Elite S2.2 Headlamp motor adjustment?

[TAR]

I have spent a few hours playing with the headlamp motors on an Elite S2.2, getting them running and setting the height.

I have an issue with one motor which wants to keep turning so the headlamp pops up and down continuously when the lights are switched off.

When you switch the lights on, they both pop up and stay up.

If you apply some pressure to the rotating pod, it will stop in the closed position so I was wondering if adjustment of the rod or spring is required to apply some resistance?

I have tried lengthening and shortening the rod and tried adjusting the nut on top of the spring, all with no change except the settled height of the pod.

I have had the motor apart and checked that the cam operates the pins correctly to switch power between the wires. I have also tensioned and cleaned the copper contacts.

Anyone have any advice? Maybe it needs a new motor?

 

[mikeeech]

Do you think it might be the relay? Applying pressure to the light will cause the motor to draw more current thereby heating up the relay.

[TAR]

A new 30 Amp relay fitted today so I don't think its that (but I suppose it wouldn't hurt to swap them over to be 100% sure).

Its as if the motor has enough momentum to force it to pass over the lifter which breaks the circuit.

 

 

[jason.goad]

I'd double check the tension on the copper strips. The pins only lift them a tiny amount. I found it better to keep the contacts as parallel as possible.

[TAR]

@jason.goad - I checked, cleaned and rechecked the copper strips, the pins were lifting them about 4 - 5mm. I had to tension them slightly to ensure a good contact so the motor would run at all. The motor is such a simple design, its bugging me that its so difficult to get it operating correctly!

 

[jason.goad]

It is such a simple design, it has to be something easy. Is there any free play in the armature which might allow the gear to move slightly.  The screw and nut on top will tension it. When I did mine I put enough tension so it would turn freely, but not move vertically.

[pbharcourt]

Are you running the pods without headlamps fitted?

The extra weight makes all the difference.

[TAR]

@pbharcourt The drivers side motor is behaving impeccably with just the pod attached. I refrained from mounting the headlamps as they were never in the pods and I'm not sure how they fit. I also had the pods in and out about 30 times, so it was easier without the lamps fitted!

 

[TAR]

@jason.goad

I think you hit the nail on the head with your remark about the free play. I adjusted out quite a bit of free play so the armature didn't have any vertical play... and it now stops at just the correct positions.

This has only been tested on a bench so far but I am thinking that further adjustment on the car with everything fitted will resolve the problem.

Thanks for your help.

 

[jason.goad]

Good glad you've got it sorted. It will work fine on the car. The most annyoing adjustment is the rod length so the pod sits flush with the body, it sits at a different height without the lamp in.

[TAR]

Well, I thought I had it licked...

Unfortunately all of a sudden, the lights managed to get out of sync and the started popping up and down continuously; one up and one down etc.

I have just obtained another set of motors from a TR7 and these look as if they are in quite good condition. I've fitted one to the drivers side and now the lights are once again working in tandem.

Now I have another issue, the light pod where the new motor is fitted takes longer to lift up; the passenger side is fully up when  the drivers side is half way up. They close at exactly the same time. I've checked the arms and I believe they are adjusted correctly but will have to try some more adjustment just to be sure.

 

One more question, do both motors have adjuster knobs on the bottom? The original set in the car and the set I bought from a TR7 only have a knob on one motor.

 

 

 

[Don.Hasi]

Don't have any advice but as we are talking about Éclat and Excel headlamps... The mechanism of them are different. It is more fiddling to adjust the Éclat ones. I know it doesn't help but maybe it makes the pain to seem a bit less... ;-)

[TAR]

The issue still hasn't gone away and its really beginning to bug me.

I get both headlamps aligned ut too low bu about an inch. As I adjust them up using the rod, the drivers side will suddenly keep going up and down and eventual get out os sync with the passenger side. The ends up with the drivers side motor getting stuck inbetween its up and down position. 

If I reduce the length of both adjusting rods everthing works fine again but the closed position is loo low, about 1 1/2"  too low.

I won't let it beat me but I have no idea whats going on?

Any advice welcomed and if anyone has a parts diagram of the headlamp pod mechanism, I would be eternally grateful as the pods were dismantled and not fitted when the car was purchased.

 

[pbharcourt]

I had a similar thing with my lamps but not as much, the only cure was to get the lamps going up and down cleanly and then move the motor mounting bracket up until the pods sit flush when closed.

Means drilling a few extra holes but nothing too extreme and saved my sanity!

[TAR]

Just to close this tread, I have resolved the issue.

It was the free play on the armatures which was causing the motors to move too quickly allowing them to jump past their stop points. 

The adjustment is via a grub screw with a locking nut on the top of the motor. I had already adjusted them to 'just' remove the free play but I have had to adjust them a little more to make the motor work a little harder. 

I would also mention to anyone else having this issue, test the headlamp pods with the car running as the slight increase in battery voltage when the car is running also makes a big difference to the running speed of the motors.

All good so far, lets hope the MOT man is satisfied.