Psychobert needs lighting help...!
Discussion
you, so could you give him a call back. Cheers folks, PH to the resuce again.. All sorted now..
Basically, the dim dip circuit is to prevent muppets from driving around with the sidelights only on; when the sidelights and ignition are on the headlights work at about 25% of normal power due to the action of a relay and dim dip module which I think is a wolloping big resistor to cut the current down. (Why its needed on an S given the power of the lights anyway I've no idea).
The law was briefly changed to make all new cars have this circuit in about 91ish, then rapidly changed again as its a daft idea, (or something).
I'd never noticed if the S had such a circuit, had been carrying the modwise kit for several months and decided to fit it 2 days before the MOT was due. That was sensible wasn't it folks.
The kit did sit quite nicely in the boot ontop of the brakes I'd not fitted either.. 
Anyway, after an afternoon in the rain with a gas powered soldering iron, I'd got everything in and wired up, only to find things didn't work the way they were supposed to when the ignition was on. Without the ignition the circuit was fine though. Spoke to David at Modwise today as the car was in for an MOT and the garage obviously failed it and couldn't work out how to get the lights to work.
Solved the problem by removing the module, (black finned thing about 2/3rds the size of a packet of fags, tucked up by the wiper motor - 6 pins going in, its a LUCAS part), and by removing the relay, (now have a spare headlight relay which is always nice).
Might have had an idea what was happening as soon as the garage rang, but the bible was under my seat and I was away from PH to search, hence a couple of calls to ask folks if they'd had any ideas.
All of this started because I burnt out the circuit by replacing the headlights by 100W bulbs, (anyone remember my 'help I've got smoke pouring out of the dashboard/funny smell in the cockpit thread?)
There is, I am sure a moral to this story. I shall tonight be looking for it in the bottom of a pint glass.
Basically, the dim dip circuit is to prevent muppets from driving around with the sidelights only on; when the sidelights and ignition are on the headlights work at about 25% of normal power due to the action of a relay and dim dip module which I think is a wolloping big resistor to cut the current down. (Why its needed on an S given the power of the lights anyway I've no idea).
The law was briefly changed to make all new cars have this circuit in about 91ish, then rapidly changed again as its a daft idea, (or something).
I'd never noticed if the S had such a circuit, had been carrying the modwise kit for several months and decided to fit it 2 days before the MOT was due. That was sensible wasn't it folks.
The kit did sit quite nicely in the boot ontop of the brakes I'd not fitted either.. Anyway, after an afternoon in the rain with a gas powered soldering iron, I'd got everything in and wired up, only to find things didn't work the way they were supposed to when the ignition was on. Without the ignition the circuit was fine though. Spoke to David at Modwise today as the car was in for an MOT and the garage obviously failed it and couldn't work out how to get the lights to work.
Solved the problem by removing the module, (black finned thing about 2/3rds the size of a packet of fags, tucked up by the wiper motor - 6 pins going in, its a LUCAS part), and by removing the relay, (now have a spare headlight relay which is always nice).
Might have had an idea what was happening as soon as the garage rang, but the bible was under my seat and I was away from PH to search, hence a couple of calls to ask folks if they'd had any ideas.
All of this started because I burnt out the circuit by replacing the headlights by 100W bulbs, (anyone remember my 'help I've got smoke pouring out of the dashboard/funny smell in the cockpit thread?)
There is, I am sure a moral to this story. I shall tonight be looking for it in the bottom of a pint glass.
andyf007 said:
All of this started because I burnt out the circuit by replacing the headlights by 100W bulbs......
I've a feeling neither Shnozz nor Claire will want to hear that.
i'm alright jack
My chim hasnt got 100W bulbs 
in fairness, I never had a problem in my time running 100W bulbs in my old S - Simon Brooks (the new owner) posts on PH and replied to a thread re my old car the other day saying that nothing out of the ordinary had broken with the car so I assume its all still running ok.
PB - cant believe those brakes are still in your boot!!!! how long ago was it we had the car on axle stands at my place trying to sort those out! Even changing my otter switch that day didnt prove an easy task
We should stick to hammering in tent pegs. Oh, hold on....
Shnozz said:
PB - cant believe those brakes are still in your boot!!!! how long ago was it we had the car on axle stands at my place trying to sort those out! Even changing my otter switch that day didnt prove an easy task
They are not in the boot any more, now installed on the car. Will shortly be bedding them in.. Couple of hundred miles should do it, fancy a beer this weekend?
Shnozz said:
We should stick to hammering in tent pegs. Oh, hold on....
'Actually mate, I'm being a bit crap with this.. ' wump wump wump.. Shnozz said:
Psychobert said:
All of this started because I burnt out the circuit by replacing the headlights by 100W bulbs......
i'm alright jack
in fairness, I never had a problem in my time running 100W bulbs in my old S - Simon Brooks (the new owner) posts on PH and replied to a thread re my old car the other day saying that nothing out of the ordinary had broken with the car so I assume its all still running ok.
PB - cant believe those brakes are still in your boot!!!! how long ago was it we had the car on axle stands at my place trying to sort those out! Even changing my otter switch that day didnt prove an easy task
We should stick to hammering in tent pegs. Oh, hold on....
Glad I ordered the boggo Philips Vision plus bulbs now..!
Podie said:
Glad I ordered the boggo Philips Vision plus bulbs now..!
I don't think I will add up what its cost me to do this particular job..
Still, all sorted now.
Useful tip though, odd lighting problems may be due to an interaction between dim dip module and relay. Really had me confused until I though sod it I wonder what happens if I just pull them both out..
Psychobert said:
Shnozz said:
PB - cant believe those brakes are still in your boot!!!! how long ago was it we had the car on axle stands at my place trying to sort those out! Even changing my otter switch that day didnt prove an easy task
They are not in the boot any more, now installed on the car. Will shortly be bedding them in.. Couple of hundred miles should do it, fancy a beer this weekend?
Shnozz said:
We should stick to hammering in tent pegs. Oh, hold on....
cant believe the couple in the tent next to us were so shocked to hear what we each did for a living after our abortion of an attempt to put up a tent for the first time. am around at the weekend if you do fancy a blast South mate. Havent got much planned - and even drinking isnt on the cards to the "usual" extent seeing as the doc has diagnosed a stomach ulcer through excess booze and fags.
on a brighter note - at least it means I can bore my friends with stories of how I almost died
>> Edited by Shnozz on Wednesday 21st April 17:43
greenv8s said:
Dim dip I think just connects the headlamps in series instead of parallel - so each bulbs puts out a quarter of the normal power (no extra resisters or anything).
Yup, but its got something in it that works out if the ignition circuit is on or not too and thats the bit that fooled me. Pulling the relay did the trick though..
Shnozz said:
Happy days.. Shame we didn't make more of the cabin we'd arranged on the ferry the nigfht before. They would have been impressed with that..
Shnozz said:
am around at the weekend if you do fancy a blast South mate. Havent got much planned - and even drinking isnt on the cards to the "usual" extent seeing as the doc has diagnosed a stomach ulcer through excess booze and fags.
on a brighter note - at least it means I can bore my friends with stories of how I almost died
Excellent..
Have I ever told you about the time I nearly fell off an Alp when walking in Switzerland?
Might take you up on the weekend, see stuff is panning out here and get back to you..
>> Edited by Psychobert on Wednesday 21st April 20:16
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