Saturday, February 22, 2014 - 06:55 pm, by: Ian Rigby(Hiro)
Went out to get dinner the other night and I noticed that the headlights weren't turning on - parkers/indicators/fogs/tail-lights all worked fine, but lows and highs were completely unresponsive (and the dash indicator didn't come on for high-beam either). Checked the headlight fuses today and they were fine, next thought was the combi-switch but the dash still dims when you turn the lights on, the auto-headlight relay still clicks when you cover the sensor, and obviously the parkers are still working.
Done a bit of reading and it seems to be either the headlight relay or the integration relay - apparently the integration relay is a real pain to change and I don't seem to be suffering any other symptoms (door jamb lights, key-ring light and dome-lights are all fully functional), so my hopes are on the main headlight relay in the engine bay. Is this a special relay or can I just go down to Supercheap/Repco and use any 4-pin relay off the shelf?
Sunday, February 23, 2014 - 03:05 pm, by: Ian Rigby(Hiro)
Turns ou the relay was identical to the one in my Corolla, tried swapping it over with no luck. Whipped out the multimeter and checked voltages/resistances across the relay terminals in the fuse box, both coil and switch inputs were getting 12V and the switch output was grounded as it should be. Bridged the switch side input to output (ie simulating the coil activating) and the lights turned on as they should, combi-switch would turn on/off highs but the lows were permanently on even if the stalk was turned off)
This is the wiring diagram, can't really decipher it as to whether the integration relay or the combi-switch (or both) are fully in charge of grounding the relay coil - looks like a bunch of transistors and an OR logic gate, which was the stuff I hated (and failed) at uni...
Friday, March 28, 2014 - 04:35 pm, by: Ian Rigby(Hiro)
So the saga continues - got the driver's side wheel arch wiring repaired yesterday, headlights are now a go (although the driver's low beam seemed to cut out again last night, quick check this afternoon turned out to just be a loose plug on the back of the bulb). Unfortunately, the dreaded bong has now appeared in conjunction with the catalytic converter light and the "Alternator not charging battery" katakana. Pulled out the Power FC hand controller and monitored battery voltages on the way to work this morning, whilst driving they were sitting steady at around ~13.8-14V, with the ignition off but the key in the ON position it was around 12V, but dropped to 10V briefly when starting (and starting has been difficult on the odd occasion lately). Thinking it might be new battery time but the fact that the "alternator not charging" warning has come on every time the ignition has been turned ON as long as we've had the car (but would go away on starting) makes me think it could be alternator as we've changed the battery in the past (when it died) and the warning didn't go away.....sigh
Saturday, March 29, 2014 - 09:27 am, by: Daniel Marshall(Ydass)
Have a look at wiring in the driver's wheel arch. A lot of time it gets rubbed through from the wheels. May have to check by removing inner wheel arch plastic
Saturday, March 29, 2014 - 09:34 am, by: Ian Rigby(Hiro)
Ian Rigby wrote on Friday, March 28, 2014 - 04:35 pm:
got the driver's side wheel arch wiring repaired yesterday
Daniel Marshall wrote on Saturday, March 29, 2014 - 09:27 am:
Have a look at wiring in the driver's wheel arch. A lot of time it gets rubbed through from the wheels. May have to check by removing inner wheel arch plastic
Saturday, March 29, 2014 - 10:25 am, by: Robert Day(Lexsmaz)
The alternator not charging warning has to be the same as a alternator light coming on when you first turn on the ignition in a poverty pack car & both cases are normal operation as there is no power being fed back from the exciter diodes in the alternator to the dash until the car has actually started, if the light stays on or comes back on after the car has started or if the light doesn't come on at all when you turn on the ignition is when you have a problem ..
Saturday, March 29, 2014 - 10:37 am, by: Ian Rigby(Hiro)
The "alternator not charging battery" katakana, bong and red error light used to come on before the car was started (but would go away), now they only come on AFTER it is started - when you turn the key to ON before cranking it just says CHARGE (which is what I believe would be the equivalent of the alternator light) with no bong or red error light.