Headlight earth

spandit · Post by **spandit** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 10:21 am

Where do the headlights earth? There is a cable that goes to a rivet on the back of the headlight bowl but how does this earth to chassis? Through the fixing screws? Some of the worst wiring I've seen under there - no wonder my lights are pretty dim...

chacaocop1 · Post by **chacaocop1** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 5:48 pm

Do you mean ground?

undysworld · Post by **undysworld** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 7:28 pm

Yeah. He means "ground". He ain't from around here.

Spandit,

Sorry I cannot recall where the headlights get their "earth" (or ground for us U.S.'ers). When in doubt, I'd check the leads going to the bulbs for 24v. Any that don't have it, I'd check for continuity with vehicle earth. It seems unlikely that they rely on the screws, I'd think.

Check for voltage, and then find/create the ground, I guess.

I do recall a truck which had a bad gasket which allowed water to enter the light housing, and that caused contact problems.

edzz · Post by **edzz** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 8:33 pm

undysworld wrote:Yeah. He means "ground". He ain't from around here.

Quite right mate, he’s from the land of Lucas, and is complaining about bad wiring?

Good old Lucas, horns that listen, headlights that cast shadows. Remember the advice of Joseph Lucas, don’t go out at night… and of course beer tastes better when you drink t warm.
Sorry, I guess I’ve owned too many British vehicles to consider the Pinzgauer to have generically bad wiring.

And a link for those who enjoy dark humor.. http://www.hermit.cc/mania/tmc/articles/lucas.htm

On a more serious note. Using your avatar as a clue I would be inclined to inspect for water related damage, clean all accessible electrical connections and attempt to return them to factory specification.

Ed

P.S any one want to buy my ’72 Triumph GT6 would make a good father son restoration project (needs full electrical system replaced).

spandit · Post by **spandit** » Tue Feb 01, 2011 1:35 am

I'm sure this wasn't factory original wiring! The headlights have been replaced since my swimming.

Speaking of Lucas, I saw a bottle of genuine Lucas smoke sell on eBay for quite a high price (very amusing description)

Sorry about the syntax, but don't you dare talk down our beer again - you Yanks can grill steak, build engines & construct themeparks where the staff actually smile but you can't brew for poop!

cronapress · Post by **cronapress** » Tue Feb 01, 2011 3:20 am

Uh - oh. Reading Robin's last paragraph, I sense a period of "International Rising Tension". Not another Cuban Crisis ! Sh*t "!

Dives behind sandbags !

NB. Scottish beer is pretty crap too, compared to the real English elixir of youth !!

Mike 712M
Ayrshire. (Until the locals with their funny accent, face paint and blokes in skirts find my address !)

spandit · Post by **spandit** » Tue Feb 01, 2011 3:25 am

Actually not sure whether our beer was being talked down now I re-read it!

Here's a link to the Lucas smoke... (and I agree that Lucas wiring is dreadful - most of my Pinzgauer wiring problems are due to former owners... and current owners...):

http://www3.telus.net/bc_triumph_registry/smoke.htm

cronapress · Post by **cronapress** » Tue Feb 01, 2011 3:33 am

I actually mean't you (Robin) possibly upsetting the Yanks by saying their beer is poop.

Can't comment about their beer, as having never been across the pond. Cunard White Star say their weekly steamer service from Southampton has now stopped !!

Go on, tell me..... you can't get a steamer to any part of the British Empire anymore. Dammed poor show old boy !!

Another G&T ? Splendid what. Cheers ! See you at the club in Poona.

Mike

spandit · Post by **spandit** » Tue Feb 01, 2011 5:55 am

If any of our American cousins come over here I'd gladly buy them a beer, on the promise that they don't reciprocate if I go over there again!

Anyway, have cleaned up all the grounds/earths and have lost the mystery 5V at the fusebox, which is good. I was only getting 21V at the fusebox and the main earth strap from the switch to the chassis seemed to be responsible for most of that, so I've cleaned that too. Should get some decent brightness out of the headlights now!

cronapress · Post by **cronapress** » Tue Feb 01, 2011 6:10 am

Good news Robin. Keep every earth/ground connection clean, bright and slathered in Waxoyl afterwards. You've got to stop those pesky electrons from going walkabout. If it says 24 volts on the packet - accept nothing less !!! ha. ha.

Cheers.

Mike
712M

undysworld · Post by **undysworld** » Tue Feb 01, 2011 6:36 am

If any of our American cousins come over here I'd gladly buy them a beer, on the promise that they don't reciprocate if I go over there again!

A Beer?!?

Now you're getting chintzy about beers, and disrespecting our local brews too? You'd best be careful about what you offer. Somebody just might take you up on it.

And if you can honestly sit here and tell me that you don't like Lake Louie Brewery's Warped Speed Scottish Ale, then I'll eat my shorts.

Face it. Lucas Electric is solely responsible for you "island people" enjoying your beers warm.

They deserve any crap they get. It gives you no cause to initiate beer wars.

Just the same, glad to hear you've found your truck's troubles.

Cheers,
Paul

spandit · Post by **spandit** » Tue Feb 01, 2011 6:45 am

Let's not fall out over this! I'm sure there are some great beers but all I've experienced is the Bud/Coors style which personally, I don't like. I'd buy any of you a pint of warm English beer so you can see what you're missing!!

krick3tt · Post by **krick3tt** » Tue Feb 01, 2011 7:26 am

Not too sure about the beer but when I was in Hong Kong aboard the USS Kitty Hawk ('66 oh maybe even 67), I met a group of guys from the HMS Aisne that were very cool blokes. They came aboard our ship for the food and I went aboard their's for a grog ration. They got booze aboard ship...something we were not allowed. I know the Aisne was decommissioned back in the early '70's but still I remember those great fellas and how friendly I was treated.
If I was going to the UK this holiday instead of Italy, I'd take you up on that beer. The Brits are a great bunch of guys.

Morris

spandit · Post by **spandit** » Tue Feb 01, 2011 7:47 am

I'd even think about trading our beer for some of your steaks... they can't cook it over here. A thick steak is about 1/2" thick in the UK and generally comes brown all the way through.

Most Americans I have met have been great people - there are exceptions both sides of the Atlantic!!

kpoling · Post by **kpoling** » Tue Feb 01, 2011 8:46 am

Hey Robin: I agree on the Bud / Coors. But here in Oregon we have a very large number of small craft brewery's. You can find just about any style of ale/beer/porter/etc. you like.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Craft ... 8US%29.png

http://oregonbeer.org/

If you ever get to the west coast, try to visit the Portland, OR. area & try some!

Disclosure: I have no association with any brewery!

THE PORTAL HUB - Pinzgauers, Haflingers, Volvo 303s and more!

Headlight earth

Headlight earth

headlight earth

Now American Beer ;)