Discussion
Yeah I can just hear the replies now. 
To the question, my lights have never been particularly bright both front and rear and my indicators are a bit sluggish. The car turns over normally, not slowly at all but I wondered whether the other is a characteristic of the car and the double wiring system, or do I have a poor main earth?
If I had a poor earth then I'd have thought that starting and charging would also be impaired to some extent.
Am I describing something that is normal for an S?
>>> Edited by KentishS2 on Monday 7th June 16:35
To the question, my lights have never been particularly bright both front and rear and my indicators are a bit sluggish. The car turns over normally, not slowly at all but I wondered whether the other is a characteristic of the car and the double wiring system, or do I have a poor main earth?
If I had a poor earth then I'd have thought that starting and charging would also be impaired to some extent.
Am I describing something that is normal for an S?
>>> Edited by KentishS2 on Monday 7th June 16:35
It all sounds very familiar.
I had all manner of lighting funnies with mine ranging from dim lights to main headlights flasing in sync with the indicators or when I braked I ended up replacing both rear bulb holders - see previous thread on forum.
Even with the new holders in place, the lights were dim at first, particularly the indicators and brakes. Solved it by disconnecting the edge connectors from the rear bulb holders and pinched all the sprung loaded contacts back together. This made sure of a tight fit when the connectors were re-attached and normal service was resumed.
It is highly unlikely you have less than 12v between, say, earth and the indicator signal pin. The problem sounds more symptomatic of a poor earth - it would be worth checking round all of the connector blocks in the lighting circuit front and rear and spraying the internals with some contact cleaner.
Good luck !
I had all manner of lighting funnies with mine ranging from dim lights to main headlights flasing in sync with the indicators or when I braked I ended up replacing both rear bulb holders - see previous thread on forum.
Even with the new holders in place, the lights were dim at first, particularly the indicators and brakes. Solved it by disconnecting the edge connectors from the rear bulb holders and pinched all the sprung loaded contacts back together. This made sure of a tight fit when the connectors were re-attached and normal service was resumed.
It is highly unlikely you have less than 12v between, say, earth and the indicator signal pin. The problem sounds more symptomatic of a poor earth - it would be worth checking round all of the connector blocks in the lighting circuit front and rear and spraying the internals with some contact cleaner.
Good luck !
see the moon with mine..! 
Thank you for responses and suggestions.
The lights are OK but nothing to write home about and the indicators are a bit slow in operation. So, I'll start with the main earthing then go on to look at individual earthing points for each light unit.
Has anyone fitted an HID system to their S yet?
The lights are OK but nothing to write home about and the indicators are a bit slow in operation. So, I'll start with the main earthing then go on to look at individual earthing points for each light unit.
Has anyone fitted an HID system to their S yet?
kentishs2 said:
Thank you for responses and suggestions.
The lights are OK but nothing to write home about and the indicators are a bit slow in operation. So, I'll start with the main earthing then go on to look at individual earthing points for each light unit.
Has anyone fitted an HID system to their S yet?
Nope, but following a cracked headlight I'll be fitting crystal halogen jobbies soon...
Hi Podie,
I wasn't sure whether there are any cristal clear units that fit the Wipac type housings on the S. I know they are available for the MkI Golf to replace 7" standard Hella units.
I'll probably go down that road myself if they do fit (haven't had time to look into it yet) and also fit the Ring Sportz Blue 472 bulbs, they are high output xenon and very much like HID. Despite the name these are not the horrible blue dull things that you see the boy racers using, they were intense bright cold white light.
You'd have to fit relays with these as the standard wiring would struggle but this is a simple enough job and will ensure that you have a min of 12v at the bulbs and therefore the highest possible output. They are also not strictly legal for use on road but they don't dazzle and the MOT tester would have to remove one to check which highly unlikely. My VW passaed OK with them fitted.
The bulbs were superb when I had them in my Passat but they blew quickly which I think was due to it being a high wattage filament in a small bulb and small lamp housing as this doesn't dissipate the heat effectively but I think a larger 472 bulb in a large 7" unit as fitted to the S will probably be OK.
I wasn't sure whether there are any cristal clear units that fit the Wipac type housings on the S. I know they are available for the MkI Golf to replace 7" standard Hella units.
I'll probably go down that road myself if they do fit (haven't had time to look into it yet) and also fit the Ring Sportz Blue 472 bulbs, they are high output xenon and very much like HID. Despite the name these are not the horrible blue dull things that you see the boy racers using, they were intense bright cold white light.
You'd have to fit relays with these as the standard wiring would struggle but this is a simple enough job and will ensure that you have a min of 12v at the bulbs and therefore the highest possible output. They are also not strictly legal for use on road but they don't dazzle and the MOT tester would have to remove one to check which highly unlikely. My VW passaed OK with them fitted.
The bulbs were superb when I had them in my Passat but they blew quickly which I think was due to it being a high wattage filament in a small bulb and small lamp housing as this doesn't dissipate the heat effectively but I think a larger 472 bulb in a large 7" unit as fitted to the S will probably be OK.
Podie said:
I'm going for the crystal halogen jobbies (link in my profile) with some Philips blue vision bulbs.. saves messing with wires and relays..
I couldn't find the link in your profile, prob. me looking in the wrong place.
I'd be interested to hear how they compare with original units.kentishs2 said:
I'm going for the crystal halogen jobbies (link in my profile) with some Philips blue vision bulbs.. saves messing with wires and relays..
I couldn't find the link in your profile, prob. me looking in the wrong place.
here you go mate - it was in the car history file..
www.boltonbits.com/
Podie said:
Cheers Shnozz.. the profile on the S is getting a bit out of hand...!
>> Edited by Podie on Tuesday 8th June 10:17
only cos you fill it in with
"washed the car today"
"garaging fee"
"hmm.. must buy some WD40"
"garaging fee"
"drove the car today"
"garaging fee"
"didn't drive the car today"
>> Edited by M@H on Tuesday 8th June 10:29
shnozz said:
Cheers Shnozz.. the profile on the S is getting a bit out of hand...!
Head to the lighting on the classic mini...
>> Edited by Podie on Tuesday 8th June 10:17
I must say I dont think I could bare filling in the car history profile. I would end up in tears.
Thanks guys.
This is a good site, they even have angel eyes!
No too sure what they'd look like on the S?
I think I'll go for a set of the cristal clear units at some point, good prices too.
M@H said:
Cheers Shnozz.. the profile on the S is getting a bit out of hand...!
>> Edited by Podie on Tuesday 8th June 10:17
only cos you fill it in with
"washed the car today"
"garaging fee"
"hmm.. must buy some WD40"
"garaging fee"
"drove the car today"
"garaging fee"
"didn't drive the car today"
>> Edited by M@H on Tuesday 8th June 10:29
All costs attributed to the car though...
kentishs2 said:
So, I'll start with the main earthing then go on to look at individual earthing points for each light unit.
Definately the first step!
If youve got one, a digital voltmeter is extremely useful.
Measure what voltage you find between the battery -ve terminal and each earth point on each bulb. Be prepared for a few surprises
Then repeat between the +ve termninal and the bulbs.
I was finding 13,8v at the battery and as little as 11v on some bulbs. Half was being lost by poor earthing and half by poor connectors.
Then decide if you need a headlight upgrade.
M@H said:
Yep
..I bought it from a Chap in Fareham... If I'd known I'd have dropped in on the way.. ! Before that it was around Somerset...
>> Edited by M@H on Tuesday 8th June 11:11
blimey. I thought I knew the car, the guy had it resprayed silver after it was written off yes?
you would have been welcome around for a beer mate.
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