Headlight operation 72 US Sprint

PostPost by: tvacc » Thu Aug 01, 2024 3:36 am

Hello all,
Long time since I drove or owned a Sprint. About 25 years. I just got my Sprint and am fixing a few things. I am installing the Spyder electrical headlight pod system. The instructions say to put an on/off switch where the vacuum switch is on the dash. So I am about ready to put power to the whole thing and I removed the under dash trim. I just pulled the vacuum switch and I see there are other wired going to it. When I pull it, I hear a click, maybe the relays for the lights?

What are the two "light" switches supposed to do? I see the right hand one turns on the parking or running lights. I cant see if the headlights are coming on when I pull the vacuum switch as the pods are down.

And I have no one here to raise them to check. So I need someone that has a US Sprint to tell me.

If the vacuum switch also operates the headlights, I may have to just put the on/off for the headlight pods in the glove box. Anyone done this conversion? Anyone have any ideas?
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1000001466.jpg and
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99 Elise190, 05 Elise BLK (Bought nearly new), 2024 Emira, 2005 MiataSpeed Turbo
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PostPost by: tvacc » Thu Aug 01, 2024 4:48 am

Ok, had someone help me determine that the vacuum switches on the headlights.

So what do I do? How do I raise the headlight pods? What have others done? Switch in the glove box? Under the dash somewhere? Open to ideas.

Tony
Tony Vaccaro
LOONY (Lotus Owners of New York)
http://www.lotusowners.com
Drive Fast Take Chances
72 Elan Sprint, 93 Caterham (Bought new), 05 Elise RD (Bought new),
99 Elise190, 05 Elise BLK (Bought nearly new), 2024 Emira, 2005 MiataSpeed Turbo
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PostPost by: gjz30075 » Thu Aug 01, 2024 8:13 am

Tony, if you still have the stock wiring, here's a pic of the Federal Sprint wiring for the headlights (courtesy of
Phil Harrison). In stock form, the pull switch does two functions: releases vacuum and electrically
switches on the headlights
file:///C:/Users/User/Desktop/Cars/Lotus%20reference/Federal_Failsafe_Headlamp_Wiring_Schematic_V1.10.pdf

Also, I attached a picture of the oem arrangement. Shown is the backside of the plate where the two
microswitchs attach and are activated by a cam on the vacuum part of the switch. Hopefully, at least the
wire colors can get you pointed in the right direction.

Edit: I also attached a pic of how the two micro switches are attached, showing the 'on/off' orientation. Ignore
the vacuum switch itself. This is my adaption of a Corvette vacuum switch with the micro switches attached.
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DSC03807.JPG and
vacswitch4 (1).JPG and
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PostPost by: pharriso » Fri Aug 02, 2024 5:08 pm

gjz30075 wrote:Tony, if you still have the stock wiring, here's a pic of the Federal Sprint wiring for the headlights (courtesy of
Phil Harrison). In stock form, the pull switch does two functions: releases vacuum and electrically
switches on the headlights
file:///C:/Users/User/Desktop/Cars/Lotus%20reference/Federal_Failsafe_Headlamp_Wiring_Schematic_V1.10.pdf


Not sure if the pdf was attached Greg... here's the original post with the file - viewtopic.php?f=38&t=30133
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PostPost by: gjz30075 » Fri Aug 02, 2024 6:57 pm

Whoops, thanks Phil.
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