Wedge headlamps again

Wedge headlamps again

Author
Discussion

billvet

Original Poster:

17 posts

236 months

Monday 23rd February 2015
quotequote all
Sorry to be a pain but having spent this afternoon dismantling the o/s headlamp pod and motor I'm still not a lot further forward - and yes I have read the previous posts regarding this topic. The headlights work but the pod doesn't lift. I've checked relays, fuses, wiring and ended up taking the pod out and removing the motor which, on stripping down, was dry so I have cleaned it up, commutator, bushes etc. The motor turns freely now but when the pod was reassembled I'm still in the same position as before - lights work but pod doesn't rise. Any advice gratefully received.
Thanks
Bill

stevoj

798 posts

160 months

Monday 23rd February 2015
quotequote all
When you say the motor turns freely, was this by hand or did you actually try connecting it direct to the battery with a couple of made up leads, just to prove it?

billvet

Original Poster:

17 posts

236 months

Monday 23rd February 2015
quotequote all
Works when connected to battery but seems "weak" when connected to wiring harness and powered from switch

marcus1875

1,512 posts

141 months

Monday 23rd February 2015
quotequote all
I'm in exactly the same position Bill. Completely refurbed motor, but I have lights and no lift on either motor.
I changed relays, fuses, cleaned up connections, but no joy. Unfortunately rain stopped play.
I've ordered new relays, connectors and cable, if the rain stays off I plan to follow wedgeeneerings plan and circuits to the letter (as much as I'm able), if the rain stays off that is.
As with Bill any tips appreciated, but i'll let you know how i get on.
Cheers
Marcus

billvet

Original Poster:

17 posts

236 months

Monday 23rd February 2015
quotequote all
One other point (could be important or not) - I cannot see any diodes as mentioned and shown in the Wedge Bible either attached to the relay module or fusebox - both of these are located in passenger footwell. However the n/s headlamp pod lifts and the lights work both main & dipped

marcus1875

1,512 posts

141 months

Monday 23rd February 2015
quotequote all
I dont have any diodes on the fuse box or relays either.
I thought they were in the motor despite what the bible says

If these arent them then i'm at a complete loss.
And my spares are useless

Please someone tell me i'm not missing something!!
Marcus

Wedg1e

26,760 posts

264 months

Tuesday 24th February 2015
quotequote all
marcus1875 said:
I dont have any diodes on the fuse box or relays either.
I thought they were in the motor despite what the bible says

If these arent them then i'm at a complete loss.
And my spares are useless

Please someone tell me i'm not missing something!!
Marcus
No, each motor has two diodes and there are usually a couple more hidden inside the car, usually around the relay board... sometimes they're plugged into fuse holders and wrapped in tape so could be missed. Tracing the wire colours may help here.
However it does depend on which model Wedge and how many lamps you have, plus the age of the car as sometimes the pods came up with the sidelights and sometimes they didn't. Then there was dim-dip in 1988 or so... ranting

ETA how are your spares useless? If they're general-purpose silion rectifiers capable of handling an Amp or so (the more the better, up to a point) then the rated voltage (PIV) is almost irrelevant.

marcus1875

1,512 posts

141 months

Tuesday 24th February 2015
quotequote all
Hi Ian,

Aren't TVRs satisfyingly annoying! I don't have a relay board, all my relay's are in line, and randomly distributed behind the dash, the lights and light pod relays are behind the front bumper! The fuse box is in the glove box and has about ten fuses in it, one for the lamps, no space for any diodes to fit.
A couple of years i stripped the cables from the motors to baulkhead and found no in line diodes, and have had the dash up and no diodes there either.
Instead of blindly going at it like I did previously, I'm going to follow your guide to the letter,(I didn't know about it first time).
Fingers crossed. Cheers
Marcus

Wedg1e

26,760 posts

264 months

Tuesday 24th February 2015
quotequote all
marcus1875 said:
Hi Ian,

Aren't TVRs satisfyingly annoying! I don't have a relay board, all my relay's are in line, and randomly distributed behind the dash, the lights and light pod relays are behind the front bumper! The fuse box is in the glove box and has about ten fuses in it, one for the lamps, no space for any diodes to fit.
A couple of years i stripped the cables from the motors to baulkhead and found no in line diodes, and have had the dash up and no diodes there either.
Instead of blindly going at it like I did previously, I'm going to follow your guide to the letter,(I didn't know about it first time).
Fingers crossed. Cheers
Marcus
Sounds a bit odd, I wonder if the car had a loom fire at some point and someone rewired it without a diagram...? Even TVR weren't usually THAT haphazard biggrin
The fuse panel being in the glove box is correct for later models of 350i, 390SE etc. but I haven't seen one where the headlamp diodes were with the fuses, they've always been around the relay board (which you don't have rolleyes).
Are they definitely TR7 motors? If they were taken from, say, a Porsche 924 they'd probably have a different control system...


billvet

Original Poster:

17 posts

236 months

Tuesday 24th February 2015
quotequote all
Changed the motor for one out of the Tasmin and lights work fine now - pod sits low when lowered but this could be connecting arm adjustment possibly or > height of piece of tubing at bottom of headlight well

billvet

Original Poster:

17 posts

236 months

Tuesday 24th February 2015
quotequote all
Changed the motor for one out of the Tasmin and lights work fine now - pod sits low when lowered but this could be connecting arm adjustment possibly or > height of piece of tubing at bottom of headlight well

marcus1875

1,512 posts

141 months

Tuesday 24th February 2015
quotequote all
Mines is a 1982 v6 Ian so i suppose the fuse shouldnt be in the glove box. Where should it be?
Perhaps they had put in 924 units or something else and i'm trying to replace with tr7 ones?
I'll be able to have a closer look at the weekend.
marcus

marcus1875

1,512 posts

141 months

Friday 27th February 2015
quotequote all

Heres a pic of my fusebox.


And one of the drivers side wheel arch.

There are two holes in the arch which suggests the relay might have been there.

Be interesting to know if anyone else has this fusebox or haphazardly placed relays.
Marcus