Engine Running Relay?

Hi All,

No problems, just a seeker after truth.

I've written elsewhere that the electric armrest on my V6 only works when the engine is running. Chasing a supposed fault with the climate control on the CTC I find the heater fans also only work when the engine's running.

Alan (Henry) mentions the "engine running relay" in his post on alternator problems. Is this the device that controls my armrest and heater fans? If so, where is it and what else does it control?

Cheers,
Derek

PS. Keith (Carliterature) recently gave me a pair of LCD sidelights. I recommend them.

Dont know about the 'engine running relay', isnt stuff like your creature comforts controlled by the ignition switch? the fans should run with the ignition on though and if yours dont there must be something wrong................

What im posting for is these sidelights you mention, are they just bulbs? or a complete new unit? Any piccies Derek?

D

Hi Dean,

The handbook specifies for the armrest "with engine running".

The new bulbs are fitted and I hate removing sidelight units with a passion! The package is in my spares cupboard which will need me to move my wife's ZX to give access. I'll do it tomorrow and photo the package for you, suffice to say that they are replacement bulbs which appear to contain a capacitor (might be a resistor) and a series of LCDs in a circle. The light emission is bright and bluish which complements the HID main lights. It does mean that in murky conditions, like today, you can run on sidelights only and be confident of being seen.

I think they're quite expensive and it was very generous of Keith to give them to me.

Derek

Ive been after some sidelight bulbs for my triple lamps that aren't a dim orange colour for a while, as you say with the hid's, although mine aren't that much of a contrast they still look a lot more orange than the headlamps.
Dont worry about the photo's, sounds like a bit of a mission .

D

engine running relay is under the glove box!

the smaller green one on its own... (S1.5 cars)


Rgds
Paul

Hi Dean

Have tried a few sidelight leds a while back but only found one sort that fitted and were bright enough to be usable. To big a design to fit the lamp was a common problem with a number I tried. Do not buy any that are not LUXON star type led based or you will be dissapointed with the light output. Unfortunately the car with those sidelights is SORN with the bonnet used as a parts store just now. Will clear it before long and let you know about what type they are.

John

Hi John

You sound like you have had the same problems then, I bought a pair a while back that where supposed to be 'brilliant white' but where in fact bluey purple, with very little light output.
The problem i have is getting them to fit as my lamp units are even tighter inside than the original ones and quite awkward to get to as well.

D

Hi Dean and anyone else interested.

Sorry for the poor photo quality but here is the LED bulb alonside a standard Philips "blue" bulb. As you can see it is not much larger and fits comfortably into the sidelight hole. There are four LEDs in dimples at the bottom as shown.



It looks as if the package contained four bulbs, the half that Carliterature gave me doesn't show any info concerning manufacturer. If you're interested perhaps a quick message to Keith through the club e-mail system would be the best way.

I think they are too bright to use as tail lights.

Derek

This post has been edited by DerekW on January 29, 2009 05:16 pm

I believe the 'engine running' detection by the ancillaries works by checking the voltage from the battery / alternator, i.e if the alternator is spinning (and hence engine running) it will be nearer 14v than 12. I know that's how the heater blower etc on S2 work anyway.

I seem to remember Peter N discussing it in a thread with me ages ago, something about heater blowers... I think.

There is another link to the dot matrix from the alternator to signify engine running apparently. I too am after any information on this one as I've been trying to track it down on my S2 (it isn't connected due to engine transplant), hence only 'body' messages appear on the display, engine and mechanical warnings are supressed due to the fact it believes the engine isn't running...

Ciarán

Thank you, Paul, for the location; and thanks Ciaran, that makes sense - although why "they" make the armrest adjustable only with the engine running I don't know!

Derek

Hi Derek

Your photos are very interesting particularly as I rejected the 4 led ones as being too dim for service use. I suspect the component tolerances can make a dramatic difference on the light output from that arrangement. The really good ones being sold as premium products. Inside the bulb there will be a series chain of polarity diode, 4 leds in parallel and then a resistor. Unlike filament bulbs leds can only accept the power supply in one direction and need a very low voltage to operate. If a led on its own is fed too much voltage or the wrong polarity voltage it burns out. The resistor in the chain reduces 12 volts to an acceptable voltage. The diode in the chain blocks any wrong polarity voltage protecting the leds. Although the bulbs can fit either way round the led version will light up only in the one of the two positions that gives the correct voltage polarity.

John

Hi John, yes, that was the instruction on the packet (if it doesn't work, turn it round). On the toast falling butter side down principle I had to swap them both around when I first fitted them - and again when I took it out to photograph!

I don't know if taking a photo of the front end of the car at night will be any good to show the brightness, what do you think?

Derek

They look really good Derek, and come to think of it im sure Jorgy9 got a set, maybe these ones, and took photo's of them on the car at night, dont think i will be able to find that post now though. led tail lights are a no no for me, not only are they too bright, which i think has been mentioned, but the l/h display kept saying that none of my tail lights where working which isnt a lot of good.

Thanks Derek

D

Sorry, I hadn't realised Paul had already posted, I didn't even know a relay existed!

Hows the relay energised, anyone know, what does it use as a means of knowing the engines running, alternator output?


Ciarán

Those are the ones

click here

G