9 replies to this topic

[bluequinn]

I’ve just fitted some Wipac spotlights to my Mini. Unfortunately they don’t work.
I’m sure I wired them correctly, and I even added an earth to the brackets in case the bolt wasn’t enough.

Here’s where I am. If I put the lights on and change to full beam the relay clicks. I assume this means I have power on the live wire and I have the main beam connection working.
The live wire has an inline fuse. I assume that if this was broken the relay wouldn’t click? Am I correct?
Making temporary earth connections between lamp bodies and the body or engine seems to do nothing.
Any ideas?

[mini-mad-mark]

If I understand correctly you have taken a main beam feed to energise the relay and that seems to work (as you can hear the relay operating)

 

Where are you taking the live feed for the lamps? You mention it has a line fuse - is the fuse intact?

 

Should be straightforward to check the circuit and work out at what point the power stops, i.e. is there power at the point you have taken it, is there power before the fuse, is there power after the fuse, is there power at the lamp, then is the earth continuous so making the circuit

 

Hopefully your wiring is something like this:

 

https://www.pinteres...49757190106266/

[KTS]

The relay will still function if the live feed is not connected - the click suggests it's getting the trigger voltage from the mainbeam circuit

Check you are getting 12v to the relay. If that checks out, use a bit of wire to connect 12v to the feed that goes to the spotlights from the relay. If that lights the lamps it may suggest a problem with the relay itself

[bpirie1000]

Have you checked the bulbs and connections at the lamp end..

[bluequinn]

Ooh no, that fuse is after the relay isn’t it? It could be as simple as that.

[bluequinn]

I've solved the problem, thanks for everyone's suggestions.

I took the live feed off the circuit for the headlamp flashers, which, I have discovered, only work with the ignition key in position 2.

There was a bit of grille removal when it transpired the right hand headlight wouldn't do main beam, but thankfully a wiggle on the wire fixed that. 

Then there was another bit of grille removal and some swearing when I forgot to reseat the trigger wire for the spotlamps. 

 

But now I have 4 main beams!

[KTS]

..out of curiosity; where have you taken the live feed to the relay from ?

[bluequinn]

Fuse 1-2 - although I connected to the white (pre-fuse) side of this because the live wire has an inline 15a fuse.

Seemed quite beefy.

[KTS]

A slightly better alternative would be to take the live feed to the relay direct from the battery cable terminal on the starter solenoid

[bluequinn]

I tried that but as it wasn't working I moved it. 

Of course now I realise that it wasn't working for other reasons - like my high-beam cable wasn't seated properly.