I am about to install some relays into my 328 to fix the low voltage at the lamps & protect the switch etc - all fairly standard stuff. However, one of the thigs that I've never understood is why the headlamp pods pop up when you just put the sidelights on (i.e you twist the stalk) - because the only lamps that lit are the ones below the bumber & so you end up driving around with the car looking very "geeky" with its pods up & no headlights on. So I was wondering how difficult it would be to disable the headlamp pods from popping up when the sidelights are on & have them come up only when the stalk is pushed down to bring on the dip beams. Anyone know how it might be done or have a good reason why I shouldn't do this? Secondly, the chrome retaining ring that holds the headlamp unit into the pod is looking a but rusty/the worse for wear. Is it possible to buy these as a seperate item? They look like a fairly generic thing. Lastly, as a UK car mine already has Cibie H4 Halogens in it with 55/60W bulbs - but doubtless these units are of a 20 year old design. Any cluses as to what benefits might accrue from either upgrading the whole lamp or upgrading just the bulbs? I.
European driving practice is to 'flash' oncoming drivers with the headlights for several reasons. You can only do this when the headlights buckets are up. There are two headlight motor mods methods to turn on parking lights without the headlight buckets coming up. The most common mod is referred to as the 'diode' mod and a search of diode headlights will find it. It consists of modifications behind the relay panel. The other headlight bucket mod, which I've done to my car, involves adding a relay. It is covered in the wiring drawing package. I also added a parking light on/off switch in the glove box to turn on parking lights independantly of the headlight circuit. If you want to continue throwing relays at your car you can mod the directionals so the turn signals blink parking and sidemarker lights in unison. You should be pleased with your headlight voltage relay modification...I gained about 2 volts by doing the headlight mod and now my standard lights are amazingly bright. ______________________________ Ferrari 308 Wiring Drawing Package http://www.ferrari308gtbi.com/
Seems like different configuations for different markets. On my UK 328 twisting the stalk pops up the headlamps but only turns on the sidelights below the bumper - these are clear lenses on the UK car, not amber as in the US. Pushing the stalk down one step engages dip beam and down again engages high beam only if the stalk has first been twisted to engage the sidelights and raise the pods. Without twisting the stalk first pushing it down does nothing. If I want to flash the lights then pulling the stalk towards me flashes the foglamps below the bumper when the pods are down. If the pods are up i.e. the sidelights or the dip beams are on then pulling the stalk activates the high beams in the main headlamps but NOT the foglamps below the bumper. Looks like there is some complicated wiring under there! Thanks for the pointers on the other mods, I'll look into those.
