wedge headlights

[johntom]

Hi
i am having trouble with the headlights on my '87 wedge.

The sidelights (in the bumper)come on and the passenger side headlight lifts(most times) but no light (or in drivers side).
The full beam flasher from the column stalk works.

I have found 2 relays under the drivers side pod, both corroded inside so i replaced them but still no headlights (both bulbs) ok?

What should i try next?
thanks

[GV]

Try your Earth connections - there's one located in the engine bay on the n/s chassis upright. Also check the diode in the fuse board hasn't worked itself loose. 9/10 it will be some sort of connection - just persevere checking the connections until something crops up that isn't right.

[leorest]

TVR being TVR had several configurations of the way the lights worked throughout the production years. My car is a similar age to yours and it works like this...

Light switch off - Sidelights in bumper off, pods down, lights in pods off. Column flash makes main beam+dip beam flash in pods(though the pods don't raise!) and spots flash(if turned on).

Light switch set to first position - Sidelights in bumper on, pods raised, lights in pods off. Column flash makes main beam+dip beam flash in pods. and spots flash(if turned on).

Light switch set to second position - Sidelights in bumper on, pods raised, lights in pods on. Column flash makes main beam+dip beam flash in pods. and spots flash(if turned on).

Under normal conditions the lighting functions are all symmetrical I say this because I have seen a Wedge where the pods raise and flash(wink) alternately with a column stalk flash.

I don't quite understand your description of the problem. When your lights worked properly was it similar to mine and if so how does it differ now?

HTH

[johntom]

Hi
i have just recently bought the car, so they never worked in my ownership. The guy i bought it from said they had recently failed. Basically when i turn on the lights the n/s pod raises, the o/s doesn't. Neither pod light comes on, however the sidelights in the bumper do. The full beam (from the stalk)comes on in both pods.
thanks

[leorest]

johntom said:

Hi
i have just recently bought the car, so they never worked in my ownership. The guy i bought it from said they had recently failed. Basically when i turn on the lights the n/s pod raises, the o/s doesn't. Neither pod light comes on, however the sidelights in the bumper do. The full beam (from the stalk)comes on in both pods.
thanks

Does the o/s pod make any attempt to move? Any noise from the motor? IF there is an access hole beneath the pod you can reach the knob on the end of the lift motor. Turn it and see if it moves freely and also if the motor springs into life.

WATCH OUT FOR YOUR FINGERS OR ANYTHING ELSE YOU MIGHT HAVE LEFT IN THE PATH OF THE PODS OR THEIR MECHANISM. THEY COULD CHOP SOMTHING OFF YOU DIDN'T WANT REMOVING!

To do list...
Get Steve Heath's book.
Look up the Wedgepages website.
Buy stuff from Maplin.
Check out Wedg1e's site too.
Best of luck.

[johntom]

Hi
the o/s motor winds up ok, there isn't any noise.

If the n/s pod raises ok would you suspect the problem is with the o/s motor contacts inside the motor housing?

How do you identify which relays are which?

Does you car have two relays inside/under the o/s pod and what are they for?

many thanks

[leorest]

johntom said:

How do you identify which relays are which?

Take one out at a time and see what changes. Be careful when re-inserting relays as they can sometimes push the wiring out the back of the housing.

johntom said:

Does you car have two relays inside/under the o/s pod and what are they for?

Not that I can recall. I wonder if someone has rigged up direct power to the headlights rather than the TVR standard "round the round world" wiring scheme. If so your in for an adventure and dont blame TVR dodgy wiring when it's more likely poorly executed previous owner modifications.

[Andy390]

leorest said:

johntom said:

How do you identify which relays are which?

Take one out at a time and see what changes. Be careful when re-inserting relays as they can sometimes push the wiring out the back of the housing.

johntom said:

Does you car have two relays inside/under the o/s pod and what are they for?

Not that I can recall. I wonder if someone has rigged up direct power to the headlights rather than the TVR standard "round the round world" wiring scheme. If so your in for an adventure and dont blame TVR dodgy wiring when it's more likely poorly executed previous owner modifications.

I agree, I've an '88 390 and there's no relays anywhere near the pods, all the headlamp flash/lift relays are in the relay board under the passenger side flappy thing(you know the one,that falls on your passengers knees when giving it some beans!)
if you like i can copy my wiring diagram for you (although i'm sure there's some out there on t'interweb)
My car was pretty much unmolested(until i got it!)and as standard the pods lifted up on the sidelight setting(first position)even though there were no sidelight bulbs in the Main headlamp bowls, which i always thought looked naff.(if i'm right the 400's did have sidelight bulbs in the main lights?)
So after getting contorted into several positions and with much note taking i rewired the 'Lift' wire so that they only lift when the second stage is switched on.
The fact that one of your pods isn't lifting is a separate matter as it's controlled by separate relays. PM Me if you want my wiring diagram.
Hope this helps
Andy

[johntom]

Hi
that would be a great help. I am going to have another go with it tomorrow (after i have fitted the alloy swirl pot i picked up from RT earlier today).

When i was messing with the car earlier this week, i noticed the relays under the o/s pod access hole (which were a little bit on the rusty side). I took the cover off and worked the contact which made the lights flash, I replaced them with two new ones but still no lights etc.
many thanks

[johntom]

hi
i managed to get the pods to work, bad connections in the pods and in the motor housing! I've soldered up all the connections now instead of the old corroded bullet/lucar things.
Having checked the car's history, the Headlights have been rewired by someone hence the 2 additional relays in the o/s pod! It seems the sidelights in the bumper come on with the first click of the switch (pods still down), the second click raises the pods hopefully with headlights - still working on that bit. Not quite sure how it works, the feed wire to the headlight fuse has been cut?