Help I cant see!
Help I cant see!
Author
Discussion

DustyC

Original Poster:

12,822 posts

283 months

Thursday 12th August 2004
quotequote all
Im currently driving at ridulous speeds right now and I cant see.
Well, thats not the whole truth. I can see my phone thats how Im posting this, but I can't see the road ahead.
Infact if I hold my phone up to the windscreen I think I can see further down the road!

Q: Im guessing that currently the wiring goes from the battery through the switch and too the lights.
I was going to change this so the lights are relay driven instead. But is that enough to make a difference?

Just for the anti-humor police. Im not really driving but I did just have fantastic drive home from the hants meet. The car felt ballistic tonight. Think the cold damp air must have helped a bit.


griffter

4,143 posts

284 months

Friday 13th August 2004
quotequote all
DustyC said:


Q: Im guessing that currently the wiring goes from the battery through the switch and too the lights.
I was going to change this so the lights are relay driven instead. But is that enough to make a difference?



I think the lights are already relay switched - certainly main beam. But half the problem is the length of wire in the loom. It runs all down the left hand side wing (to the n/s headlight) then on past the radiator (to the o/s headlight) then goodness how much further back through the loom to the nearest earth (a trait of all GRP cars). By using the headlamp switch to switch a relay direct from the alternator (don't forget a fuse too ) and from the headlight to the nearest earth (good and clean) you'll probably see a difference. Power = ((voltage)squared)/resistance, so a small increase in voltage will give a larger than proportional increase in power.

DustyC

Original Poster:

12,822 posts

283 months

Friday 13th August 2004
quotequote all
Just fitting bigger cables would have the same effect as the volt drop would be smaller.
I guess I'll have to have a look around and see whats going on in there.
Thanks for the advice though.

Dont worry, I wouldn't forget the fuses!

griffter

4,143 posts

284 months

Friday 13th August 2004
quotequote all
DustyC said:
Just fitting bigger cables would have the same effect as the volt drop would be smaller.
I guess I'll have to have a look around and see whats going on in there.
Thanks for the advice though.

Dont worry, I wouldn't forget the fuses!


Clean up the headlamp connectors too (spade type, behind the access pods) as if they're cruddy they won't be helping.

shpub

8,507 posts

301 months

Friday 13th August 2004
quotequote all
1. Clean the lights. Easy to forget this.
2. The lights are earthed through the earth under the rad. Clean this as this is often the cause of poor lighting.
3. Take the sunglasses off. It's not cool despite what they say in the Blues Brothers

k77-widow maker

910 posts

288 months

Friday 13th August 2004
quotequote all
You do realise that those candles we have under the pods do need to be changed when there is no wax left!!

DustyC

Original Poster:

12,822 posts

283 months

Friday 13th August 2004
quotequote all
shpub said:
Take the sunglasses off.


NEVER!

bridgdav

4,805 posts

277 months

Friday 13th August 2004
quotequote all
Dusty

Are you sure it wasn't the RED Mist in front of your eyes as the others beat you out of the Car Park last night...?

DustyC

Original Poster:

12,822 posts

283 months

Saturday 14th August 2004
quotequote all

I dunno about that, think I was too busy trying to keep it straight as I pulled away.
Not very clever parking in a puddle!

Big Al.

69,336 posts

287 months

Sunday 15th August 2004
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I lied! it's not your passenger head light that is out, it's your drivers side.

DustyC

Original Poster:

12,822 posts

283 months

Monday 16th August 2004
quotequote all
Thanks Al.
I didn't realise that, it must have gone out that very night. The reflection in the back of cars seemed OK.

Oh well never mind, needed some black mastic anyway!

david beer

3,982 posts

296 months

Monday 16th August 2004
quotequote all
You only have to rewire the drivers side to get around 100w increase with all four on.