Electric Headlamp Lift Conversion Wiring Advice for S1-S3?

[neilcritter]

Has anyone installed the Spyder Cars electric headlamp conversion preferably in an S3... or an S1 or S2 if not? I'm pretty sure it uses the the Mazda MX5 motor from their headlamps. If not from the Spyder kit... has anybody installed one of Mazda motors on the S1, S2 or S3?

If so, how did you wire it? How did the switches work in the dashboard?

It looks the instructions suggest an option to use the feed from the sidelamp switch (which I think started with the S4/1968 and on).

I am planning on ordering a new wiring harness from Autosparks, so I suppose I could ask for an S4 wiring harness but I fear it would add complications as the dash board is different.... or ask them to run a 12 volt power (similar to the sidelamp
power) but still need to work out the up and down switch from the dash to the motor.

Attached are their instructions and some photos they provided.

Any experience or ideas???

[HCA]

The instructions do state the feed from the sidelight etc is for the +2. If you adopt this on an S3, the pods will rise when you switch on sidelights.

If you only want the pods to rise for headlamp use, then their second instruction - a feed from the headlight switch...

No need to order a special from a harness fabricator, just add the wire yourself...

[Foxie]

I fitted the Spyder headlamp lift system to my +2S 3 years ago, an am really pleased with it.

The Spyder wiring instructions are a bit confusing, It seems they fit a rotary switch but retain the original sidelight switch, and use this to supply the headlamp lift signal (blue cable ) They do not mention how the headlights are switched on.

I fitted the rotary switch, and wired it as follows :

1. Supply to rotary switch uses the feed to dip switch (brown/red cable ) which is disconnected from the dip switch
2. New cable from terminal 2 to terminal 85 on sidelight relay.
3. blue lift cable from terminal 3, with new cable from terminal 3 to dip switch supply.

So position 1; all lights off
position 2: sidelights on
position 3 sidelights on & headlamps up and on

The original side lamp switch and the pod limit switches are now redundant.

It was very convenient that the rotary switch fits neatly into the old vacuum switch location in the dashboard lower right. It is only necessary to remove the under-dash trim panel to fit it.

[Barney]

I fitted this to my S2 but as I had an auto-electrician in for some work on my daily driver, I got him to do the polarity switching, I know it took him a little bit of head scratching but it all worked out in the end.

Sorry to not be of any greater help.