Headlight pods and lack of lights

[Chris Southam]

Hi guys, so I'm trying to get the electrics in order and I've come across something unusual.

I've got light from both bulbs in the right hand pod and nothing from the left (both bulbs). So being clever I thought I'd swap the bulbs around to see if it's just that but still no joy.

As always the electrics are less than robust and I've previously had trouble with the pods themselves opening and closing. This required just a contact clean on the relays to the right pod and they both come up and go down (one slower than the other on the up, but very fast down for both!).

Anyway I'm guessing from the wiring diagrams that both sets of lights (left and right) are controlled from just one relay which makes me think it's possibly an earthing problem with the left hand pod lights.

The pods look pretty intricate, are they easy to remove so I can get to the electrics a little easier?

[Paul Coleman]

Unless the S2 is different to the S1, or of course you've added them, there aren't any relays for the lights. The power comes straight from the switch for the S1. If both lights are out and the bulbs are okay it does sound like an earth.

Paul.

[Nelly]

Hi Chris,

Can't help you too much with the electrics, only that my car was not wired correctly and my pods came up at different speeds. Now its all sorted properly they come up together and more quickly than before. So my hunch would be something is not right with the wiring, but unless you know what you are doing I would get a pro to have a look (I nearly set fire to my car trying to sort something!)

The pods are fiddly to get out but has one major drawback. There is a bolt from inside the wing area on that side.. The other side is held by a metal bar which slides oout into the centre area of the bodywork where the spare wheel sits. Only probelm is the bonnet hinges also sit on the pins, so you will need to take the bonnet off first before you can do the pods!

The photo below shows how the bar & bonnet hinge sit in situ but with the pod removed:

Not sure if it was otiginal but my car now has connectors on the pod electrics so I can disconnect from the loom for easy removal.

[vintaylor]

Hi Chris,

Can't help you too much with the electrics, only that my car was not wired correctly and my pods came up at different speeds. Now its all sorted properly they come up together and more quickly than before. So my hunch would be something is not right with the wiring, but unless you know what you are doing I would get a pro to have a look (I nearly set fire to my car trying to sort something!)

The pods are fiddly to get out but has one major drawback. There is a bolt from inside the wing area on that side.. The other side is held by a metal bar which slides oout into the centre area of the bodywork where the spare wheel sits. Only probelm is the bonnet hinges also sit on the pins, so you will need to take the bonnet off first before you can do the pods!

The photo below shows how the bar & bonnet hinge sit in situ but with the pod removed:

Not sure if it was otiginal but my car now has connectors on the pod electrics so I can disconnect from the loom for easy removal.

Hi Nelly,

I'm currently trying to prefit all the body parts on my s2 before sending it off for spray. Did your bonnet hinges have spacers in them?

Also would you happen to have a picture of how the headlamp pivot bush is mounted to the headlamp pod? I'm not sure if the headlamp bush is rivets from the inside or outside of the headlamp pod. :S

Thanks

[Chris Southam]

Hi Vin, I've just prepped my car for paint, it's off this morning.

For mine the bonnet hinges didn't have any spacers.

The pod pivot bushes are riveted on the outside of the pod both sides and then the other bushes on the car are riveted on the outside as well.

[vintaylor]

Hi Chris,

I've had my front bonnet repaired and the specialist has filled in the headlamp holes on the body.. Would you have any measurements for where these holes should be?

My car has a total of 4 pivot bushes. Shouldn't they be installed between the headlamp and the body mount where the bonnet hinge pivot pin goes through?

Is this above picture correct? the two pivot bushes are mounted facing away from each other. one riveted from outside the pod and the other from outside the body?

[Chris Southam]

Hi Vin, as per the other thread I would shine a light through the body panels to find the original holes.

This should be fairly easy on the pods and the inside bonnet holes should be easy too as you'll have great access without the bonnet in place.

I can only speak of my experience, but there's four bushes (my mistake previously).

Two on the inside of the bonnet area, and two on the matching outside of the pod.

The bonnet plates don't have spacers as the distance is set when you bolt the plate onto the bonnet itself - there's a split on the end of the pivot rod which will stop the impossible happening - the bonnet sliding off both ends of the pivot rod.

Hope that helps, if it doesn't I'll have the car back in a few weeks and can take more photos then.

[vintaylor]

Thanks Chris.

Will get a torch out and have a go at finding the old bush holes on the body

[vintaylor]

Hi Chris,

Didn't have any luck with the torch.. It only gave me a rough idea of where the hole is located. Might have to find another member that could measure it up for me :/

The problem is if I don't get the exact hole position I won't be able to adjust the headlamp :/

[lotusesprits2]

Hi Chris, just in case you never sorted it.....

Headlight wiring (S2) – as already discussed, there isn’t a relay in the headlight dipped beam circuit. The power comes from the dashboard switch via a blue wire to the column stalk switch, then via blue/red wires to the headlights. The only relays you should have are for the main beam (flash) and the headlight motors. However, the whole circuitry around that area can be troublesome as it’s interconnected at various points and watch out for a few diodes along the way to boot! Checking the earths is always a good start. If it helps with relay identification at all, the headlight flash relay is the 4 pin relay with the blue/white wire going to its coil (85), and the motor relay is the 5 pin with the purple/yellow going to its coil (85). You may have 4 relays. Some cars have a bonnet foul micro switch in the earth connection (black) to the motor relay.

Hope this is some use!

Best of luck,

Will.

[Chris Southam]

Hi guys, thanks for all the replies. I did get it sorted in the end, was just an earthing problem.

I could have the same troubles again soon as the car's gone into the paint shop and I need to put all back together soon! Thankfully I've spent a lot longer studying the circuit diagrams and fairly confident with my electrical abilities

[madmax]

Hey Chris!!

Where in fact was the poor earth located?

My S2 JPS car has just failed its MOT as the headlights wont come on even though both pods come up. I've tried to clean various earth straps around the car but I'm not sure if there's a connection that deals specifically with the lighting.

Various people have suggested it could be a switch fault but this looks fairly new and the contacts inside it look mint.

Also need a steering rack gaiter but once these little jobs are done, she'll have a new MOT!!

Cheers

Simon