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Sprite Control Box - Headlights In-Op

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turbofrog

turbofrog

Freshman Member
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Hi, on my 1959 Austin-Healey Sprite, my headlights and dip indicator light are no working. Everything appears fine, I checked all wiring and connections, I have a new dip switch, a new ignition switch, and the wire harness is a couple years old and in good nick.

I opened the cover on the control box, and noticed on one solenoid, there is what looks like a "breaker point" contact (like points on a dizzy), that is "open", or open circuit. I reckon this may be why my headlights are not working?

Any help is much appreciated! Cheers!

Reading through my service manual, I have found the contacts in the control box work with the dyno to charge at higher engine speed, and open at idle or engine off.....but my headlights are still in-op.....guess I need to do some good old trouble shooting....ugh...
 
Pick up a old fashioned ice pick type of continuity tester and start checking where you have power and where you don't. Most likely a corroded connection and has absolutely nothing to do with the control box. It only control's the generator charging circuit.

Kurt.
 
Your lights should work as long as the battery is charged, whether the regulator is working or not.

The regulator should have two solenoids in it. I've never seen one with a single one. If that's really the case, you have the wrong unit.

This is one of those cases where you just need to troubleshoot it. Trace through the circuit, as Kurt suggests, and you'll quickly find where you are losing the power.
 
Hi Steve and Kurt, got my good ol' ice pick line tester (crucial advice), traced around and got it....one of the leads off the dip switch had a bad connection (didn't "look" bad, but internally it was), a corroded butt-splice...repaired it, and all is well! Thanks for the pointers
 
Good! Hang on to that tester....invaluable tool!

Kurt
 
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