Wouldn't let it lie
Discussion
The operation of my front lights has been troubling me for a while - the way the pods lift on switching only the side lights on (looks silly to me) and the high beam flash doesn't seem to do anything when lights are switched off ?
So I thought I'd investigate the aim being that pods will only raise once main beam is switched on and to get some sort of flash working (preferably on the driving lights )
So driving lights were lighting only when main beam switched on - is this standard ??
But at that point no highbeam working either in flash or if colomn lever pushed forward - traced to a poorly fitting fuse - get it working but then driving lights refuse to work - start to trace fault drop down relay board to check relay and find this lot behind it
Looks like the remnants of an alarm/immobilizer
So now I've got to get my driving lights working sort out the flash and the sidelight pod raising issue PLUS trace and remove all the redundant cables from behind the relay board -Ho hum. Should have left it alone
By the way my relay board bears no relation to anything depicted in the bible - anyone have a diagram showing what relay does what? If not ill try and trace each ones function and post up my findings
So I thought I'd investigate the aim being that pods will only raise once main beam is switched on and to get some sort of flash working (preferably on the driving lights )
So driving lights were lighting only when main beam switched on - is this standard ??
But at that point no highbeam working either in flash or if colomn lever pushed forward - traced to a poorly fitting fuse - get it working but then driving lights refuse to work - start to trace fault drop down relay board to check relay and find this lot behind it
Looks like the remnants of an alarm/immobilizer
So now I've got to get my driving lights working sort out the flash and the sidelight pod raising issue PLUS trace and remove all the redundant cables from behind the relay board -Ho hum. Should have left it alone
By the way my relay board bears no relation to anything depicted in the bible - anyone have a diagram showing what relay does what? If not ill try and trace each ones function and post up my findings
Edited by Rockettvr on Wednesday 19th August 11:59
Hi Ron,
I shared your frustration but now have it working as I believe it should; light pods down with sidelights on and flashing on the driving lights. Ian's the hero... check out his wedgeneering site for detailed explanations of what the relays do and how it's wired. I also modified mine to use the driving lights as foglights; different lenses and wired to work on dipped beam.
I wouldn't bother with trying to find a relay layout diagram, I think TVR just made it up as they went along. It's not particularly difficult to start from scratch and figure out which relay is which. The wiring colours will give you clues but again don't rely on it; I think my cars were original and had connectors with one wiring colour on one side and a different colour on the other!
I also found the original relays in the car were crap quality and were misbehaving; but I had a bit of a dork moment swapping relays around before realising that not all of the relays were the same type.
Have fun... it's very satisfying when you finally figure it out!
I shared your frustration but now have it working as I believe it should; light pods down with sidelights on and flashing on the driving lights. Ian's the hero... check out his wedgeneering site for detailed explanations of what the relays do and how it's wired. I also modified mine to use the driving lights as foglights; different lenses and wired to work on dipped beam.
I wouldn't bother with trying to find a relay layout diagram, I think TVR just made it up as they went along. It's not particularly difficult to start from scratch and figure out which relay is which. The wiring colours will give you clues but again don't rely on it; I think my cars were original and had connectors with one wiring colour on one side and a different colour on the other!
I also found the original relays in the car were crap quality and were misbehaving; but I had a bit of a dork moment swapping relays around before realising that not all of the relays were the same type.
Have fun... it's very satisfying when you finally figure it out!
Just thank your lucky stars you haven't got one all wired in black ! (yes, I've got one - a total PITA for wiring faults.)
The basic pod system has 5 relays, and it sounds complex but it's not really - may take a while to get your head around, but here's a simple overview. (Later wedges got a bit more complex with the spotlights added)
relay 1 This is a changover type, and makes one of 2 signal wires live (=12v) for UP and DOWN which goes to both pod motors
relay 2 and 3 'classic' type main and dip beam - they have at least one diode to relay 1 (so it sends "UP" to the pods when H/lights on)
relay 4 and 5 are a "run" relay for each pod motor.
