Brighter Head lights?

[Hazey-n-Marc]

 

[Amateb8]

Okay. I have been using halogens for almost three years now. Before purchasing the halogen bulbs, I remember asking the Halfords chap to double check whether the car had the appropriate relays. He said after inspection, that the car had the relays already installed which is located next to the fuse box. This seemed to coincide with what was was discussed in the forum previously (finding the relevant thread is proving impossible). To be safe, I''ll get an electrician to check and look into installing relays for the headlights. I'll keep you posted.

[Hazey-n-Marc]

Nice one, this seems almost as confusing as the thermostat thing.

Marc

[Darrell]

A simple test, get someone to flash the main beams or switch between dim and bright.

Whilst this person is doing this, put your head in under the bonnet and listen in the relay cluster. If there is clicking, there is a relay

Careful, if there is no relay you will burn-out the light switch and will then be looking for a big enough socket to remove the steering wheel

[GTMaster]

Careful, if there is no relay you will burn-out the light switch and will then be looking for a big enough socket to remove the steering wheel

I think it's a 24mm  

The only problem I had with the original setup was that if everything was turned on (headlights, turn signals, wipers, brake lights) then usually the turn signals would stop flashing, the wipers hardly did their job and the headlights  pulsated a bit (plus mine has the old generator as well so no charging on idle). Realys are a good idea for the reasons mentioned (nice drawing Deyan ). I also used  non halogen bulbs  but they were 75/75W instead of the original 45/55W (I think those were the originals).
Made a huge difference in winter driving.

[Blonde126]

Thanks everyone for the replies, I'll give the halogens a try once I get a hold of some spare cash

[Amateb8]

I spoke to my local Alfa Romeo garage re relays this morning. The first thing they did to test whether there was a relay, was, they did exacly what Darell suggested. The good news is, there was a clicking sound!!! I could hear the clicking sound from inside the car. The mechanic owned up, that he was not an electrician but was pretty sure it had one.

[DEYAN IYI]

Well, I don´t want to disappoint you but it´s 100% normal to click, cos there is a relay but it´s not the power relay. It´s just a gadget that gives to a 9-10V's (I suppose) line the normal amount of 13,5+ V. That's all. When changing side lights & dim-dip lights to side lights & low beam it do clicks. It do gives a sign like if there is the relay we are talking about. It will click also when you turn the side lights on when ignition contact is on (the right relay on the drawing of the previous page).

You can not trust that guy, cos he sees 126 for first time maybe. And it's normal. I know about a guy in a town 20km from mine, he is a 126 wizard. Listens 3 sec. and says the diagnosis. Separates all the noises in the engine just like that. But about 20 years of experience (before 1989) with mainly 126 and 10 trainings in the factory in Bielsko-biala... Super machinist but 99% not familiar with Alfa for example.

If you don't trust you eyes and the original diagram, go to an electrician and show it to him. But with the clicking test it won't work. With the same test I "discovered" that there is a relay in the ELX of a friend of mine, but why only one!? Then I saw the diagram and it's all clear. There is a relay but only for the main exterior lights switch, not one for low and other for high beam. Better than in the Bis but still a poo...

Here you got the Bis diagram with the dim-dip device:



Now the normal diagram with the power relay:



It makes a big difference!

Sorry for being that tenacious!

Kind regards!

PS:

nice drawing Deyan

Thanks! People call me also Picasso

[Amateb8]

Many, many thanks. Very informative. You may be correct. I still kept the car booking as I still want a proper electrician to check it. Better safe than sorry. Yes, the mechanic was a bit unfamiliar with 126s but an absolute wizard on Alfas/Lancias. They have dealt with a few odd times vintage 500s. The garage maintains my Alfa.

Would it be possible for you to draw a schematic diagram showing where the new relay should be installed please. Just want to make sure that the electrician knows what he is doing.

[nrg19uk]

Would it make sense to move the fuse from your drawing to the side closer to the batt?