How do you get it up ...

[streaky]

When it won't rise to the occasion?

My NS headlamp pod needs V14gr4!

The light(s) come on, but the pod won't rise. Turning the knob underneath (through over 20 turns) doesn't get it up either and I can't lift it from on top, or push it up from below.

Ideas gratefully received.

Just before its MOT too .

Streaky.

[dickymint]

Streaky, Some motors have a knob that is on a spring that sometimes have to be pushed up at the same time as you turn it so that it engages the spline and turns.
Try that and if it raises the pod the chances are that it will activate and pop back down again under power in which case theres probably a dirty terminal inside the cover near the gearbox.Or sticking brushes)

[streaky]

dickymint said:

Streaky, Some motors have a knob that is on a spring that sometimes have to be pushed up at the same time as you turn it so that it engages the spline and turns. Try that and if it raises the pod the chances are that it will activate and pop back down again under power in which case theres probably a dirty terminal inside the cover near the gearbox.Or sticking brushes)

Sorry, mine don't do that. Nice try though

[dickymint]

Crowbar!!!

[sevans]

Turn the knob the right way!!!

[stainless_steve]

Let your wife have a try

[streaky]

sevans said:

Turn the knob the right way!!!

Er, I am!

dickymint said:

Crowbar!!!

It could come to that!

stainless_steve said:

Let your wife have a try

Well, maybe as the last resort ...

I've got to get it sorted today, or it's off the road!

[streaky]

This is driving me nuts!!!

Any ideas on how to remove the headlamp pod without raising it would be gratefully received. It looks like this is the only way to begin to sort out the problem.

I now suspect that something has broken in the linkage, but I definitely can't push the pod up from underneath, the rose-jointed arm is intact and connected to the pod and actuating arm on the motor, and the actuating arm is attached to the motor. Any breakage is inside the motor.

As I said, it's driving me nuts!!!

Many thx - Streaky

Forgot to add, the bracket is the type that lies roughly horizontal and has three (by feel) nuts that secure it to the body. Are these captive bolts? If I (manage to - they are difficult to get at through the hole underneath) undo the nuts I guess the pod can be pushed up with the bracket and lift motor attached. But I don't want to undo these nuts until I know that they are (a) captive, or (b) how I get access to the bolt heads.

Alternatively, what are my chances of unbolting the motor? - Streaky

>> Edited by streaky on Friday 7th November 12:09

[350matt]

Best thing to do is to undo the two hinge bolts at the corners of the pod. This should allow you to flip to pod foward so you can see whats going on, which is probably a jammed linkage.

Matt

[streaky]

350matt said:

Best thing to do is to undo the two hinge bolts at the corners of the pod. This should allow you to flip to pod foward so you can see whats going on, which is probably a jammed linkage. Matt

I would if I could work out how to get to the bonnet-side one from underneath. Any ideas? - S

[19560]

Streaky, I've just been crawling around my car. The four bolts are not captive. Open the bonnet; standing at the front corner of the car you can now get one hand in to the back of both the plate bolts and the headlight hinge bolts - I've just done it and reached all six - it may scrape a little skin though. Good luck. Jonathan

[19560]

The only other way is from underneath; remove the spoiler if your're struggling and the rad but neither of these jobs are essential.

[streaky]

19560 said:

Streaky, I've just been crawling around my car. The four bolts are not captive. Open the bonnet; standing at the front corner of the car you can now get one hand in to the back of both the plate bolts and the headlight hinge bolts - I've just done it and reached all six - it may scrape a little skin though. Good luck. Jonathan

Jonathan - That's great, very many thanks. I couldn't see the wood for the trees. Never thought that the four slotted head bolts were the boths I was looking for! Duh! I'll have to make a trip to H4lf0rds to get a stubby 3/8" socket drive & flexi-drive so I can get in there. Looks like the bonnet will have to come off so as to get a broad bladed screwdriver on the bolt heads.

I'll document with pictures if possible. Mioght be useful for someone else one day.

Wish me luck (and a fine day tomorrow).

Streaky

PS - what a GREAT Forum with a FANTASTIC bunch of guys and gals always ready to help - S

[streaky]

19560 said:

Streaky, I've just been crawling around my car. The four bolts are not captive. Open the bonnet; standing at the front corner of the car you can now get one hand in to the back of both the plate bolts and the headlight hinge bolts - I've just done it and reached all six - it may scrape a little skin though. Good luck. Jonathan

Jonathan - it's the NS headlamp, so the access from radiator side is a bit cluttered . Through the access hole seems the easiest way (all things are relative!) - Streaky

[19560]

How did you get on? You were right, I was standing over the offside light and the nearside is more difficult. You seem to be on the right lines though. Just don't damage the fibreglass. Keep going.

[streaky]

19560 said:

How did you get on? You were right, I was standing over the offside light and the nearside is more difficult. You seem to be on the right lines though. Just don't damage the fibreglass. Keep going.

Now the Rugby is over for the day (shame so many refereeing errors went against Scotland) ...

It's wrap up warm and outside with the newly acquired dumpy spanners and 1/4" drive socket set.

If I can get to the nut on the lift arm I'll try to separate that off, otherwise it looks as though the bonnet will have to come off and it's a two-person job on the bracket. Wonder whether SWMBO can be persuaded .

Progress report when progress made.

Streaky

[higgsti]

im having similiar problems although ican wind mine up and down .this may sound daft but mine keeps blowing the fuse 15 amp.ive had mine working then put the light unit back in and then it wasnt working again and neither were my dipped lights.blown the fuse again when you do get the pod up make sure theres a rubber spacer between pod and bodywork annd bolts arnt threaded all the way up this causes resistance which im sure is my problem.you could also try taking off the jack plug to the motor and checking the ciruit

[streaky]

OK, here's the SP ...

The motor was duff ... at least a replacement motor worked OK - glad I had a spare to hand.

How did I get the pod out?

Well, working from underneath, I unscrewed the nut off the end of the crank-arm to pod bolt and found enough wiggle room to get the rose joint off the bolt (a short, thin-bladed screwdriver helps in pushing the bolt through the centre of the joint). Then it was just a matter of lifting the pod up and unscrewing the pivot bolts. Simple!

Thanks to all for your great assistance.

Now I just have to put it together again

Streaky

PS higgsti all my fuses in the headlamp circuits are 30A ... but my fuse panel (and relay panel come to that) are 'non-standard! - S

[dickymint]

Well done Streaky. Not too many cuts/bruises I hope.
Interested to know whats up with the motor that wouldnt let you raise it manually-mechanical I assume!

[wedg1e]

Motor not spinning - try the brushes/ commutator.
Motor won't turn mechanically: if all the linkages still attached, then likeliest cause would be a stripped gear. But you'd hear the motor turning...

Ian