Hi All

My driving lights have stopped working and I can't hear the relay clicking when I select main beam as I used to. There is a 15A fuse in line with the +ve wire from the battery to the relay. The fuse was good until I tried bridging the +ve and the lights' power to check the wiring, then the fuse blew - perhaps just because I did this clumsily though. I know the earth is good as it's also used for the 'angel eyes' (not relayed) which still work (I don't use them exept to flash 'thanks' or 'giving way' at night though, honest!)

I suspect the relay is at fault as it looks like this inside (it's only 18 months old by the way )



So I think my first thing to do is replace the relay, but the one I have (and hence its socket) uses an odd terminal arangment, so where do I get a new one that looks like this:



Or should I just replace the relay socket and fit a new relay like this: 40A SPNO & 30A SPDT Automotive Relay

Here are the angel eyes so you can have a good laugh at me

 

LOL, you THINK the relay is at fault???? It's fekked!

I've not seen one with that specialised fitting, you'd be better getting a standard one.

Standard pins are generally labelled 85, 86, 30 and 87.

85 is FROM headlight mainbeam, (trigger).
86 is TO earth.
30 is FROM battery via fuse.
87 is TO lights.

Alcazar

Oh. BTW a tip is to seal the new relay with Araldite etc, along the base to casing gap. Let it set before fitting it.

 

Cheers

 

Right, got a new normal Bosch-type relay from Maplins and it's case is already sealed up with epoxy so that's good. Problem is they didn't do any sockets for it so I'll have to solder directly to the relay. Not really a problem if it proves reliable. Will coating the joints in insulation tape be sufficient to keep corrosion at bay? I've got some waterproof sealant on the go in the kitchen so wondered about a blob of that?

 

I assume it has male spade terminals on it's base?

Get some female spades, (preferably BRASS ones, not those with coloured crimp ends), and plastic covers for them. Cut off original connector. Crimp, or preferably, solder, the wires from the original connector to these spades, after threading wire through the cover.

Push fit as in my other post. You COULD wrap self-amalgamating loom tape around it, but I wouldn't bother. The covers keep the worst of the cack off the connections, mine have been OK for 5 years.

Alcazar