getting the main beam light on the dash lighting up? If it is you have power from the switch.
Guess you're working from this diagram, never noticed those letters on the fuses before!
If fuses are ok, b c and d (and if not why did they pop?) it really is a matter of working through with a test lamp or multimeter from lights backwards or fuses forward till the fault is found.
As Joe says, the connectors down by the bonnet hinges are a "prime suspect"
There may be some deviation in colours but the main ones should be correct, blue/red for dip and blue/white for main?
Guess you're working from this diagram, never noticed those letters on the fuses before!
If fuses are ok, b c and d (and if not why did they pop?) it really is a matter of working through with a test lamp or multimeter from lights backwards or fuses forward till the fault is found.
As Joe says, the connectors down by the bonnet hinges are a "prime suspect"
There may be some deviation in colours but the main ones should be correct, blue/red for dip and blue/white for main?
phillpot said:
Are you getting the main beam light on the dash lighting up? If it is you have power from the switch.
Guess you're working from this diagram, never noticed those letters on the fuses before!
If fuses are ok, b c and d (and if not why did they pop?) it really is a matter of working through with a test lamp or multimeter from lights backwards or fuses forward till the fault is found.
As Joe says, the connectors down by the bonnet hinges are a "prime suspect"
There may be some deviation in colours but the main ones should be correct, blue/red for dip and blue/white for main?
Thanks. Good idea on the main beam warning light. I have no light. Yes I was working from that diagram. The wires at the switch are nothing like the colours on the drawing though. Fuses seem OK, and no power to the connectors by the rad. So has to be in between somewhere.Guess you're working from this diagram, never noticed those letters on the fuses before!
If fuses are ok, b c and d (and if not why did they pop?) it really is a matter of working through with a test lamp or multimeter from lights backwards or fuses forward till the fault is found.
As Joe says, the connectors down by the bonnet hinges are a "prime suspect"
There may be some deviation in colours but the main ones should be correct, blue/red for dip and blue/white for main?
I would also have expected the wires to the switch to be correct colours. If they are very different, especially if they look newer than others or are not together in the wiring loom, I would suspect someone has changed the wires or the switch. In which case there may well be connectors behind the dash, possibly those cheap 'scotchlocks' which often fail. If you take out the side panel below the dash in the drivers footwell you should be able to see enough wiring there and above the steering column. If, like me, you do not bend that well, use a torch and mirror. Do it with the battery disconnected though, sounds like the live to the switch has gone, in which case you may have a live connection somewhere. Pictures of wiring may help someone on the forum recognise the issue or the reason for the unusual wiring.
Durrh, feel a bit stupid! The headlights only work with the ignition on!!! Turn on ignition, all is well.
But thanks for all the replies. Its very helpful. The wiring was fine, I had just made an assumption that one of the coonectors on the stalk was for wipers, and the other for lights. Not so!
HOWEVER, the flash function from the dip/main stalk does not work - but dip/main does. This has to be a faulty stalk. Does anyone know if this is an MOT item or not? And what the replacement is? The hazzard light is also a bit sticky so could do with replacement.
Next problem, no heater blower. Anyone know where best to get access to the connector to the motor?
Thanks
Dave
But thanks for all the replies. Its very helpful. The wiring was fine, I had just made an assumption that one of the coonectors on the stalk was for wipers, and the other for lights. Not so!
HOWEVER, the flash function from the dip/main stalk does not work - but dip/main does. This has to be a faulty stalk. Does anyone know if this is an MOT item or not? And what the replacement is? The hazzard light is also a bit sticky so could do with replacement.
Next problem, no heater blower. Anyone know where best to get access to the connector to the motor?
Thanks
Dave
dwhitaker said:
.... The headlights only work with the ignition on!!! Turn on ignition, all is well.....
dwhitaker said:
.... Next problem, no heater blower....
Have you checked the switch? Another common problem, but you can take them apart to clean the contacts.dwhitaker said:
....Anyone know where best to get access to the connector to the motor?....
Lift up the center console and see what you can see.Should be ok for MOT without a headlamp flash function .. I have same problem on mine but not caused any concern from the test guy. Even changed the stalk with no difference. But am investigating a concern from the 2 position switch for rear fog lights that causes the headlamps to go out on the first postion and then back on with rear foglights in second position. Obviously some coincidence of sorts.
............Totally agree withe Glen, taking out the console or the side panels to the dash should reveal a veritable 'can of worms', multicoloured ones, swirling about in gay abandon, some with a function, some without.
When I really got stuck into the wiring on mine a good 20% proved totally redundant. Perhaps inevitably after 25 years there were also quite a few non standard wire 'bodges' put in by previous owners to get round problems. A significant issue, if you find such 'bodges', is that the connectors used may not be good enough and as the cars are known to leak a touch (!!!) corroded connectors can be expected. I now hate those blue clip 'easy' connectors with a passion!!!
When I really got stuck into the wiring on mine a good 20% proved totally redundant. Perhaps inevitably after 25 years there were also quite a few non standard wire 'bodges' put in by previous owners to get round problems. A significant issue, if you find such 'bodges', is that the connectors used may not be good enough and as the cars are known to leak a touch (!!!) corroded connectors can be expected. I now hate those blue clip 'easy' connectors with a passion!!!
greymrj said:
..........taking out the console or the side panels to the dash should reveal a veritable 'can of worms'....When I really got stuck into the wiring on mine a good 20% proved totally redundant....
When I did my dash and wiring project the other year I found 13 (!) black earth wires joined together with black tape, not even soldered. This was TVR's "original" "solution" 
So for any originality freaks out there, this is what you need to do
J400GED said:
phillpot said:
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