Pop up Lights failed

[ibroker]

One of my pop up lights decided it is not going to work. Checked all the fuses then googled it and found the relays. I assumed that as they have individual relays if I pulled them both then I could establish if one was faulty.switched them to and fro and Now neither light will pop up even if I put them back in the original position, in fact one is stuck half way down?

Suggestions?

[mrzigazaga]

Hi mate...If you look underneath them there is an access hole...Make sure the ignition is off though..You can manually wind them up or down via a twiddly knob that is straight up inside.....I would wind them both up with the battery disconnected...Remove the outer trim ring and carefully remove the lamp and disconnect the plug on the back...Check the wiring to the pod motors and clean up anything you can see...Grease up the hinges and the armatures on the lift ...Put the lamps back in..trim on..Make sure the headlight switch is on so the pods should be up anyway...Re-connect the battery...Ignition on and turn off lights to see if they drop...If not check relays and fuses...There are two of each for each side IIRC.....

[ibroker]

Zig are the fuses in the fusebox? (silly but stating the obvious) A fuse for each as well, any idea which ones they should be.

Bit strange why the second one has now failed as well!!

Cheers

Andy

[mrzigazaga]

Hi mate

Yes fuses in the fuse box,,,,

Here is the fuse and relay board diagram for a 350i...I think..Ill just check the others i have...


You will need to click twice on the image...I have one i drew from mine which i will dig out..The TVR ones general have no correlation to what the car actually has...

[ibroker]

Zig

Like to think my board looks something like that, but it bears on resemblance at all. Got to love TVR.


Will apply some time to it all over the next few days.

Cheers for the input.

Andy

[marcus1875]

Hi Andy, out of interest what relay did you get? I keep having the same troubles.
Marcus

[Rockettvr]

There's 3 relays in the headlamps wiring
A control or master relay and 2 more one for each headlamp motor
Could be you've swapped one faulty headlamp motor relay with the master relay rendering both headlamp pods immobile
Study the wiring diagram in a previous post by celcius to see what I mean

[RCK974X]

Just a quick note - The early 2.8 was pretty much the same as this, but had only ONE diode from the master light switch, so it's possible you may have only one diode. Apart from that, the above diagram is very useful for everyone.

I reckon the only way here is to get your test meter out, and start chasing voltages.

If both pods are inoperable, then I would start at the UP/DOWN relay and make sure power is being fed to it, and then that the power gets swopped between the output pins.
Remember this signal relay should have FIVE spades, as it's a changeover relay.
The two motor relays may be four or five pin. (i.e. five pin with an unused pin, or extra pin may go to earth).

Layout is different between 4 and 5 pin relays, so you can't just swop them over.

On that diagram, think of the white/purple wire as UP when 12v, and the White/Yellow as DOWN.
That might help understanding a bit.

Edited by RCK974X on Wednesday 17th February 21:46

[ibroker]

Rockettvr said:

There's 3 relays in the headlamps wiring
A control or master relay and 2 more one for each headlamp motor
Could be you've swapped one faulty headlamp motor relay with the master relay rendering both headlamp pods immobile
Study the wiring diagram in a previous post by celcius to see what I mean

Thats a very accurate diagnosis of the problem. However which relay on the board is the third?

I have located the 2 just need to find the joker!!!!


Marcus..I have not yet purchased the the relays, I was getting my head around the issue first.

Andy

[ElvisWedgely]

Luckily, I have never had to do this job, but if I did, my first instinct would be to disconnect the headlight motor wire from behind the pod, run a test wire go the battery and see if it sends the pod up and down freely. I would do the test for both sides. That eliminated, I would be checking relays, fuses, wiring and switch, using the wiring diagram.

Tony. TCB.

Edited by ElvisWedgely on Wednesday 17th February 22:07

Edited by ElvisWedgely on Wednesday 17th February 22:08

[dixiebabes]

As mark says above ^^^^^^

Dix

[ElvisWedgely]

dixiebabes said:

As mark says above ^^^^^^

Dix

In Marks description he hasn't eliminated the headlight motors. If the headlight motor or its mechanism is faulty, it's not going to work.

Tony. TCB.

[marcus1875]

What happened to the wiring diagram? I was going to print it out this morning but it's gone!

Marcus

[mrzigazaga]

ElvisWedgely said:

In Marks description he hasn't eliminated the headlight motors. If the headlight motor or its mechanism is faulty, it's not going to work.

Tony. TCB.

9 times out of 10 its a connection issue or bad earth..Or both...When my radiator fan failed my O/S pod stopped working...They share the same earth path.

To the left....


To the right...


All together now...


It might also be the wiring at the fuse board...This wire managed to pop out whilst i was changing the indicators...And i did not pull anything...


Which reminds me...Thats another job that needs doing properly...

If after testing the motor is totally knackered then these people can supply a new one on an exchange basis...

(Square plug)

https://www.robsport.co.uk/index.php/ct-menu-item-...

Also if you are a dab hand then this page from the God of Wedges will be very useful...I say "God" as I'm sure he helped write the Bible...

Wedgeneering...(Diagrams here also Marcus)

http://www.wedgeneering.co.uk/TVR%20390SE%20p6.htm
(Please show me where else this information is available and in such fine detail....)

Edited by mrzigazaga on Thursday 18th February 09:52

[marcus1875]

Cheers Mark , I keep forgetting about the Wedgeeneering site!

Marcus

[ibroker]

marcus1875 said:

Hi Andy, out of interest what relay did you get? I keep having the same troubles.
Marcus

Marcus I replaced the relays this morning from Maplin. £3.55 each

[ibroker]

Motor had seized up and a blown fuse.

Bugger to get out as the winder to manually wind up the pod had also broken.

Thanks Mark for the heads up on where to get another, thats another £110 in the coffers of the wedge!!!

Thanks for the input everyone

Andy

[marcus1875]

Hi Andy, have you got a part number for the relays?
Cheers
Marcus

[ibroker]

Marcus

Refitted a new motor this afternoon with new relays and all is well.

http://www.maplin.co.uk/p/12v-30a-dc-spdt-automoti...

Andy

[jimburr]

When the popping up lights problem is solved, keep them working. In the summer months we don't put them on very often do we? keep them working by getting two children help you put the car away in the garage after a spin. Daddy look awake-asleep-awake-asleep-....................... keep them moving.

Jimbo