Mystery module
Discussion
Appeal to lockdown detectives!
Can anybody identify this module, or tell me what it's for?
It was fastened with a cable tie to the wiper motor, although not electrically connected to it. (the car's a 1990 S3C)
There's no other marking than the Lucas print and the stamped number.
The bundle of wires goes into the main taped harness under the dash, and the colours don't seem to tally with the Heath diagram or my engine wiring diagram.
I'm at present stripping out the old Cobra alarm/immobiliser system, and it would be reasonable to think it's associated with that. However, all the other parts of the alarm system are Cobra branded. And the Cobra wiring diagram gives me no clue.
If no-one has any ideas, I'll have to open up the main harness and see where the wires go!
Can anybody identify this module, or tell me what it's for?
It was fastened with a cable tie to the wiper motor, although not electrically connected to it. (the car's a 1990 S3C)
There's no other marking than the Lucas print and the stamped number.
The bundle of wires goes into the main taped harness under the dash, and the colours don't seem to tally with the Heath diagram or my engine wiring diagram.
I'm at present stripping out the old Cobra alarm/immobiliser system, and it would be reasonable to think it's associated with that. However, all the other parts of the alarm system are Cobra branded. And the Cobra wiring diagram gives me no clue.
If no-one has any ideas, I'll have to open up the main harness and see where the wires go!
Thanks, Mike. A reply in 23 minutes!
I must admit that dim-dip had escaped me.
Here's wikipedia:
UK regulations briefly required vehicles first used on or after 1 April 1987 to be equipped with a dim-dip device[41] or special running lamps, except such vehicles as comply fully with UN Regulation 48 regarding installation of lighting equipment. A dim-dip device operates the low beam headlamps (called "dipped beam" in the UK) at between 10% and 20% of normal low-beam intensity. The running lamps permitted as an alternative to dim-dip were required to emit at least 200 candela straight ahead, and no more than 800 candela in any direction. In practice, most vehicles were equipped with the dim-dip option rather than the running lamps.[41]
The dim-dip systems were not intended for daytime use as DRLs. Rather, they operated if the engine was running and the driver switched on the parking lamps (called "sidelights" in the UK). Dim-dip was intended to provide a nighttime "town beam" with intensity between that of the parking lamps commonly used at the time by British drivers in city traffic after dark, and dipped (low) beams; the former were considered insufficiently intense to provide improved conspicuity in conditions requiring it, while the latter were considered too glaring for safe use in built-up areas. The UK was the only country to require such dim-dip systems, though vehicles so equipped were sold in other Commonwealth countries with left-hand traffic.[42]
In 1988, the European Commission successfully prosecuted the UK government in the European Court of Justice, arguing that the UK requirement for dim-dip was illegal under EC directives prohibiting member states from enacting vehicle lighting requirements not contained in pan-European EC directives. As a result, the UK requirement for dim-dip was quashed.[41] Nevertheless, dim-dip systems remain permitted, and while such systems are not presently as common as they once were, dim-dip functionality was fitted on many new cars well into the 1990s.
As a signed-up Remoaner (or now, Regainer) I'll heave the thing out. I'm pretty sure my dipped beams are too dim, and that may be why.
I must admit that dim-dip had escaped me.
Here's wikipedia:
UK regulations briefly required vehicles first used on or after 1 April 1987 to be equipped with a dim-dip device[41] or special running lamps, except such vehicles as comply fully with UN Regulation 48 regarding installation of lighting equipment. A dim-dip device operates the low beam headlamps (called "dipped beam" in the UK) at between 10% and 20% of normal low-beam intensity. The running lamps permitted as an alternative to dim-dip were required to emit at least 200 candela straight ahead, and no more than 800 candela in any direction. In practice, most vehicles were equipped with the dim-dip option rather than the running lamps.[41]
The dim-dip systems were not intended for daytime use as DRLs. Rather, they operated if the engine was running and the driver switched on the parking lamps (called "sidelights" in the UK). Dim-dip was intended to provide a nighttime "town beam" with intensity between that of the parking lamps commonly used at the time by British drivers in city traffic after dark, and dipped (low) beams; the former were considered insufficiently intense to provide improved conspicuity in conditions requiring it, while the latter were considered too glaring for safe use in built-up areas. The UK was the only country to require such dim-dip systems, though vehicles so equipped were sold in other Commonwealth countries with left-hand traffic.[42]
In 1988, the European Commission successfully prosecuted the UK government in the European Court of Justice, arguing that the UK requirement for dim-dip was illegal under EC directives prohibiting member states from enacting vehicle lighting requirements not contained in pan-European EC directives. As a result, the UK requirement for dim-dip was quashed.[41] Nevertheless, dim-dip systems remain permitted, and while such systems are not presently as common as they once were, dim-dip functionality was fitted on many new cars well into the 1990s.
As a signed-up Remoaner (or now, Regainer) I'll heave the thing out. I'm pretty sure my dipped beams are too dim, and that may be why.
Are you sure it's not related tot he alarm? One easy way yo check is unplug the module and see what happens. Do the lights get brighter? Does the alarm work?
mentall said:
......In 1988, the European Commission successfully prosecuted the UK government ... As a result, the UK requirement for dim-dip was quashed......
Yet another example of how the EU got the blame for stupid Whitehall meddling?mentall said:
......As a signed-up Remoaner (or now, Regainer)...
We're all leavers now 
Yep, I'm convinced.
Anyway, Joe, I can't do that: the Cobra alarm, immobiliser, sensors, siren and wiring went to the tip before lockdown. I'm replacing it with a new Toad, and because I'll install it myself I'll understand what it's trying to do.
The old one had a heat-related intermittent fault that stopped the starter working. Yes, it could have been the yellow connector, but that's gone in the recycling too.
Anyway, Joe, I can't do that: the Cobra alarm, immobiliser, sensors, siren and wiring went to the tip before lockdown. I'm replacing it with a new Toad, and because I'll install it myself I'll understand what it's trying to do.
The old one had a heat-related intermittent fault that stopped the starter working. Yes, it could have been the yellow connector, but that's gone in the recycling too.
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