Oh I don't believe it!! Headlight help

Oh I don't believe it!! Headlight help

Author
Discussion

Toby Tram

Original Poster:

415 posts

164 months

Friday 18th April 2014
quotequote all
MOT tomorrow....as you may have seen on other threads. Suddenly realised that although I had fitted new headlight adjustors/bowls I hadn't actually aligned the headlights. So taking the opportunity of the dusk to enable me to get a decent light image on the wall I went to the garage to begin work!

First problem, the O/S pod was dropping at the top of it's travel. So I adjusted it by extending the rose jointed linkage. Unfortunately too much and the rotating arm of the motor locked over centre. I managed to sort that bit but then the pod wouldn't rise.

I traced the problem to a blown fuse. The Steve Heath bible says it should be 15A. Mine was 10A so I replaced like for like. Tried again and it blew again. So I then tried with a 15A. The pod rose about 4 or 5cm then that fuse blew.

The mechanism can be raised manually from below as per normal.

I have two questions. Firstly, will it get through the MOT with a pod raised?

Secondly, any ideas what might be causing the fuse to repeatedly blow.

If the pods needs to be operative to pass the MOT then I have between about 7 and 8:30 tomorrow morning to sort it!!!

HELP!!!

Cheers

Adi

mrzigazaga

18,534 posts

164 months

Friday 18th April 2014
quotequote all
Hi mate...I did go through an MOT one year with the pods up already..I made sure i took the pod motor relays out so that they didn't close when the switch was touched...It was a bonus that the tester didn't have a clue where or what switch did what...He asked me to operate them...This was however before the law came in that stated if there is a switch fitted then it must work...

If you have the head light rocker switch on the centre console rather than the switch on the steering cowl then you could check the switch to make sure the contacts are not sticking...If you take it out and turn it upside down you will see the copper contacts..Switch it un-connected to make sure the contacts move apart and have not broken or become stuck...They can be cleaned very carefully with some 1200 grit ..Hope this helps...Good luck with the MOT...Ziga

wooly350i

2,248 posts

207 months

Friday 18th April 2014
quotequote all
Could be like one of mine went, motor was shorting inside and blew a fuse, so I replaced it and fine now.

Toby Tram

Original Poster:

415 posts

164 months

Friday 18th April 2014
quotequote all
Thanks guys.

How do I identify which the pod relays are? I had a look at the relays and was looking to see if there was a number against them or similar, but they all looked the same.

A.

mrzigazaga

18,534 posts

164 months

Friday 18th April 2014
quotequote all
Here is the fuse layout of my 1987 350i..If you click on the picture and then again in the next window then it should be larger print...I re-made it as my original was badgered ..Hope it helps...

The only other way is to operate the switch and systematically remove the relays to see which relay it is, I don't have a relay diagram...Ziga


adam quantrill

11,535 posts

241 months

Friday 18th April 2014
quotequote all
Just wind the pods up for the MOT like Zig and take out the fuses. The switch is for the lights, the pods going up and down is ancillary.

Toby Tram

Original Poster:

415 posts

164 months

Friday 18th April 2014
quotequote all
adam quantrill said:
Just wind the pods up for the MOT like Zig and take out the fuses. The switch is for the lights, the pods going up and down is ancillary.
Thanks Adam. That's what I plan to do.

Thanks Ziga for the diagram. I would have removed them one at a time. I just thought that I must have missed something in the Wedge bible! Obviously not!

Wish me luck!

Adi

Toby Tram

Original Poster:

415 posts

164 months

Saturday 19th April 2014
quotequote all
Typical! My relay board doesn't resemble the diagram!

Nevermind, I resorted to the good old fashioned way of removing them one by one until I found the one which activated the other pod. Raised the pod and removed the relay. Job done...hopefully!

If I need to get a replacement pod motor for the broken side is the part available or is it a matter of getting a second-hand one??

mrzigazaga

18,534 posts

164 months

Saturday 19th April 2014
quotequote all
Hi mate...I did post up a Fuse board diagram..Not a relay one..Unfortunately don't have one...You can get a unit from these guy's, Its an exchange service...Cheers..Ziga
https://www.robsport.co.uk/index.php/ct-menu-item-...

jindle

246 posts

124 months

Saturday 19th April 2014
quotequote all
Had loads of headlight issues before.

Cleaned all the contacts: nothing
In doing so blew a fuse: still nothing
Wiggled the earth wire and it worked!

Take a look at the wiring under the pod: probably sine previous owner bodge shorting out and blowing the fuse

Toby Tram

Original Poster:

415 posts

164 months

Saturday 19th April 2014
quotequote all
mrzigazaga said:
Hi mate...I did post up a Fuse board diagram..Not a relay one..Unfortunately don't have one...You can get a unit from these guy's, Its an exchange service...Cheers..Ziga
https://www.robsport.co.uk/index.php/ct-menu-item-...
Doh!!

Sorry Ziga, I was obviously having a stressed moment!!

Thanks for the info.

Adi