18 replies to this topic

[davidbond007]

Hi - hope everyone is staying safe and well during these unprecedented times.

I have a 1994 Rover Mini Mayfair - just been trying to fit driving lights (Wipacs) and now have an issue with the headlights which I'Id appreciate help with.

 

I follwed instructions re driving light wiring but now the headlights don't work - when I switch the sidelights on the main beam light comes on and the headlights / sidelights don't work ? They do flash on the stalk tho.

 

As a noobie where should I start looking? Fuses? I have disconnected the new wiring for the driving lamps for now.

 

Also taken the scotchlock off the blue and white wire as well.

[jonsharman]

When you say driving lights do you mean additional to the headlamps or a headlamp upgrade?

If it is the former my fear is you have burnt your switch or wiring out as the circuit isn't designed for those sorts of current loads. Additional driving lamps should be wired up using a relay setup. Is that what your instructions have told you to do?

Edited by jonsharman, 11 April 2020 - 03:55 PM.

[davidbond007]

yes driving lamps (Wipac spotlights that come on with main beam only). I used a Lucas wiring kit and relay. four wires to relay - 1 earth, one +ve battery feed, cable to spots and one scothchlocked on blue and white wire for main beam.

[jonsharman]

Will teach me for jumping to conclusions! ?

Which type of fuse box do you have - 4 glass ones in the engine bay or blade fuses in the car?

[davidbond007]

4 glass in emgine bay plus some in lin line

fuses behind single carb

[jonsharman]

Looking at the 4-fuse block there are two fuses protecting the various headlamp circuits.  The first is run from the accessory circuit and powers the dim - dip relay etc. and is the first fuse (white in / green out) which is only live with the ignition at position 2.  The second is for flashing the full beam which is on the second fuse (brown in / purple out) and is live all the time and given you get a flash off the stalk you can discount the second as being faulty.  If when the ignition is at position 2 you have things like directional indicators then you can discount the first fuse as being faulty.

 

If i am reading what you have put correctly it seems you are getting some activity when you switch the headlamp switch but is not what you would expect so may indicate an issue with the dim / dip circuit?  Are you testing the headlamps with the ignition in position 2 so the dim - dip relay is live?  When you operate the headlamp switch what do you get at the back - tail lights, number plate lights etc?  There is an inline fuse up on the center right of the carb against the bulkhead with a brown / orange wire that protects the dim - dip resistor - it is worth checking and cleaning that up.  I'd also look at all the bullet connectors behind the slam panel and give them a clean just in case, as you have been fitting the scotchblock, something has come loose or been disturbed.  

[cal844]

What to do now is to look behind the speedo binnacle, there may be 4 inline fuses, 2x blue/white (main beam) 2x blue/red (dipped beam)

[davidbond007]

Headlight switch on with no ignition - I get no sidelights / headlights and the blue main beam light is on on the dash. Rear lights work ok.
 

With ignition switched on and headlight switch down its the same - no headlights / back lights on and blue main beam light on on the dash

[cal844]

Check those fuses, also remove the fuse box and give it a good clean

[jonsharman]

Check those fuses, also remove the fuse box and give it a good clean

 

Given the stalk flash and the rear lights are working I think you can rule those line fuses out as they come before the feeds to the rear.  I also think it means the fourth fuse in your main block is OK.

 

What is odd is that the your main beam blue warning light is on when it shouldn't be?  According to the diagrams the feed to the instrument pack for that lamp comes after the line fuse and before the head lamp and the instruments have their own earth.  This means, IMO, that voltage is getting through, somehow, at least past the line fuse and so brings me back to a faulty switch?  Why the power is not making the main beam come on, however, is strange.  Do you have illumination behind the instruments?  Did you disturb any of the bullet connectors behind the slam panel?  Have you pulled them out and given them a clean making sure they go back into the correct sets?  As cal844 has said have you given the fuse box a good clean?  When you put the connector on the blue / white wire you haven't crossed it over with either the side lights or the dipped beam at all?  Is the cut in the wire from where the connector was covered up so it cannot earth out?  

 

Do you have / have access to a multi meter at all as I would now start noting down readings in the various scenarios to isolate the fault.  Start with what you would expect so ignition on 2, headlamp switch down 1 click and there should be 12v +ve at the sidelight connector and a lower voltage at the dipped beam (blue / red) connector.  Move the switch down again and you should have 12v at the dipped beam connector and so on.

[davidbond007]

Still not sorted - tried fuses and swapped the dim dip relay for a new one; Checked fuses and the connections near the steering column.
 

- ignition off - switch on lights and the main beam blue light is on but no sidelights / dipped lights or indicators. rear lights ok.
 

- ignition on - indicators don't work, horn does, hazzards do, with lights switched off I can flash the headlights using the stalk and the blue main beam light goes on and off

Wondering if its the lights stalk switch on the sterring column thats faulty? Will try swapping that next.

[cal844]

Check the top fuse isn't blown and also that the indicator inline fuse isn't blown.

Find out what circuits are covered by each fuse, disconnect everything on that fuse, then by connecting one item at a time check the fuse doesn't blow after you add each circuit. If it blows you've probably found the issue...

If it controls indicators you ideally want to disconnect all 4 corners...

What size of exhaust is fitted?


Cal

Edited by cal844, 18 April 2020 - 06:37 PM.

[davidbond007]

The gfood news is that the indicators now work - I replaced all the inline fuses in the engine bay bulkhead behing the carb. The headlight issue remains - lI have replaced the light switch, indicator stalk switch and main fuses but both headlights don't work.

 

WIth ignition on you can flash the lights and only driving lights work. With the light switch the main beam blue 

light on the dash illuminates and both front lights (sidelights and dip beam don't work at all.

 

I have replaced the dim dip relay under the dash as well but no change.

[gazza82]

Have you tried a good bulb? One of the filaments may have blown in the existing ones.

[cal844]

Try changing the bulbs, also get a known working stalk to see if that's the issue.

As it's a 1994 car have a look behind the speedo binnacle there may well be a few inline fuses for main and dipped beam, check these ain't blown also check that the holder ain't melted... had that o my 93 sprite.

Edited by cal844, 29 April 2020 - 03:57 PM.