Fusebox confusion!

[TVR-Stu]

I've got a problem with my driving lamps, they don't work!

The switch when flicked does not illuminate (I suspect it could be the culprit but before I dismantle the centre console and remove those blasted fiddly trim retaining nuts to gain access to it I thought I'd do the other easy checks to eliminate them all first).

I have checked the connectors in the engine bay and the terminals all seem to be clean and sound. My next thought was the fuse and the relay. Now this is where my confusion comes in. I have studied the fusebox diagrams in the 'BIBLE' and can't seem to make it correspond to my fusebox.

Can someone more knowlegable on these things please put me on the right track and give me some clues as to which fuse and which relay I should be checking?

This is my fusebox (there are two more relays above the two that are visible in the picture below).



I'm also assuming that the headlights need to be on full beam for them to operate?

Thanks in advance. Stu

[tvrgit]

re they wired as driving lamps (go on and off with full beam) or as fog lamps (like mine are) which only come on with side or dip, and then, I think, only when the ignition is on?

Worth checking before you pull the car to bits!

[TVR-Stu]

tvrgit said:

re they wired as driving lamps (go on and off with full beam) or as fog lamps (like mine are) which only come on with side or dip, and then, I think, only when the ignition is on?

Worth checking before you pull the car to bits!

I'm honestly not sure (not had the car long enough to actually use them! but I know they worked before Christmas which is when I laid the car up for winter and removed the bonnet for service/refurb) I think they work with full beam as driving lamps but as I said not sure. I have however tried them for both operations with no success.

[GreenV8S]

On mine the wiring logic was distinctly wierd. The headlamp circuit supplied power to a relay which fed 12v to the 'driving light' switch, which took the full current of the driving lights. An utterly daft way of wiring them up. So look for damage to the switch, as well as blown fuses.

On mine the four relays were:

top left main beam, top right cooling fans
bottom left spots (I think), bottom right boot

[Gerald-TVR]

Solution is clear - some fuses are upside down reversing the current so all you have to do is............

[bil]

the fuse board looks like mine, an S3, yours appaers mounted upside down compared to mine and the manual.
relays and fuses when viewed as your arrangemnet;
top left: Main Beam Dip Beam Relay
top right: Drive lights relay
bottom left: boot lock relay
bottom right: engine fan relay

light related fuses
top row 3rd from left 15A headlight flash
second row 1st from left 7.5A side lights
third row 1st from left 7.5A side lights
fourth row 1st from left 15A headlamp dip beam
fourth row 2nd from left 15A headlight main beam
fourth row 3rd from left 30A headlights control
fifth row 2nd from left 25A driving lights (manual says 25A, you have 30A)

wiring diagram indicates that side lights are wired across ie os&ns per circuit not parralel ie ns circuit and os circuit.

[TVR-Stu]

Thanks Alan, and everyone else at least I've got something to go on now.

Will now check in this order fuse, relay then the switch.

Cheers, Stu

[Blue 30]

Another fusebox/relay related query...

My car is an early S3, 2.9efi, no driving lights, but with central locking (solenoids in doors but not checked), also remote boot release (which worked).
I am doing a full resto strip down & converting to Jag/Duratec V6 power (see Terry's tale post), so there is lots still to do !!
A 'new' mystery that I'm head scratching with at the moment is identifying what the x3 fitted relays do (as part of the main fusebox). I have ID'd 2 of them, those being the dip/dip relay, & the engine fan relay. The 3rd one (same 5-pin type as the other 2) I can't identify from the diagrams.
All I have to go on, is that all wiring to that relay are Green/Yellow, yes, that's on all x4 pins. So whatever it is, its just a off/on relay, not a changeover.
The diagrams do show a fuel pump relay, but its wiring is different colours. So if I've got one of those too, where is it ?
Maybe it is the boot release relay (not on any diagram I have), but I can't check/tap it out yet as I can't get to the back of the car at the moment ( its a long story), same goes for tapping out to the fuel pump.
So if anyone has the same, I'd be very grateful to know.
Oh... The 290S diagram, is actually for the 2.8i
And the 290S wiring supplement diagram, is predominately a 2.9efi engine bay only diagram.

TerryB.

[phillpot]

Blue 30 said:

Maybe it is the boot release relay

It is on mine, also an early S3


The fuel related relays are stuffed up there somewhere, with the ECU and fuse board, just hanging around loose, plugged into the loom.



TVR-Stu, please turn those fuses so all numbers face the same way, and the unmarked ones have got to go! I'm having OCD meltdown here

Edited by phillpot on Thursday 28th September 09:12

[glenrobbo]

Phillpot said:

TVR-Stu, please turn those fuses so all numbers face the same way, and the unmarked ones have got to go! I'm having OCD meltdown here

Mike, OCD is just wrong! it's CDO!
( Alphabetic order, you see! )

[Blue 30]

Many thanks Mike.

And as far as looking for the fuel related relays, I remembered that they were part of the unplugged engine bay wiring loom, which I have already sold on as a complete engine/g-box/wiring/ecu package. So I'm just staring at the 2 black 5-pin plugs.
Interesting that your main fuseboard has x4 relays, mine only has x3 ! (No spare relay socket).
Mine being..
Dim/dip
Engine fan
Boot release
So what's the 4th ?
But I'm not that bothered, as wot you ain't got, can't go wrong.

Cheers again.
TerryB

[phillpot]

Blue 30 said:

Interesting that your main fuseboard has x4 relays, mine only has x3 ! (No spare relay socket).

So what's the 4th ?

Not actually my photo, found it on Google but mine did have four, fourth one being for the driving lamps, spot lamps, fog lamps... call them what you will.


Got six now

[Blue 30]

Of course it is.
Now that's what I call a fusebox.
I just hope it has the correct gauge of wire... Oops did I say that.

I'm waiting on my ecu to be built, then I can get on with all things elec-trickery.
Including integrating it into all of the Tvr arteries & veins.
So plenty to do through the winter. I must update 'Terrys tale' post soon.

TerryB.

[phillpot]

Blue 30 said:

I just hope it has the correct gauge of wire... Oops did I say that.

Luckily you can't see all the crimp connectors in that shot

[v8s4me]

Surely you need more relays than that?

[TVR-Stu]

phillpot said:

TVR-Stu, please turn those fuses so all numbers face the same way, and the unmarked ones have got to go! I'm having OCD meltdown here

phillpot, I would love to tell you that I have done as you requested but as it takes fifteen minutes of struggling to get the fuse access 'flap' down and another thirty minutes to get it back up they will have to stay (for the time being anyway).
I'm always afraid just to lower said flap in case I disturb the delicate mess it contains. Sorry, and good luck with your continued OCD treatment.

[GreenV8S]

On mine that flap used to be held up by a couple of wood screws and was a terrible pita to close since it involved holding everything in place, plus the screw and screwdriver. I replaced these with a pair of bolts down through the bottom frame of the dash, and some wingnuts to hold the flap closed - much, much easier now although it does still involve persuading everything into place above the footwell. V8s4me has made an even neater solution which secures that mess of loom and components on a sliding tray. In hindsight this is an area worth spending time and effort to improve since the S electrics can be so problematic and good access makes it much easier to fix.

[v8s4me]

GreenV8S said:

..... V8s4me has made an even neater solution which secures that mess of loom and components on a sliding tray. ......

Thank you