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308 headlights not listening to switch

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by f308jack, Nov 24, 2008.

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  1. f308jack

    f308jack F1 Rookie

    Jun 7, 2007
    4,300
    Cape Town, South Afr
    Full Name:
    Jack Verschuur
    #1 f308jack, Nov 24, 2008
    Hi all,

    The headlights of my '82 308 GTSi are not listening to the column switch. At times they will just pop up, and getting them back down is a real mission of turning the switch a lot if times.

    The relays are clicking, sometimes one of the headlightsmotors will wink, or they both go down to just pop back up again.

    Could this be the result of a bad ground somewhere, and if so, where do the motors ground? (Before I start ripping things apart unnecessarily)

    Thanks,

    Jack.
     
  2. f308jack

    f308jack F1 Rookie

    Jun 7, 2007
    4,300
    Cape Town, South Afr
    Full Name:
    Jack Verschuur
    #2 f308jack, Nov 25, 2008
    Let me be a little more precise in the info I need: I know it has been discussed ad nauseum.

    Where are the earth points located physically?

    Thanks,

    Jack.
     
  3. Martin8

    Martin8 Rookie

    Sep 26, 2007
    19
    St. Charles, IL
    Full Name:
    Marty Davis
    #3 Martin8, Nov 25, 2008
    I had the same problem on my '82, 308 GTBS, 20 years ago. It was so bad it looked like my car was winking at on coming trafic. As it turned out the Chicago dealer I bought car from swaped out the radio (I believe) and forgot to tighten ground terminals behind radio. If my memory serves me right there is a bolt with many ground wires connected to it right behind radio and if loose the head lights will open and close at will when they are on. I hope that will solve your problem.
     
  4. f308jack

    f308jack F1 Rookie

    Jun 7, 2007
    4,300
    Cape Town, South Afr
    Full Name:
    Jack Verschuur
    #4 f308jack, Nov 26, 2008
    Thanks Martin, I'll do some digging there. I hate electrical work, would rather take a starter out of a 400.
     
  5. robertgarven

    robertgarven F1 Veteran
    Owner

    Feb 24, 2002
    5,322
    Ventura, California
    Full Name:
    Robert Garven
    #5 robertgarven, Nov 27, 2008
    I could be wrong but remember a couple of relays for the headlights and fuses. I had a similar problem and replaced all of them and it was fixed
     
  6. Darolls

    Darolls F1 Veteran
    BANNED

    Jul 2, 2003
    7,782
    Full Name:
    Sparky
    #6 Darolls, Nov 27, 2008
    Could be there's a bad connection in the stalk. Just pull the knob off of the stalk but be careful, there's a small spring and ball in there.

    You might find a bad connection to one of the copper leads, which causes intermittent contact. A little solder will solve the problem.

    It's very common.
     

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