Headlamp Operation Can Someone Explain?

[lotusbaz]

Hello Everyone,

I am trying to sort the wiring of my S2 which has been messed about by previous owners and i wondered if someone can pleas explain to me the operation of the headlights.

At present if i operate the 'lights' toggle switch, the sidelights illuminate in the first position. If i put the switch in the second position nothing happens until i pull the other switch when the headlamps pop up. The offside headlamp operates a micro switch which in turn operates a relay and the headlamps are then either OFF DIPPED or MAIN BEAM depending upon the position of the left hand stalk on the steering column.

However there is a similar micro switch connected to the nearside headlamp which seems to operate another relay and flasher unit. Am i correct to assume that this is supposed to flash the headlamps? If so, do they flash when the toggle switch is 'OFF' and the headlamps are UP. Are they supposed to flash continually or only once?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, Baz


_______________
1966 Elan 26/4388

[types26/36]

Headlight operation.
1. top position of toggle switch....everything off.
2. first position down (middle) .....side lights come on
3. bottom position of switch......power for headlights but they will not light until vac pull raises headlights, this is achieved by the r/s micro switch energizing the main h/l relay when the pod lifts.
The high/low beam is now controlled by the stalk on the column.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Flashing h/l function.
This will only work with the toggle switch in the off (upper position) position and middle position (side lights) when the vac pod is raised, this is achieved by the left side micro switch which energizes the flashing h/l relay.
Once the toggle switch is set in the bottom position (headlights) it cuts off the power supply to the flashing relay.
They flash continusly until the pod goes down or the toggle switch is set to the bottom position (headlights)

[lotusbaz]

Hi Brian,

Many thanks for your quick reply.

My flashing system does not work at present but now that i know exactly how it should work i can sort it out tomorrow.

The system of operating the micro switches pulling them with a spring leaves a lot to be desired but i suppose if it works then leave well alone!

Best Regards, Baz

[types26/36]

Well not may of them do now as people tend to disconnect the flashing system, it is also "supposed" to be illegal now but both my S2 & Sprint work and I have no probs with the MOT.

[lotusbaz]

Its good to know that there is no probs with the MOT.

I like to have a car where everything works as it should do. I can not imagine ever having to want to use the flashing system but if the parts are there then they might as well be working.


Baz

[lotusS2guy]

Back in early 1966 when my Elan was brand new (about 600 miles on the clock), I drove from New York to California in it. On the first day of the trip, I lost headlights entirely. (Enter Prince of Darkness joke here.) I went to the Lotus dealer in Pittsburgh the next day and was told that the main headlight relay was burned. The cause was the microswitch attached to headlight pod via long spring. It seems that harmonics in the spring would cause the switch to chatter which caused the relay to chatter and, ultimately, fail. They said they could install a new relay under warranty which would probably fail sooner than later, or simply bypass the relay with a hunk of heavy wire. The only shortcoming would be that headlights could be on while down and, of course, the flashing headlight function would be forever lost. That hunk of wire is still under the dash over 40 years later.

Herb
Elan S2
26/4618