headlamps

[jindle]

Not wedging until tomorrow, but had a look at my headlamps this morning. The one that doesn't go up still lights up so must be the connector to the motor. Had a look underneath and I can see one white connector block and an earth. Are those for the motor mech or are they something else?

[B@man]

The headlamp motor usually has a total of 5 wires, a 3 pin connector for the internal limit switches and a pair of single wires connected by single bullet style connectors for the actual motor. If the switches are playing up usually the pod will move one way by it's own (e.g. down) Did you check the relay ?

[jindle]

Not yet. All to be done tomorrow

[B@man]

Good luck

[RCK974X]

If it's one with the relays on the side wing (earlier ones) try wiggling all the relays first .... and check the fuses, even if not blown, they can corrode enough to stop working....

THEN start grovelling around in the gaps for connectors !!

[jindle]

Will do will do. Any advice on the best way to actually get at the connectors if I have to? Thinking of lifting the pod manually and taking the light out

[RCK974X]

On mine (1982 2.8), there is no other way to get at the connectors -

• DISCONNECT BATTERY (just in case pod decides to move, it's painful to get your arm trapped)

wind up pod by hand.
remove headlamp
get at connectors
May as well check the mechanism isn't stiff, bolts not loose etc,etc. while you are there (good dose of WD40...)

Drivers side (same as relays) has a whole mass of connectors and they are just placed nicely to get the road crap - about a third of mine were actually green when I first checked....)

[jindle]

Cleaned up the connectors and now neither go up or down !!! Arrgghhh

[jindle]

The rain has stopped me from progressing. However it seems the motor has power when the earth that connects to the lower fogs was disconnected. Is it normal for that to be the case? As an aside, the lower fogs didn't work before and do now so think it may be a dodgy wiring job by someone else.

[wooly350i]

If one was working and you've had a fiddle and now they're not,just check fuses incase ones blown from the fiddling.

[jindle]

Fuses fine, now the passenger pod goes down (having disconnected the random wire which went to the lower fogs) but not up. Driver side doesn't move. Fun fun fun

In fact the passenger pod comes up about an inch now then stops

Edited by jindle on Sunday 24th November 15:44

[RCK974X]

OK - I reckon next thing to do is to check all the earth returns.

Again, mine was a bit dodgy here, I could see that headlamps were actually brighter after I fixed and cleaned up the earths. There are a few, and I added a couple of extra wires to connect them together and make sure.

Your best friend at this point is a small multimeter - definitely worth buying if you haven't got one, as a floating earth can cause all sorts of weird behaviour.

I guess it's also possible you might have a dodgy motor, but if both pods have moved, then chances are the motors are OK.....

Have you got one of the wedges all wired in black ? Mine is, it adds that extra bit of mystery !

[jindle]

Luckily I do have a multimeter and plan to check all wires one by one. I did of course forget to check the relays so shall be doing that also. I'm fairly certain the motors are fine.

At least I'll have something to do next Sunday!

[RCK974X]

Good stuff -
If I leave my wedge stood for a while, sometimes the driver's side pod doesn't work, but after a few headlamp on/off cycles, it sorts itself out and works just fine.

I beleive one of the motor switches (for up/down) must be a bit dirty.
I guess eventually I'll have to take it to bits for a clean...

[jindle]

Hopefully it doesn't get that far: looking at the strip down of the motor I reckon it's very easy to bugger the copper strip and screw up the switch entirely

[RCK974X]

Yeah, no argument there !

There is a thread somewhere else in here, and it states that it's not that unusual for those little pins (that operate the strips/switches) to break/wear etc. and cause issues.