Anonymous

Headlamp issues

Here’s where to discuss anything specific about your standard(ish) car or something that applies to the model in general.
Post Reply
tr7dan
Rust Hunter
Posts: 117
Joined: 18 Jun 2009 22:53
Location: United Kingdom
Contact:

Headlamp issues

Postby tr7dan » 12 Jul 2022 18:57

So, whilst I am waiting for my viscous coupling bits I thought I would take a preliminary look at the headlight problems.

What I have is, only the left headlamp pops up and down on the main light switch exactly as it should but there's nothing happening on the right. If I disconnect the battery and raise the right pod manually with the knob on the end of the motor, as soon as I reconnect the battery the motor returns the pod to the lowered position, even with the light switch turned off. I guess that at least proves that the motor is working. Nothing happens at all with the headlight flasher stalk.

I need to try to get my head round the wiring and understand how it all works but my first concern is - how the hell do you access the various run/stop relays, pektron unit, etc ? Presumably just working through the hatch at the back of the glove box ? I can't even see how the right hand set of relays etc are connected or fastened in place ?

Image

cheers

Dan
Last edited by tr7dan on 13 Jul 2022 00:15, edited 1 time in total.

saabfast
TRiffic
Posts: 1936
Joined: 03 Feb 2006 08:17
Location: Bexhill-on-Sea

Re: Gynaecology ?

Postby saabfast » 12 Jul 2022 20:25

First, starting with the easy bits, have you checked and cleaned the connectors in the engine bay behind each headlight (two each side, red and black IIRC) and the earth wires which screw into the inner wing?
Next have you stripped and cleaned the headlight switch? Not too difficult but take a picture of how the contacts sit to make reassembly easier. They are normally gunked up with old green grease. I use dielectric grease (silicon grease) on reassembly.
Then, if you need to get to the relays etc. take out the 3 screws you can see which hold the fuse box. It will then drop down below the dash and be a bit more accessible.
Alan
Saab 9-5 2.3t Vector Auto Estate Stage 1
Saab 9-3 2.0 SE Turbo Convertible
'81 TR7 DHC
Image

tr7dan
Rust Hunter
Posts: 117
Joined: 18 Jun 2009 22:53
Location: United Kingdom
Contact:

Re: Headlamp issues

Postby tr7dan » 13 Jul 2022 09:13

Thanks for that - I did check each connection on initial re-assembly but I'll go through everything again today as a double check. I did take out the three screws at the back of the glovebox but it didn't seem as if the fusebox/relay assy was loose enough to drop down - maybe just snagged on something, I'll have another look.

busheytrader
TRemendous
Posts: 3145
Joined: 14 Oct 2007 17:49
Location: United Kingdom
Contact:

Re: Headlamp issues

Postby busheytrader » 13 Jul 2022 10:50

This small, about the width of a little finger, electrical component may sit amongst the fuse box. IIRC it’s connected the the 2 brown wires in your photo, it’s a fairly lose fit on mine. If that disconnects one wire or drops down underneath the carpet if fitted, neither pod will work as it’s a thermal cutout for the motors.

(Hopefully I got that right, if not your wipers won’t work)

Image

dursleyman
TRiffic
Posts: 1566
Joined: 11 Jun 2007 22:55
Location: United Kingdom
Contact:

Re: Headlamp issues

Postby dursleyman » 13 Jul 2022 17:40

Suggest you re-check those connections and earthing points first plus the main light switch.
I put labels on this picture of my fuse box in case it helps anyone.

Image
Russ

1981 TR7 Sprint DHC & 1977 TR7 Sprint FHC
Dursley
UK

http://tr7russ.blogspot.co.uk/

Image Image

tr7dan
Rust Hunter
Posts: 117
Joined: 18 Jun 2009 22:53
Location: United Kingdom
Contact:

Re: Headlamp issues

Postby tr7dan » 13 Jul 2022 19:49

dursleyman wrote:Suggest you re-check those connections and earthing points first plus the main light switch.
I put labels on this picture of my fuse box in case it helps anyone



