headlight motor issues
headlight motor issues
Author
Discussion

tr7andtvr

Original Poster:

73 posts

232 months

Tuesday 27th January 2009
quotequote all
I got my “85” 280i about 2 years ago and the headlights have never moved electrically, they always have mechanically. Once removed and hooked up to a +/- they spin fine. My assumption is that ½ of a revolution is up and ½ a revolution is down.

LIGHTS ONLY

LEFT:
Triple Plug:
Black (GROUND)
Purple and Blue (NOTHING)
Purple and Red (give a + when lights are ON BRIGHT)

RIGHT:
Triple Plug:
Black (GROUND)
Blue and White (NOTHING)
Blue and Red (give a + when lights are ON BRIGHT)

MOTORS ONLY:

On the LEFT side:
(2) White and Purple in a single plug that give a + when lights are ON
(2) White and Yellows in a single plug that give a + when lights are OFF

Triple Pulg:
Black (Ground)
Purple and Blue (Nothing)
Purple and Red (Nothing)

On the RIGHT side:
(1) White and Purple in a single plug that give a + when lights are ON
(1) White and Yellows in a single plug that give a + when lights are OFF

Triple Pulg:
Black (Ground)
Purple and Blue (Nothing)
Purple and Red (Nothing)

All fueses and relays are good.

Any ideas on what’s wrong?


Edited by tr7andtvr on Saturday 31st January 18:44

CarbonWedge

226 posts

248 months

Thursday 29th January 2009
quotequote all
Hi I don't know if the 280i is similar to the 350, but I wonder if its a relay problem, I was plagued by a similar problem when I got mine, it turned out to be an intermittenly sticking relay. I shall attempt an explanation in my electrically simplpe way...

You say you have voltages on some wires, have you tried with the headlamps connected and turning them on/ off. If the bulbs light, and the beams flash then I think it would be safe to eliminate the switch and the headlamp relay.

On the 350 diagram there are 2 fuses, one for left headlamp motor, one for right, i would check these first. Then there are 3 relays, a headlamp motor control relay, and a left and right motor relay. If both are not raising I would try swapping the motor control relay with another one.

I'm sure an expert will be along later...

Wedg1e

27,038 posts

295 months

Friday 30th January 2009
quotequote all
I've already emailed the OP to suggest that he has two of the plugs on the right side swapped over: the colour codes he mentions with White/ Blue are for the headlamp itself, not the pod motor... wink

tr7andtvr

Original Poster:

73 posts

232 months

Friday 30th January 2009
quotequote all
I have had my headlights and motors out for so long that I forgot what set of wires I am looking at. I am going to dig into this a little better in the morning and get my wire colors right. And my dog eat my tester, so I had to get a new one.

Comadis

1,731 posts

253 months

Saturday 31st January 2009
quotequote all
these motors always turn in 1 direction (not 1/2 revolution up-down) also in a TR7 or all other brands of cars these motors where used.


you should find what you need here:
http://www.tvrwedgepages.co.uk/maint_headlight.htm...



tr7andtvr

Original Poster:

73 posts

232 months

Saturday 31st January 2009
quotequote all
I have added more info to the original post. I think that I am having a wiring problem and not a motor problem. I am just not getting any power to the headlight motor plugs. Also I am not getting any power to the light 3 plug when the low beams are on.

Any ideas?

Wedg1e

27,038 posts

295 months

Sunday 1st February 2009
quotequote all
Comadis said:
these motors always turn in 1 direction (not 1/2 revolution up-down) also in a TR7 or all other brands of cars these motors where used.


you should find what you need here:
http://www.tvrwedgepages.co.uk/maint_headlight.htm...
I've revised the circuit diagrams on there in light of Andy's issues; they show a more complete view of the circuit so may assist in understanding what goes on smile

GRIFFONMARK

199 posts

237 months

Sunday 1st February 2009
quotequote all
Make sure the end of the motor spindle is not worn. The arm that connects to the motor spindle was not fitted correctly when I bought my car and was not obvious as sometimes it gripped and worked and other times it didn't. Regards, Mark

tr7andtvr

Original Poster:

73 posts

232 months

Saturday 7th February 2009
quotequote all
I replaced all my relays (again)... Now I can get them to turn 1/2 a revolution when the switch is turned on. But nothing when the dash switch is turned off. The motors are doing the same thing no matter what side I connect it to. Thoughts?

B@man

1,486 posts

234 months

Sunday 8th February 2009
quotequote all
Hi Andy,

Looking it Ian's rather nice new schematics if the white / yellow connection from the Headlamp motor control relay is broken this would prevent both pod's from lowering, this seems to be the only common connection between the two pods. If the connection checks out it it could be possible that you have damaged the diode's in the pod motor switches.

tr7andtvr

Original Poster:

73 posts

232 months

Sunday 8th February 2009
quotequote all
I think you are right.... Since the white/purple and white/yellow are doing the right thing, then that sounds right.