Headlamp relay fix on 89
06-22-2018, 07:21 PM
#1
Pro
Thread Starter
Headlamp relay fix on 89
I just wanted to post up a fix I carried out on the headlamp relay on my 89.
The symptoms of the problem I was encountering was that the headlamps were popping up and down ok but were not illuminating after the they popped up.
Before the fault appeared they used to pop up as normal and then switch on after say half a second, then all of a sudden they just did not illuminate. After moving the relay around while they were popped up the came on. I suspected maybe the CE board but all the spade connecter were as new, no corrosion or signs of problems anywhere.
Also after agitating the relay and the lights coming on (temp fix of the issue) they just switched on on their own randomly (not popping down)
I removed the relay and then the cover to find multiple relays as part of the design. I was looking for a dry solder joint between the spade connectors and the CB. I could not see anything with the naked eye so I thought I would run a soldering iron over all the main connections.
The last one I got to looked fine but when heated with the soldering iron opened up an obvious joint between the board and spade connector, a good indicator of a bad joint (dirt or corrosion).
Once this was rectified with some addition flux / solder I popped everything back together and it works without fault.
I believe the fault to be a simple dry joint, easy save of £100
The symptoms of the problem I was encountering was that the headlamps were popping up and down ok but were not illuminating after the they popped up.
Before the fault appeared they used to pop up as normal and then switch on after say half a second, then all of a sudden they just did not illuminate. After moving the relay around while they were popped up the came on. I suspected maybe the CE board but all the spade connecter were as new, no corrosion or signs of problems anywhere.
Also after agitating the relay and the lights coming on (temp fix of the issue) they just switched on on their own randomly (not popping down)
I removed the relay and then the cover to find multiple relays as part of the design. I was looking for a dry solder joint between the spade connectors and the CB. I could not see anything with the naked eye so I thought I would run a soldering iron over all the main connections.
The last one I got to looked fine but when heated with the soldering iron opened up an obvious joint between the board and spade connector, a good indicator of a bad joint (dirt or corrosion).
Once this was rectified with some addition flux / solder I popped everything back together and it works without fault.
I believe the fault to be a simple dry joint, easy save of £100
06-23-2018, 12:18 PM
#2
Chronic Tool Dropper
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Great info. 30 Year’s of vibration will assist us in finding those less than perfect solder joints.