The Lotus Grand Tourers

Just leaving Hartlepool for Durham and a Lotus get together last night and the bloody dipped lights went out

On a couple of occasions over the past month I've noticed they've remained on for a few mins after the pods went down. Now they don't come on at all.

Guess it's just the relay, but what a time to go.

Met up with 5 Elise owners and a new Europa.
Then there was me in the Fiat.

Ah well, that's my weekend job sorted.

You also might want to check the dim-dip module and the connector to it. The connector on mine turned into a molten blob of plastic many years ago when I first put in a set of 80/100w bulbs. The symptoms were the same, no lights (apart from sides).

If it is this connector or the dim dip module, check the wiring in the manual for other countries, it shows how to bypass the dim-dip module by linking two of the wires together. The added bonus is being able to run side lights with the pods down too

My sides come on on the second click on the light stalk but the pods remain down. On the third click, the pods come up and I get dipped beam. As a 1990, my car should have the dim-dip which means that pods come up and headlights run at half brightness on the second (sidelight) click.

It's only a single wire link (from memory) to bypass the dim dip. I like to keep the pods down on sides

Steve C wrote:You also might want to check the dim-dip module and the connector to it. The connector on mine turned into a molten blob of plastic many years ago when I first put in a set of 80/100w bulbs. The symptoms were the same, no lights (apart from sides).

Spot on Steve.

Spliced the blue/yellow and red/blue wire together into the dim dip module and it works perfectly.

anyone thought about removing pop-ups and putting in some perpex with lights behind it in its place?

weight saving surely? (as well as all the issues!)

Oz

But the headlamps face downwards - so you'd have to rotate them 90 degrees.
And it would end up looking like an Austin Healey "Frog-Eyed" Sprite!

Or.....

Dave, did you try removing the dip dip relays before splicing the wires to see if that would have the same effect?

Yes Alan, tried all the relays with no effect.

Then out came the pliers....

DPR that was exatly what i had in mind

anyone do a kit? or know what you need to do it? is it road legal?

Oz.

Ozzy_UK wrote:
anyone do a kit? or know what you need to do it? is it road legal?

Pliers, one small choclate block connector and some lecy tape.
That's about it really.

Oh and a swear box and some band aid as with most jobs.

dpr59 wrote: Pliers, one small choclate block connector and some lecy tape.
That's about it really.

That's all you need for a non-pod headlight conversion? Sir, I bow down to your ingenuity

Second click on my car switches on the sides and raises the pods (although the headlamps do not illuminate at all - even dimly).

I too want to cruise with my pods down (if you pardon the expression) so decided to by pass the dim dip module.

I've connected the red/blue into the blue/yellow and the strange thing is it makes no difference - even with the connector out of the module. The pods still come up when the sides are on.

Anyone got any ideas or is this just one of those legendary Lotus electrical foibles ?

dpr59 wrote:Or.....

I like that

Are they legal tho ?

I think you need to pull a relay or two as well, can't remember which! .. Will check later ... PM me if I forget!