280i Headlamps

[m2500tvr]

Okay, here's what I've got. The left side (driver's side here in the US) headlamp pod likes to bounce up and down, with the motor repeatedly raising it and lowering it, when the headlamp switch is switched on or off. After some fiddling with the switch, switching on and off, it will finally stay up or down.

Also, I've got a situation where both headlamps want to stay up/raised when the headlamp switch and/or ignition switch is turned off. Removing the headlamp master relay drops them both. Now, the three headlamp control relays fitted to my car seem to be the same electrically, though two are metal canned Lucas, and one is a plastic bodied Bosch. Otherwise, all the electrical information indicated on them is the same for all all three. Anyway, typically if the headlamps decide they want to stay up, they usually drop after a bit.

I get the raised and lowered stop adjustments, and the rose joint linkage arrangement. The stop bits make me want to both cry and be thankful (at least a bit) at the same time. They are such incredibly cheap fabrications and arrangements, but they're also easy to understand and adjust, and if I had to make new ones I could do a much better job than what's in there now.

So, whats the deal with the up and down pod, and the stay-up pods? Could it be just the master relay that's giving the problem?

Thanks!

- Steven

[Wedg1e]

Could be a sticking relay keeping them up with the switch off, but the usual reason for them repeatedly going up and down is a fault with the park switch in the motor's gearbox, or a blown diode.

[m2500tvr]

I was concerned about that park switch thing. This's mean I'd have to pull the motors and take them apart. Not so terribly difficult, but not so convenient. The diode in the fuse box would be VERY easy to replace.

[Wedg1e]

m2500tvr said:

I was concerned about that park switch thing. This's mean I'd have to pull the motors and take them apart. Not so terribly difficult, but not so convenient. The diode in the fuse box would be VERY easy to replace.

I meant a blown diode in the motor

[m2500tvr]

Okay, got it. I swapped the relays around. I put the plastic-bodied Bosch relay in the "main" position, and the two metal-bodied relays in the lamp positions. Thinks are kinda working now. I have to readjust the stops. The one pod popping up and down I'm guessing didn't do these stops well.