Yet Another Headlight Problem...

[jonknight]

I''ve just bought my first TVR, a 1982 Tasmin 280i, and am having great fun with it (and I''m in love with the noise it makes!) However, ever since I''ve fitted a new stereo to it, the headlights haven''t been working properly. With the light switch in "side-light" position, the side lights work fine. However, when you switch to "Headlight", the headlight pods pop up, with the bulbds on full beam, and them go out, as soon as they''re fully out of the bonnet. The pods just stay there with no light, until you switch the light switch back to side lights and then they go back into the bonnet. Also, when I put the headlights on full beam, after a few seconds smoke starts pouring out of the right hand grill on the bonnet. I''ve lifted this up, and found that one of the wires connecting to the relay is shorting out, and the plastic coating is causing the smoke. I''m pretty sure that this is unrelated to me having fitted the stereo, as I was very careful reconnecting the light switch on the centre console, but I could be wrong. What should I do? Help!!

[350matt]

For starters, contact the factory and get them to post you a copy of the wiring diagram, Faxing is no good as it's pretty blurred already. I'm must admit I'm more familar with the later inside the car type loom, but when you had the central panel off you didn't disturnb any of the wiring on the back of it? As there is a switch on the panel that turns on the driving lamps, which may be shorting out. Also there are two relays for each headlamp lift motor and a single relay for switching on the headlamps and another for high/low beam. isolate which one of these circuits is giving you trouble by pulling out the relays one by one (for christ's sake mark them so you know what goes where) Then with the diagram you should be able to work your way back along th eloom to find whats giving you trouble. Best of luck Matt

[jonknight]

Thanks very much for the replies! I've had a good poke around, and it appears that the problems are being caused by the previous owners dodgy "add-ons". We're trying to remove the various junk that's been added to the car. We've tried removing / replacing the various relays and have got to the point where the headlights now work, however, the pop-up unit relays "tick" repeatedly. This appears to be the micro-switches which tell the motors to stop popping them up. Incidentally, there were no earth cables attached to either headlight cluster. Strange! I would be extremely grateful if you could send me the wiring diagram - the address is : Jon Knight, c/o P.M.Street, Harbins Farm, Malthouse Lane, Trent, Sherborne, Dorset DT9 4SU. Alternatively, if you've got a scanned version, email me at [e-mail] The chasis number is DH5281, if that helps anyone. What kind of a car manufacturer uses all-black wiring anyway... ? ;-) Cheers! Edited by jonknight on Sunday 19th August 12:10

[shpub]

The Wedge bible has all the wiring diagrams that the factory produced for the Wedge series including all the black cable variants, the colour code schemes and fuse systems. ALso be aware there are two diodes that live in the fuse/relay box that control the headlamp operation during flashing etc. These can cause all sorts of problems when the fail. Regards Steve www.tvrbooks.co.uk

[jonknight]

Thanks for all your help, guys! It turned out that the previous owner was a bit of a, how shall I say this, "bodger" and decided to add all sorts of junk to the car such as extra relays. I've ripped all this out now, and rewired the relay board, so everything's working fine now! Oh, and the TVR Manual's fantastic, Steve! Cheers! Edited by jonknight on Monday 27th August 14:48