1988 Santana. Greetings and a question about headlights

[BathSJ]

Greetings. My name is Richard (bathsj). I'm a confirmed SJ410 nut although I don't off-road (leave that to the younger guys). I've had three SJ's and a Vitara (which I didn't like at all). This is my first post and I'm looking forward to getting to know the people here. I live in Bath in the UK.

A few weeks ago bought my latest SJ410 via e-bay from Chris King in So'ton. It's road legal and the bodywork is sound. A few odd noises from underneath which I'll ask my mate who has a lift to look at. Weird part is the 'lectrics. When I bought her she was all over the place with trim and wires all over the inside. On digging around looking for wires I found some well odd wiring. A previous owner had gone a bit nuts, fitted loads of extra lights and an alarm (he used the pod as a switch panel, so the stereo pod was missing although with the car I got the original and a spare going free to someone if they want it).

My problem is that while looking to remake the stereo loom I've managed to lose the headlights and sidelights. I checked the stalk and remade some very dodgy wiring, it now tests OK with a meter and I've traced the full beam signal to a relay (?) which is hanging free under the dash. Using a meter I've found that the full beam signal sends 12v to a terminal on the relay but I can't discover where it goes from there. During my stereo investigations I removed a connection and so now I'm thinking that it hasn't gone back in the right place. So my SJ currently has no sidelights or headlights.

What I'm hoping is that someone here has a 1988 Santana with a similar arrangement of relays under the dash. If so, is there any chance that you could help me by tracing the connections from each relay to the loom? I need to establish that the relays are connected correctly and there's no way I can do that without comparing it with something that actually works. Maybe you'd be kind enough to look at the pics that I'm posting of how it looks right now?

Also, there's a box bolted to the bulkhead which I don't recognise. I wonder if it may have been part of the alarm which was once installed. Anyone recognise it? Again, pic's posted with this post. Also... where are these relays supposed to fit? I've never seen these on any of my old jeeps (both Japanese so I can't be certain about Spanish wiring). Presumably they weren't fitted just to hang under the dashboard? Are they part of the original anus or is this something weird that the crazy guy with the alarm installed...?

Anyway, thanks for reading my post and looking forward to your replies!

Rich

[bourneyo]

Cant help you with the box on the bulk head.

Without getting in there with you and tracing the wires I would say that the previous owner has had troubles with his headlights in the past and not having anough power getting to them or has installed higher watage bulbs as them relays just look like after market job lots.

The stereo oporates of a accesory line which is what he has probably taped into for the additional lights aswell, which is probably channeled to one of the relays aswell as the accesory wire is not very big and would burn out if powering alot of lights

these may help you:

Headlight Wiring diagram
Wiring diagram this is for USA spec but may help, if i stumble accross a UK spec i will get that up for you aswel

as for relay terminals:
86 is one connector for the control line
85 is the otherside of the contol line usualy the earth side
30 is the power input
87 is the power output

so if he has used the accessory wire that will go to either 86 0f 85 then the other one will be an earth. acting as a switch connecting 30 and 87 so a higher current can be used to power electrical items.

power input and out put, these can be switched round but are generaly used thisway round, so 30 would be connected to the battery and 87 would then go to the light or what ever which is then inturn earthed completing the circuit.

hopefully that makes sence, and best of luck!

Dan

[BathSJ]

Dan, most excellent many thanks. Have spent a few mornings under the dash trying to trace this problem. No luck so far so will spend on a Haynes manual and if that won't help I'll have to find an auto electrician. Previous owner really messed this up!

R

[ScottieJ]

if you want I can have a little look for you, i'm not that amazing with electrics but i know a bit and i've also got a handy tool when it comes to car electrics; My dad

[ScottieJ]

Hi Richard

Found out the silver box is a dim/dip unit for the lights, it can play up sometimes causing problems with the lighting system, apparently you can just unplug it and the lights should still work! i could get my dad over at the weekend to look at it though if you want, he's a lot beeter than me when it comes to electrics

[dan_2k_uk]

same really. Without being in the vehicle itself its hard to give any advice. It does look like its been fiddled with though. Are all the relays definatly working.

[Kirkynut]

I think I'd be looking at rewiring the lights from scratch by now and undoing all of the previous owners dodgy bodgy stuff for safety! You don't want an odd unknown live knocking about that they put there and you didn't find.

Kirkynut