Headlight pod adjustment.

[Johnwindwood]

Guys

Car is an early wide body so think it uses the Lucas headlamp motors.

When off, the pods sit flush and equal. Both rise normally, but when up and in place, the offside pod sits too low-a few cm lower than the other one.
It doesn't touch the rubber stops. What do I need to adjust to correct this without screwing up the balance when closed?

Thanks

[AndyC]

You have two adjustments.
One is the rubber bump-stop which sets the on-resting position, it's on the little bit of the pod that's below the headlight lens, and acts against the body. Make sure the rubber isn't missing, then adjust both to match each other.
The other is the arm length, from motor to pod. You shouldn't need to adjust that.

Just make sure to adjust headlight aim afterwards.

[richardw]

You have two adjustments.
One is the rubber bump-stop which sets the on-resting position, it's on the little bit of the pod that's below the headlight lens, and acts against the body. Make sure the rubber isn't missing, then adjust both to match each other.
The other is the arm length, from motor to pod. You shouldn't need to adjust that.

Just make sure to adjust headlight aim afterwards.

I agree with John on the first point (adjusting the rubber 'up' stops) but if your pods don't sit flush (or near flush) with the body when down, then you will need to adjust the rod length.

Richard

[Jason.goad]

Perhaps it's the other pod that is too high.
Adujust the bump stop on that pod.

[Phantasm]

Do the wide bodies have these bump stops? I don't think I have them. My left pod vibrates a touch underway, even at idle.
Right side is solid.

[amarshall]

Do the wide bodies have these bump stops? I don't think I have them. My left pod vibrates a touch underway, even at idle.
Right side is solid.

No. But there is a grub screw to adjust end float on the motor. Big Jim found that this can reduce pod flutter on the Toyota motors.

[Johnwindwood]

Guys

Resurrecting this thread as it's a job I'm tackling this coming weekend. To clarify:

It's an early wide body car which has the rubber bump stops. When down the pods sit equally flush. When up, the offside pod doesn't rise far enough-I mean approx 3-4 cm too low-nowhere near the stops.
The Nearside sits on the stops and looks right.
Where would I start to sort this out? (Lord knows how it passed the MOT! )

[TAR]

I would start by removing the headlamp and you'll then be able to disconnect the rod from the motor.
Then check that the headlamp pod isn't being obstructed from fully opening.

I'm only familiar with the Elite S2.2 lights but assume they work in the same manner whereby the rod can be adjusted for closed height. The rod is able to pass through the actuating bar attached across the headlamp pod to accommodate varying rod length. A captive spring on the rod keeps the pod in the up position.

The motor also has an up and a down stop position. It may be that the motor is not driving to the correct up-stop position. This is a more unusual issue as they tend to over-rotate past the stop rather than stopping early. To test for this, check the pod doesn't open and begin to close before stopping. The best fix I have found for this is to carefully dismantle the motor electrical coverplate and clean the contacts. Then adjust the end float on the motor armature; there is a grub screw with a locking nut to do this. Too loose and the motor wont park, to tight and it'll run too slowly and may blow a fuse.

Adjusting motorised headlamps on a Lotus is a truely awful job!

Best of luck.

[Pete Boole]

Can't see why they changed from vacuum-operated ones

Pete

[amarshall]

Can't see why they changed from vacuum-operated ones

Pete

When you get a calendar, you will.

[Lotus-e-Clan]

Can't see why they changed from vacuum-operated ones

Pete

Agreed. All they needed to do was to add a solenoid latch for use when parked to keep them down. The light switch would be 're-imagined' (add a mechanical micro switch) to simultaneously release the solenoid(s). The vacuum system would tolerate the slow leaks when the engine is running during plenum evacuation. No more sleepy-eyed pods when parked. Probably saves weight over the motorised jobbies too. Probably an easy DIY job. Light weight door pop solenoids are only £5 on ebay

And if you linked the light stop solenoids to a central locking system, the pods would raise when you opened the doors - to welcome you!