Weird SPF High Beam Electrical Issue

[tortuga]

So after washing the car, i wandered out in the garage to find the high beams on, the ignition switch off, the light switch off, and the headlight relay real hot. Figured i had somehow (well not really some how, i get the interior pretty wet when i wash) got water into the headlight relay. In the mean time i was able to get the high beams off by disconnecting the power wire to the 30 terminal on the relay.

Replaced the relay. Now, the little blue light stays on continuously once the high beams are flashed at the stalk, but the high beams don't stay on? They flash but turn right back off.

The only way to clear the blue light is to turn the power off...

It doesn't really matter as i am terrified of driving this thing at night, but i HATE when anything is not working correctly...

Thanks
Steve H

[Blas]

Still sounds like a bad relay from your description of the continuing problem.
I’ll guess the headlight relay is hanging upside down under the dash?
They make hoses smaller than fire hoses you know 8-)
Blas

[fastd]

We should know how the relay is wired; it's a traditional trigger and ground, with power in and power out, or is it wired some other way?
The blue light may not be wiring through the relay (I would think that it isn't).

I agree with Blas; I would replace the replaced relay first.

Since your headlights come on but go right back off, I would confirm that you are getting constant power from your trigger wire; I'd also just sanity check the power to the headlights to make sure the problem is not after your relay (headlight ground or harness issue).

[CHANMADD]

It's probably a ground.

[jhv48]

Sounds like water got into something electrical where it isn’t supposed to when you washed the car. When it finally evaporates, you might find your problem mysteriously disappears.

[fordracing65]

Who washes a cobra with a hose? Wipe down with waterless wash spray and a microfiber then use a quick detailer spray and a microfiber.

[tortuga]

Originally Posted by fordracing65

Who washes a cobra with a hose? Wipe down with waterless wash spray and a microfiber then use a quick detailer spray and a microfiber.

I hose that old girl down good…maybe I shouldn’t pressure was under the dash?

Steve H

[Jim Vander Wal]

I always used a hose and covered it with a tonneau, wrapped the carb & distributor too. Pretty hard to get the mud and 5k miles of road grime & bugs off with the waterless stuff.

Got a lot less wet inside washing it than it did when driving through downpours.

It's a car, drive it.

Jim

[tortuga]

Originally Posted by Jim Vander Wal

I always used a hose and covered it with a tonneau, wrapped the carb & distributor too. Pretty hard to get the mud and 5k miles of road grime & bugs off with the waterless stuff.

Got a lot less wet inside washing it than it did when driving through downpours.

It's a car, drive it.

Jim

Well Sir,
Im coming up on 55K Miles, since 2016, so yes she is driven...And i too don't really understand how you just wipe off dead bugs, road grime, and mud thrown up while drifting through muddy parking areas (well the last one is exaggerated)...I guess if its a show queen that is dusted off and treated like something to be revered, the detailing spray and new microfiber cloth is the trick...But when you grab it by the scruff of the neck and drive it like it owes you money, it gets dirty and scratched...LOL

Cheers
Steve H
1764

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by fordracing65

Who washes a cobra with a hose? Wipe down with waterless wash spray and a microfiber then use a quick detailer spray and a microfiber.

I washed mine with a hose. Was careful to not get too much inside but didn't worry about it since I got much more water on the interior from rain and hail than ever got in from the hose.

[fordracing65]

Why not just drive it though a car wash. I’ve never used a hose. The products out now remove bugs, dirt, dust, they have a product for all of them. Wet Wilton wool is not a good combo and smell.

[Jim Vander Wal]

Many years ago and owner did go through the car wash. One of the funniest stories ever. He had the top and side curtains installed and a bunch of towels. Had water coming in through every joint, seam and gap. Great story.

I don't understand the issue with water. I certainly wouldn't want to wipe the dirt and grunge off with a rag and grind the dirt into the paint. Years ago at London an owner of an aluminum car borrowed my dirty wash water and proceed to clean his car with scotchbrite. Takes all kinds.

On carpet, as departed brother Bill Wells said years ago, "you just don't know that you're having fun until there's whitecaps over the nap of the carpet". I bailed out SPF 1855 many times. It all dries.

Jim

[jhv48]

Years ago, after about 12,000 miles of driving, I had the brilliant idea of cleaning the engine compartment. Put plastic over the distributor, solenoid, alternator and then carefully applied a degreaser. Let it foam and then took a hand held pump up garden sprayer to carefully aim the water where I wanted it.
Well, I didn’t insulate all the electrical parts good enough. Some water got into either the starter or solenoid and the car proceeded to try and start itself. Since the car was in gear, the cranking starter motor pushed the car into a cement pole and kept grinding it into the pole until the battery finally shorted out. $17,000 worth of damage.
Lesson learned: disconnect the battery if you’re going to try and clean the engine compartment with any water. Then use a leaf blower to blow any excess water out of the engine compartment. Then, when you reconnect the battery, make sure the car is in neutral and be ready to disconnect it quickly in case some water got where it shouldn’t be.

[fordracing65]

Originally Posted by jhv48

Years ago, after about 12,000 miles of driving, I had the brilliant idea of cleaning the engine compartment. Put plastic over the distributor, solenoid, alternator and then carefully applied a degreaser. Let it foam and then took a hand held pump up garden sprayer to carefully aim the water where I wanted it.
Well, I didn’t insulate all the electrical parts good enough. Some water got into either the starter or solenoid and the car proceeded to try and start itself. Since the car was in gear, the cranking starter motor pushed the car into a cement pole and kept grinding it into the pole until the battery finally shorted out. $17,000 worth of damage.
Lesson learned: disconnect the battery if you’re going to try and clean the engine compartment with any water. Then use a leaf blower to blow any excess water out of the engine compartment. Then, when you reconnect the battery, make sure the car is in neutral and be ready to disconnect it quickly in case some water got where it shouldn’t be.

Great story. I’ve heard of this kind of thing happening before.

[fordracing65]

Spraying some mud off in a general area is completely different than washing your cobra with a hose like it’s the family Honda Accord.

[tortuga]

Well i bought an off brand POS chinese relay from o'reilly's, and guess what? It all works as it should. The goddamned EMPI relay i bought from an all german volkswagen parts vendor, trying to get the highest quality parts from the Fatherland, was F%cked from the outset...

AND the POS chines relay will probably last forever...

Live and learn...

I will try to be a little more carful with the hose.

Steve H
1764

[PDUB]

Originally Posted by tortuga

Well i bought an off brand POS chinese relay from o'reilly's, and guess what? It all works as it should. The goddamned EMPI relay i bought from an all german volkswagen parts vendor, trying to get the highest quality parts from the Fatherland, was F%cked from the outset...

AND the POS chines relay will probably last forever...

Live and learn...

I will try to be a little more carful with the hose.

Steve H
1764

Always good when a problem gets sorted, Steve! Glad for your success.