Each pod motor has a "Top" and "Bottom" wire which gets switched when pod is at that position.
motors have 5 wires -
earth
motor power
'OUT'
"TOP"
"BOTTOM"
where OUT gets switched OFF at the right point, for power fed in by either TOP or BOTTOM wire
There is a circuit diagram on this forum somewhere - I remember seeing it.
In fact, I think the early TR7 setup is exactly the same, if that helps.
I hope that makes sense !!
The basic pod system has 5 relays, and it sounds complex but it's not really - may take a while to get your head around, but here's a simple overview. (Later wedges got a bit more complex with the spotlights added)
relay 1 This is a changover type, and makes one of 2 signal wires live (=12v) for UP and DOWN which goes to both pod motors
relay 2 and 3 'classic' type main and dip beam - they have at least one diode to relay 1 (so it sends "UP" to the pods when H/lights on)
relay 4 and 5 are a "run" relay for each pod motor.
Each pod motor has a "Top" and "Bottom" wire which gets switched when pod is at that position.
motors have 5 wires -
earth
motor power
'OUT'
"TOP"
"BOTTOM"
where OUT gets switched OFF at the right point, for power fed in by either TOP or BOTTOM wire
There is a circuit diagram on this forum somewhere - I remember seeing it.
In fact, I think the early TR7 setup is exactly the same, if that helps.
I hope that makes sense !!
Thanks for the pointer to ians website Martin. Not had a chance to study the wiring diagrams but found a depiction of a relay board on there which looks similar if not identical to mine.
Managed to get everything working to day just need to do a bit of alteration to make it work the way I want it to. Stripped out redundant wiring too
Amazing what you find tucked behind the dash !!!
Clifford alarm
Also found my wedge has been fitted with (non working) central locking. Gonna have a look tomorrow to see if it can be got going again
Managed to get everything working to day just need to do a bit of alteration to make it work the way I want it to. Stripped out redundant wiring too
Amazing what you find tucked behind the dash !!!
Clifford alarm
Also found my wedge has been fitted with (non working) central locking. Gonna have a look tomorrow to see if it can be got going again
Rockettvr said:
Clifford alarm
Also found my wedge has been fitted with (non working) central locking. Gonna have a look tomorrow to see if it can be got going again
The alarm was possibly fitted as an insurance requirement; mine had a Thatcham Cat. 1 Clifford on when I got it... it cost the previous owner £575! It's been a condition on my insurance as long as I've had the car (16 years this month Also found my wedge has been fitted with (non working) central locking. Gonna have a look tomorrow to see if it can be got going again
).The central locking may have been installed as part of the alarm (my Clifford had the capability but not the solenoids so I fitted them myself) so without the alarm you may have to install a locking control module.
I found out the hard way that Cliffords and battery chargers don't mix...
Got the central locking disentangled from the alarm system and have managed to get it up and running
Started on the pods raising on side light issue only to have one of the pods refuse to work traced to the limit switch on the back of the motor. All connections inside were pretty rough due to a previous bodge by someone so took it apart and resoldered only to have one if the legs on the diode snap off too short to reconnect...trip to maplins all sorted. Pods niw working well
Sorted out the driving lights to flash from the colomn switch all good
Just need to sort the pods raising on sidelights now. Unfortunately the wiring diagrams in the bible and the instructions on the wedgenerring website dont tally with what's actually in the car so some tracing of wires etc required
Weather is far to good to be pissing about with that at the moment so I'm off out to burn through some of tescos finest 99RON
Started on the pods raising on side light issue only to have one of the pods refuse to work
traced to the limit switch on the back of the motor. All connections inside were pretty rough due to a previous bodge by someone so took it apart and resoldered only to have one if the legs on the diode snap off too short to reconnect...trip to maplins all sorted. Pods niw working wellSorted out the driving lights to flash from the colomn switch all good
Just need to sort the pods raising on sidelights now. Unfortunately the wiring diagrams in the bible and the instructions on the wedgenerring website dont tally with what's actually in the car so some tracing of wires etc required
Weather is far to good to be pissing about with that at the moment so I'm off out to burn through some of tescos finest 99RON
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