Sounds like a plan Image

FI Spyder
TRemendous
Posts: 8908
Joined: 03 Jul 2006 19:54
Location: Canada

Re: Headlamp issues

Postby FI Spyder » 14 Jul 2022 16:59

Bear in mind the position of the components on the fuse box changed several times though out the production run. The only way to be sure is match picture of it by year or consult the OEM service manual. The suggested cleaning of contacts behind the front engine bay, switch contacts will fix most headlight problems. I cleaned the connections in 2007 with electronic cleaner and a small round brush (or pipe cleaner) then applied a thin coat of dielectric grease. The switch contacts I cleaned with Brasso, then dielectric grease so the don't recorrode. Take pictures of switch contacts as they go back in several ways, only one is right. Never had a problem since.
- - -TR7 Spider - - - 1978 Spitfire- - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 2013 Volt - Yellow TCT

Beans
TRemendous
Posts: 7767
Joined: 15 Mar 2006 19:29
Location: Netherlands
Contact:

Re: Headlamp issues

Postby Beans » 14 Jul 2022 21:10

tr7dan wrote: ... I did take out the three screws at the back of the glovebox but it didn't seem as if the fusebox/relay assy was loose enough to drop down ...

Depending on model year there is a mounting point for the fuse box in the engine bay (later cars) or two brackets behind the glove box.
But I wouldn't bother with that as the fuse box won't move much. There's just a big chance you dislodge or damage some of the wires.
Picture to illustrate what is hiding behind the glove box ...
Attachments
2009-12-29-01 Hoofd kabelboom.jpg
2009-12-29-01 Hoofd kabelboom.jpg (88.9 KiB) Viewed 3218 times
Image
1976 TR7 FHC (currently being restored ...)
1980 TR7 DHC (my first car, a.k.a. Kermette)
1981 TR7 FHC (Sprint engined a.k.a. 't Kreng)

http://www.tr7beans.blogspot.com/

tr7dan
Rust Hunter
Posts: 117
Joined: 18 Jun 2009 22:53
Location: United Kingdom
Contact:

Re: Headlamp issues

Postby tr7dan » 17 Jul 2022 16:34

Ok, so, headlamps now both working as they should. I found it helps immensely to reconnect ALL the wires that I disconnected previously on stripdown..... :oops: :oops:

Doh !!

FI Spyder
TRemendous
Posts: 8908
Joined: 03 Jul 2006 19:54
Location: Canada

Re: Headlamp issues

Postby FI Spyder » 18 Jul 2022 16:22

Yes, dirty (corroded) contacts are the cause of most electrical problems including gauge problems. Corroded contacts raise the resistance of the circuit giving wrong readings to the gauge be it on the supply side (12V) or the return side (grounds). I've meticulously cleaned all contacts with electrical cleaner and I've only had two problems and both were physical, a loose clamp to red battery wire and no dash lights, a broken 12V wire at the connector going up the dash column to the dash lights. Unlike modern cars with sealed connections (although those can cause problems too) the TR7's are open to the elements.
- - -TR7 Spider - - - 1978 Spitfire- - - - 1976 Spitfire - - 1988 Tercel 4X4 - Kali on Integra - 2013 Volt - Yellow TCT

Cobber
TRemendous
Posts: 2461
Joined: 19 Sep 2005 10:03
Location: Australia
Contact:

Re: Headlamp issues

Postby Cobber » 18 Jul 2022 16:56

So the problem was a high impedance air gap! :lol:
"Keep calm, relax, take a deep breath, focus on the problem & PULL THE BLOODY TRIGGER"

'80 Triumph TR7.
'97 Ford Falcon Longreach 'S' ute,
'98 MG-F.
'83 Jaguar XJ6 Sovereign S3.

tr7dan
Rust Hunter
Posts: 117
Joined: 18 Jun 2009 22:53
Location: United Kingdom
Contact:

Re: Headlamp issues

Postby tr7dan » 19 Jul 2022 09:31

Cobber wrote:So the problem was a high impedance air gap! :lol:



Ha, yep !

I had inadvertently trapped the single wire with the round black connector behind the headlamp mechanism when refitting and therefore, unnoticed, hadn't fed it through the grommit into the engine bay.

This, of course, left me with two unnconnected wires on the right hand side, one of which I knew was a spare terminal for cars with the expansion tank on the right but, because I had nothing to connect to it, I had assumed the round black terminal was also a spare - perhaps for cars with indicator repeater lights. I should have twigged really because obviously, had that been the case, there would have been a matching spare terminal on the left !

Oh well, I've done a full front to back refresh on the car so far, so I guess I'm allowed the odd brain fart.... :D

Image

Post Reply

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 120 guests

cron