I am a winker ?

[HOTTY]

Currently my 400SE has a wee problem

I turn my lights on without the engine started both pods pop up and stay up

I start the engine do the same, turn the lights on but now the nearside pod comes up and down constantly (it looks like a police car, great for getting through the traffic)

I have clean all connections and sprayed with WD40, changed the relay but nothing ?

Help as I am no electric-expertiser.

[Wedg1e]

New one on me Stephen; the only feed I can think of that's different between ignition on and igntion off is the main beam flash but can't see why it would cause what you describe.

[Mr Tank]

Stephen

Change the diode, that sounds like the faulty item to me!

Andy

[GV]

Give the earth connections a good seeing to - 99% of these problems relate to poor earths. For the headlights They are located on the n/s upright accessible through the engine bay. My dips were suffering and traced that to the loom connection. Connection is king with TVR electrics!!

Edited by GV on Sunday 4th July 19:57

[HOTTY]

Thanks folks for you replies,

Andy by diode do you mean the square 5 pin thing on the board near the fuses
?
And andy no2 (gv) I shall give the earth a good seeing too, the earth connection
Is this the that's soldered to the frame ?

Cheers
Stephen

[Mr Tank]

Stephen

The diode is the odd looking thing on the side of your relay panel. It normally has a spade connection on each of it's two ends, these fit into the side of the panel and controls the flashing etc!
Cost about .75p from maplins.

Andy

[Pilo-Wedgebits]

Hi stephen
There appears to be a spelling mistake in your thread title
I have diodes at the unit so ill have a look one night if you like. Cheers mate Shaun

[Waynester]

You are not alone 'fellow winker' My Wedge has sometimes exhibited this perculiarity as well, same light too.

Not investigated tbh as it's only a 'sometimes' issue.

Sorry not much help, but I always thought it was just an iffy relay

[GV]

HOTTY said:

Thanks folks for you replies,

Andy by diode do you mean the square 5 pin thing on the board near the fuses
?
And andy no2 (gv) I shall give the earth a good seeing too, the earth connection
Is this the that's soldered to the frame ?

Cheers
Stephen

Steve

1. The diode is located in the fuse box with its own connection it looks like 2 little fuses joined together with a short wire. The diode on my car wasn't connected properley hence the winking saga - odds on this is the problem you are having. They are delicate so be careful when replacing the new one.

2 The earth connection for the headlight is bolted to the n/s suspension upright (13mm nut) and is a hefty set of earth cables lashed together with 1 or 2 connector rings. If you can't find it drop me a line and I'll take and email you a pic.

Edited by GV on Monday 5th July 08:34

[Mr Tank]

Steve

Well have you stopped winking or do you always look like that!

Andy

[HOTTY]

still a winker ! I may leave it and join the force (mind you all they drive around in is BMWs)

going to have a look tonight but have some work to do before

then got to do the washing up

been busy with shaun, helping on his motor getting it ready for the BBWF (a bit of a list to finish but at least its now not two halves)

[HOTTY]

Wedg1e said:

New one on me Stephen; the only feed I can think of that's different between ignition on and igntion off is the main beam flash but can't see why it would cause what you describe.

Ian this may have some merit ?

As i have now found and cleaned the earth connection (thanks GV) but no difference

Found the diode (1 number only), cleaned the contacts (thanks all) no difference, changed for one out of the 350 (2 number) that didn't work at all (everything was flashing going up and down, not at the right time).

So still to try a new diode .

But with the old diode back in place and me wondering what to do i put the lights on (off side still winking), flicked the main beam on , the pod stayed up ?
After a couple of mins the n/s pod would revert back to flashing.

still need some help

[Jack Valiant]

You will have to get tore into all the connectors on the light circuits.If the relays, earths and diodes are all ok (proved with known working items) I would then go for all the connector blocks in the light circuit:

Lift lights when both are up disc the battery. Alternatively wind both up by hand using the screw adjuster and disc the battery

Take out the headlight units to facilitate easier access to the cable connector blocks.

Systematically check visually all the connector blocks disc, clean etc. Look carefully at the wire condition where it enters the blocks as they can corrode and increase resistance, check with multi meter if you have one on resitance range with pricker into / through the insultation iether side of the block. Do both sides

If all is well and the symptoms persist pm me and I can talk you though the motor removal and checks

Chris

[Mr Tank]

Steve

Still sounds like the diode to me!

Word of warning if you put it in the wrong way round it will not work properly.

Get a new one before you do any thing else!

Andy