Headlights Relay for 1979 Fiat

[cyberborikua]

I'm waiting on the headlights relay from Auto Ricambi. It is actually back ordered. Anyone who has installed this relay like to share your experience with it? Thanks.

[nibbes123]

Great set up , only takes 1/2 hour to install .

[cyberborikua]

Good to hear. Thank you.

[dreavis]

Is that 30 minutes for an experienced mechanic, or 30 minutes for a novice? (For the record, I'm on the novice end of the spectrum.)

[nibbes123]

Ok for novice it will take 45mins. 10 mins to read instructions , 5 mins to scratch your head, 30 mins. hookup. All kidding aside it is very simple to hook up.

[AriK]

It's the Greg Smith version. Very user friendly and the gauge and length of the wires have been predetermined for perfect application in the Fiat's engine compartment.
Highly recommended, +++

[JohnGalt]

I wish I had found this website before I decided to figure out why the lights were so dim. I had 124s long ago so I knew they had dim lights. Turns out that with engine running I was only getting 9.5v to the headlamps (8.5v with engine off). After investigating the voltage loss at several points I found that every wire was dropping voltage, only getting 11.5v at the switch, loosing a bit more at the high beam switch, ect. One good thing was that the previous owner had put a monster battery cable in to the starter so I took power off the starter lug. By using the old headlight wiring to control some relays I added on the fender I am able to use the original light controls and now I'm seeing 12.5v at the headlights (engine off). Lights are now brighter than on my truck,, serious difference. And now with the headlights off the under voltage fuse box the interior lights are a tad brighter.

I see that you guys have found some kits that do the same thing. Where do the kits take their power from?

Update, I spoke with Matt at Vick Autosports about a different matter and asked him about the headlight relay kits they offer. He confirmed that taking the power off the starter lug is what they suggest.

If you have less than brilliant lights bypassing a lot of the voltage robbing old wires by installing one of these relay kits is the way to go.

[cyberborikua]

I see three colored wires coming off the healights 3-prone connector. Black is ground. What are gray and green? Looking to ID the high and low beam wires to make my own relay harness.

[So Cal Mark]

it's much easier to take the 12v power directly from the alternator post

[spider2081]

Fuses 3 & 4 are the hi beam fuses Green/black wire is driver side wire and green is passenger side wire. Fuses 5 & 6 are lo beam with wires gray/black being drivers side and gray being passenger side wire. Relays are often mounted on the drivers side fender well and connected to the alternators output post through an inline fuse. One fuse is used for each relay. Usually both headlights are connected to one relay so one relay is the hi beam and one relay is the lo beam. Hope this helps.
For cars with the alternator on the passenger side of the car power is sometimes taken form the starter solenoid or the relays are mounted on the passenger side of the car.

[maxdog]

Hi
Installed headlight relays this weekend ,now have greatly improved lights . I Mcgyvered the assembly using parts from my junk box . Main power feed to the relays from the alternator, via a line fuse mounted with the relays in a small box in the engine bay . Feed to the relays by disconnecting the input to the head lamp fuses and adding jumpers to connect the relays. , Power to the lights from the relays , a second jumper to the input terminals of head lamp fuses at the fuse box .
Relays grounded at the ground connector near the driver's side head lamp
Total cost zero , total time a morning.
Maxdog

[RRoller123]

Hi
Installed headlight relays this weekend ,now have greatly improved lights . I Mcgyvered the assembly using parts from my junk box . Main power feed to the relays from the alternator, via a line fuse mounted with the relays in a small box in the engine bay . Feed to the relays by disconnecting the input to the head lamp fuses and adding jumpers to connect the relays. , Power to the lights from the relays , a second jumper to the input terminals of head lamp fuses at the fuse box .
Relays grounded at the ground connector near the driver's side head lamp
Total cost zero , total time a morning.
Maxdog

Just a detail, but wanted to check to be sure... that should say: "....disconnecting the input FROM the head lamp fuses..." Otherwise, the power leads to the lamps themselves might now be unprotected. Just checking.

[spider2081]

There are lots of ways to add the relays in the headlight circuits. I am one who doesn't necessarily think there is a "best" way.
Everything one needs to add the relays is in the engine compartment. So one way is to unplug the headlight bucket for the side of the car you are physically installing the relays. Then use the cars wires from the fuses on that side for the power to control the relay. This way the control wires remain fused and protected. Just another thought and a little less work.

[cyberborikua]

Spider, thank you. Your info works for me.

[cyberborikua]

Hey Maxdog, I have checked out some wiring diagrams online and there is this one suggesting the use of gauge 12 wires for the harness. What gauge did you use and what size inline fuses?