Shell Valley wiring problem

JL1924 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-15-2004, 09:18 AM

Attn. Cobra2000
John,
Finally thought I had my car wired correctly. Put it on the road 2 weeks ago and all lights and electrical circuits appeared to be normal. Yesterday, I tried the headlights and found they had stopped working, although all other lights, including signals bracks parking, tail, and hazard lights remain normal. The headlight fuse is good. Seems to me could be the headlight switch itself, or the dimmer relay. Would you have any ideas on where to start to diagnose this problem. It would be a lot easier with a good diagram. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Jim Seymour
email: JL1924@optonline.net

Anyone else who feels they could shed some light (no pun intended) on the problem, feel free to reply also.

JL1924

Shell Valley · #2 (**permalink**) 11-15-2004, 10:15 AM

It sounds like a bad dimmer relay. You can test the relay by taking the white wire (at the turnsignal switch) and touching it to a ground. This should cycle the relay between hi and lo beam. If it is the relay, give me a call and we'll get you a new one.

Thanks,
Dana

JL1924 · #3 (**permalink**) 11-15-2004, 10:46 AM

Dana,
Thanks. Am currently at work, but will give it a try tonight and let you know.

JL1924

JL1924 · #4 (**permalink**) 11-17-2004, 09:12 AM

Dana,
There is no white wire at my turnsignal switch.

The colors coming off of my turn signal are as follows:

Black with green stripe----------------->Right turn signal
Grey w/black stripe---------------------->Left turn signal
Brown w/white stripe w/jumper------>To dimmer relay
Brown single wire----------------------->Ground
Black w/blue jumper-------------------->HOT

I tried grounding the brown w/white stripe wire with the headlight switch on but did not hear any cycling of a relay and still had no headlights. Would this be the indication if the dimmer relay were bad?

Jim

Shell Valley · #5 (**permalink**) 11-17-2004, 09:31 AM

Sorry Jim - I should have been a little more clear. I'm assuming you are using our Painless wiring harness. In the harness, there should be a white wire with a black stripe for the dimmer. This is the wire that attaches to the brown dimmer wire in the switch itself. You can test the relay by grounding the white wire in the harness. Feel free to give me a call - it may be easier to troubleshoot over the phone.

Dana

JL1924 · #6 (**permalink**) 11-17-2004, 10:34 AM

Dana,
I am using the Painless harness, but the white wire you refer to---wouldn't it be connected to what is shown in my signal switch as the brown w/white stripe? If so, that is the wire I tried grounding with the headlight switch in the "on" position and got no cycling indications or headlights.
I can't find your number anymore. Please send it to me.
Thanks

Jim

Shell Valley · #7 (**permalink**) 11-17-2004, 11:47 AM

I guess you're right that would actually be the same wire. My toll free # here is 888-246-0900 - give me a call anytime.

Thanks,
Dana

byron w · #8 (**permalink**) 11-17-2004, 06:28 PM

JUST A NOTE TO TELL EVERYONE HOW VERY GOOD SHELL VALLEY HAS BEEN TOO ME. MY KIT WAS PURCHASED IN 1987. I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH GOOD THINGS ABOUT DANA AND SHELL VALLEY. MY KIT WAS FAR LESS COMPLETE THAN TODAY. DANA REALLY DESERVES ALL THE KUDOS. THANKS TO HIM I WILL HAVE A VERY NICE COBRA BY SPRING. THEY ARE REALLY GREAT TO WORK WITH.MANY MANY THANKS BW

JL1924 · #9 (**permalink**) 11-19-2004, 06:06 AM

I second the above post. Even though I have had my share of problems, many of them just due to lack of experience on my part, Shell Valley and their people, John and Dana have been terrific in helping me over the hurdles.

Also, attention Dana:
After further checking on the headlight problem, I discovered that the dimmer relay had dislodged itself and
I found it under the drivers seat. Plugged it back in and voila!!, everthing works normally again. Therefore I won't be needing the dimmer relay that I asked you to send me. Thanks for your patience!

Jim