Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Hi Everyone,

Having just replaced the front shocks due MOT failure my headlights have now stopped working. I need to fix them in the coming week in time for the re-test.

My car is a +2 from 67 and I have the non fail-safe system. The lights stopped working but after several attempts at turning them on and off they lit up but on only on main beam and I couldn't dip them. There also seems to be some connection with the side lights, can't quite remember the combination but think it was when the side lights were on then the headlights were on main beam even without being raised. However, they have gone back to not working at all again.

Anyone else experienced this? I'm assuming I'll need to have a look at a micro switch behind the LH light pod or a relay behind the dash somewhere. Any advice would be gratefully received.

Bob.

I would suggest you clean all bullet connectors first. I cut the insulation off the outside of female bullets so i can then open them with a small screw driver. Clean the male bullets and fit new female bullets.
If you just pull on the wires to separate you will break the male bullets off the wires.
Alan

Bob,
there's a few items in this circuit & as Alan says it is likely a poor connection.
Based on my '68 pre-failsafe...
Relays - there is one behind the dash and a second down under the Servo. The one under the servo relates to the headlamp flashing (presumably high beam only). the flasher relay should also have a flasher unit in-line to the headlamps (which may have been removed).
There should be 2 micro-switches under the LH pod.
I think I'd look at the dash switch first.
another thought - the earth at the headlamps is common and I think earthed at the LH engine bay / front upright mounting point. - an easy first shot might be to earth the lights with a temporary wire and see if the problem is improved.

The relays are right there above the shock tower, possible something got bumped

Probably an Earthing problem.

If you have microswitches under the pods it might be that they are not connecting properly as they were there to ensure that headlights are not ON when the pod is down. At least that's what they do on the two-seater Elan.

Thanks for your suggestions, managed to look a bit further today but still unresolved. Lights come on main beam when the light are either off altogether or when the side lights are on. They then turn off when I click the light switch down to the headlight position. I located the m switches behind the LH pod but after pushing them in a few times they seem alright. Only one of the switches is doing anything, possibly due the issues. I swapped the feed wires over and the result was the same. Also checked the bullet connectors, one was a bit rusty so I cleaned it up with some emery, but it made no difference.

I may investigate the relay behind the dash tomorrow. Not sure of the availability of spare relays here in Germany, could maybe swap the fan relay over if they're the same.

I also had a look at the flasher unit and relay under the servo (I have two relays but think one is for the electric fan). They look fine, no corrosion on the connectors. The relay clicks when the main beam comes on but I'm not sure how to test further, any suggestions?

Cheers Bob