Headlight Pod Stays up

[grahamk]

My right hand headlamp pod will not go down when the lights are switched off. The plastic bushes etc were replaced in the motors a couple of years ago. I've disconnected the links from the motor in case they were binding somewhere preventing the pod from lowering. With the links off, switching the lights on the motor goes through the motions of raising, but when I switch the lights off nothing happens as far as the motor is concerned.

Your thoughts, ideas and suggestions would be very much appreciated.

[Saltire]

Is the right hand dip beam headlamp working?

I ask because the system works by sensing a continuous circuit through the dip beam bulb when you request the pods to close. No circuit, the pod doesn’t close.

See the Electrical Manual, section MJ10 (pages 25-27), and circuit diagram sheet 6 for more details. These can be found under the Manuals tab at the top of any forum page.

Good luck

[Tuga2112]

Is the right hand dip beam headlamp working?

I ask because the system works by sensing a continuous circuit through the dip beam bulb when you request the pods to close. No circuit, the pod doesn’t close.

its pertinent question, but that wire controlls both pods, not just the right hand side one.

i would be opening up the box and powering up the relays directly. i suspect one of the relays is damaged internally.

this is certainly a box id like to have a go at fixing

[grahamk]

All the lights (dipped and main beam) come on as they should.

Have disconnected each of the plugs on the pod lift module, all contacts are bright and shiny, but have cleaned them anyway. R/H pod still not closing!

[Saltire]

Graham

Based on that additional information, I’m beginning to suspect the pod lift module or (less likely) the pod delay module. I see that you’re in South Essex. Did you by any chance buy your blue Elan from another LEC member, PeteOddCar, in South Woodham Ferrers? Because if not, you have a twin just down the road. In fact there are several LEC members in the South Essex area, including Steve A and Pete (who I believe used to work on electrics at Lotus). If you PM one of them and ask nicely they might let you swop your module(s) for one of theirs temporarily so you can see what happens.

I know of several cases of faulty pod lift modules over the past year, so it may well be that some of the components are reaching the end of their natural lives. If all else fails, spare units are available. Tuga2112 also knows where to get replacements for the components which fail most often; he kindly sent me a couple for my spare module (thanks Joao).

[grahamk]

Hi Jonathan,

Thanks for the reply and the suggestions

We purchased this S2 from a car storage facility just outside Newport Pagnell 8 years ago who were selling it on behalf of one of their clients. We weren't looking for another car(already having a Pacific Blue S2), but it was too good a car to pass up.

There are 3 other M100s in South Woodham ferrers that I'm aware of - 2 Pacific Blue SEs (one of which is Petes), and a BRG SE.

Will PM Pete (who I've met a few times), as he has promised to look at the alarm system which failed last year!

Best wishes

Graham

[grahamk]

Thanks to Pete today for spending lots of time sorting out my headlamp pod problem.

After checking out ALL the electrical connections and components the problem has been traced to too much end float on the headlamp pod motor itself which is causing it to tighten up.

[Saltire]

Well I’d never have thought of that!! You learn something every day. Glad it’s all sorted out and well done to Pete for the fault-finding