Headlight relay problem

[BobM]

I have a problem with my headlights. When the lights are off the flash button works OK, i.e. it switches on the main beam while the button's depressed. When the lights are on however it isn't toggling between main/dip beam, it's just switching main beam on while the button's depressed, not switching them as it should.

I presume this means I have a duff headlight relay? If so I presume I should be able to get one locally? Pity the wiring diagram doesn't identify any of the relays or fuses

[eclipsar]

Yes, its a duff relay, it happened to me a couple of times, if I remember right the relay is off a VW Passat, the relay is the one which is not on the rail.

Regards
Chris

[steve_D]

It's relay 8
I could not find a replacement in my local factors.
The factory replaced mine for me. They say that some do that but the ones that are working stay working.

If you realy want to play engineer then the toggle mechanism is down to a fine spring strip which latches, or not, I found that a small spacer under the arm inside the relay helped and would have fine tuned it had I not run out of time.

Let me know if you want to try it and I will explain further.

Steve

[BobM]

Thanks guys - so would no. 3 on this page work?

Tempted to have a look at the existing one Steve, have to have a look how easy it is to get into it without destroying it!

[steve_D]

BobM said:

Thanks guys - so would no. 3 on this page work? Tempted to have a look at the existing one Steve, have to have a look how easy it is to get into it without destroying it!

Can't see it on that page.
Looking for relay with following pins.
30, 56, 56a, 56b, S

Getting in is easy just spring the case off a couple of clips around the base.
What I found was that limiting the travel of the rocker seemed to improve things. I glued a piece of plastic to the base so that the rocker stopped on that rather than going down onto the base. It worked out of the can but stopped when installed back in the car. I ran out of time but believe a few more tweeks would have fixed it.

Steve

[k wright]

Pretty much need the wiring diagram that Jack Rosen makes. It is very helpful.

ken

[BobM]

steve_D said:

Getting in is easy just spring the case off a couple of clips around the base. What I found was that limiting the travel of the rocker seemed to improve things. I glued a piece of plastic to the base so that the rocker stopped on that rather than going down onto the base. It worked out of the can but stopped when installed back in the car. I ran out of time but believe a few more tweeks would have fixed it.

Quick update - I rang the factory and Richard sent me a replacement relay. Only took 5 minutes to replace and it must have worked all of 3 times before failing like its predecessor!

Off to Le Mans tomorrow so decided to have a look. As you said Steve, the cover comes off easily and I saw exactly what you meant about the little latching rocker. A tiny square of plastic superglued under it fixed that so it latched correctly but still no joy. Soon discovered that when it was latching the main beam on the little points like contact wasn't actually making contact, so I just leaned on the upper conact and all was well.

[steve_D]

BobM said:

....... As you said Steve, the cover comes off easily and I saw exactly what you meant about the little latching rocker. A tiny square of plastic superglued under it fixed that so it latched correctly but still no joy. Soon discovered that when it was latching the main beam on the little points like contact wasn't actually making contact, so I just leaned on the upper conact and all was well.

So does it still need the spacer or was adjusting the contact all that is required.

Steve

[BobM]

steve_D said:

So does it still need the spacer or was adjusting the contact all that is required.

Yes it needed the spacer as the little rocker was going a bit too far which resulted in the little blade which the solenoid pushes down not engaging in the right place. This'll all sound meaningless to folks who haven't looked inside the relay!

Surely there must be some sort of solid state relay available? Isn't that Fiddes' department?

Getting excited now ... packing my stuff ready to set off this afternoon

[steve_D]

BobM said:

Getting excited now ... packing my stuff ready to set off this afternoon

I'm going down tommorow morning. Where are you camping?
Steve

[BobM]

steve_D said:

I'm going down tommorow morning.

I'm travelling to my mate's near Oxford today then 9am choo choo from Folkestone tomorrow.

steve_D said:

Where are you camping?

I'm not - I'm booked with a group staying in a nunnery in Le Mans town. I'm hoping the nuns will have moved out

Might see you on the way down otherwise likely to be round and about the circuit on Friday. Red GTR with a bit of Pistonheads stickerage

[davefiddes]

BobM said:

Surely there must be some sort of solid state relay available? Isn't that Fiddes' department?

It's quite an odd relay so there probably isn't an off the shelf solid sate equivalent. Mine still works OK (touch wood) so I've not been moved to do anything about it. Could look into it at some point though.

Hope everyone has fun at Le Mans and doesn't get too that they miss the racing.