headlights

[winnipeg sue]

Hi there. Got caught in a Manitoba Public Insurance inspection last week, an they say my headlights are pointing the wrong direction--still set for left-side of the road driving. Can anyone tell me if there are particular headlights I need to replace them with?
Many thanks,
Susan

[Manitoba deli]

Yes, you need to have the proper E-code on your lights, do you have an l300 or l400.

Jason

[winnipeg sue]

Oops--I'm not sure; sorry. I have a 1992--does that help? There's nothing on the paperwork; I can go outside and have a look, should I?
Thanks, Jason.
Susan

[Manitoba deli]

That will be an l300 (starwagon) the l400 (spacegear) wasn't made until 94. Check the lense of your headlights for a small circle with E13 in it. If you have this, then your lights simply need to be reaimed. If you can't find this lettering, you have to change your headlights, and if you bought the van as having passed compliance, you may want to go after the seller. You should be able to get a set of lights from any of the parts suppliers listed in the sub forums on this site.

Jason

[FalcoColumbarius]

Where did you get your Delica, Sue?

[winnipeg sue]

Thanks for the tips, Jason.
Falco: I bought my Delica from a forum user (former forum user) named Jymz--James Woodman. He claimed to have done all kinds of work, including the headlights, but since I have subsequently had to replace the head gasket, and then the whole motor because it threw a rod, and pay to have the faulty lift he put in removed, trust me, if I could find the seller I'd go after a him for a lot more than the lights. Everything he told me has turned out to be untrue, and I have now sent more than double the original cost of the Delica. I do love the van, just not the seller.
Thanks, folks.
Sue

[drrod]

If ever there was a story to support buying from a reputable dealer (or a vehicle that was documented as having come from one) this is it!!
Sorry you got burned Sue. Get in touch with Mardy or CCAuto. I am sure they can help you.
Rod

[FalcoColumbarius]

I am very sorry to hear your story. Let's see what the community can do for you. Get to know this site, there are some useful forums, threads & links. I would first recommend familiarising yourself with the forum index. Beside your driver's seat is a little plastic pull tab, underneath it is a code (VIN) for your vehicle. The first four numbers are likely to be P25W or P35W. They describe that your van is an "new model"L300 4WD diesel Wagon (people carrier) and if you go to this thread it will tell you exactly what you have: http://www.delica.ca/forum/l300-vehicle ... -2119.html

You will find this thread in the forum index under "Delica Canada Technical"/"FAQ And Downloads"/"Delica FAQ Section". This will get you started. The search engine works but it's limited. Make yourself at home, Sue.

Falco.

[TardisDeli]

Hi Sue, this is Christine, here's my step-by-step since you're not in Vancouver where I could just meet you.

STEP BY STEP DIAGNOSIS FOR ALL WIERD WIRING ISSUES. DELI FOLK TAKE NOTE:

First, we need to check if you have to replace the headlight lens:

Why?? Because The lens type differs for right versus left hand countries, so the beam doesnt blind oncoming traffic.

First, as Manitoba Deli asks, do you have the E13 on your headlights. it's tiny lettering about 1/4 inch high, along the bottom of the lens cover. If so, good, just need to adjust them, how to is written below, or you can look up past posts with photos, fiddly but not difficult, just need patience. If no E13 marked, crap, you need to get a full set of headlights mailed to you (keep your existing bulbs, but never ever touch them with fingers or oily gloves, use a nice clean paper kleenex). The replacement headlights are 2 choices: cheaper Souest brand, not recommended as they don't adjust properly (the gear inside strips after one use so you can't adjust it again), or the more expensive Depo (better choice, as can adjust often).

If you have an E13 rated lens, and they are Depo, then you can try to adjust your headlights yourself (warning, best done with some daylight and a powerful troublelamp; do not strip the adjusting screws which are very fragile, ensure you have a small philips head on a long skinny screwdriver so dont' damage the lens, and check photos online so you don't unscrew the lens housing screws which are beside the adjusting screws and then your headlight falls out, bad things):

As I recall from an ancient post, to adjust your beams, you park your delica 25 feet from a flat wall, on a flat bit of road ie a nice parking lot next to a wall in a shopping lot. Leave the engine running, so you can leave your headlights on without killing battery while mucking about. Measure accurately the height at the centre of each headlight, and tape a bit of tape onto the wall at that exact height. On low beam the light should hit at 5cm below the tape, on high beam it should hit the tape. There is also the side ways sweep, I don't know what that is, but obviously you need to aim the passenger side light to the right so yo dont blind oncoming vehicles. Do verify with your province what the headlight aiming measurements should be, maybe the motor vehicles website.

Now if that's good, you're set, end of story. Sounds like that's all you need based on your posting.

However, I am on a roll. So will continue with wiring diagnostics:

Second, if you have headlight wiring problems, or you need to test if ANY headlight wiring was modified to Canadian code, here's the steps:

Do you know if you have the Canadian DRL Daytime Running Lights module installed, often a Grote module which dies early, this is what makes your low beams turn on automatically when you start the engine. You DON'T NEED A DRL Module but is often installed as it makes the turn signal lights also go on with low beams for daytime use, an alternative is several relays. These next steps are lengthy, as some wiring stuff may activate when depressing the brake pedal or shifting into gear or activating the turn signal. To do our tests in dark (or not bright light as hard to see some of the little lights), hve a friend outside, you sit with handbrake on, in park, without touching brake pedal, with no accessories turned on, now start the engine in Park, do not shift gears nor touch foot brake, but do leave engine running in park. Have friend look at headlights and walk around vehicle, are any lights at all on, especially look at the little square lights underneath the headlights, and the front side turn lights which has either a yellow bulb & clear lens or a yellow lens (Japan usually had no lights on at this point). Write down your findings. Now, take handbrake off (still in park gear, but do not touch brake pedal), write down your findings. Now depress and hold the brake pedal down, have friend write things. Now put on your turn signals, have friend write things, note especially if they light up yet, they might only light up while moving and if you have the turn signal on which is the Japanese way. Now shift into a forward gear, move forward a few feet (you can use your brake pedal now as usual) but dont run over friend, write down any changes to lights (if your headlights didnt come on yet, and don't come on when you are in a forward gear, then you have no DRL and you are still wired japanese style), and now try your turn signals again. Write your findings. Now test you can turn on your lights (low, high, turning) using the light stalk on the right of the steering wheel, everything should be normal with the lights now.

Now, one LAST thing, if you're having wiring problems, is there any extra wiring issues that you might have, even if not working now, but which might provide a clue, ie tow hitch wires (several recent problems with lights were due to low quality tow hitch wires that deli owners themselves installed), extra off-road 4x4 lights, fog light other than the normal switch, horn problem, fuses blowing, or any wierd grounding issues such as sometimes door locks or interior lights work but sometimes they just don't, or do you have any battery charging issues. Another problem to remember, is if one of the "fusible links" has a melt down (yup, they are supposed to melt if you have a major short circuit, they prevent the whole vehicle having a melt down), the symptom is that one-quarter of your fuse panel under steering wheel at knee height won't work; the link is just above the battery, a little square plastic thing with 4 bits of 2 inch long wire curling in and out, look for crispy wire or crispy plastic thing, and get electrical dude to replace with same wire (never bigger wire).

I know, lots of questions, just trying to ensure you dont spend money needlessly. You NO NOT NEED A DRL Module, it can be done just by wiring in several relays (Jay TardisDeli did that for folks whose DRL died).

If you're stumped, I can PM you Jay's phone number so you can phone us for a walk-through.

Keep Calm, cheers, christine.

[winnipeg sue]

hooray! There's an E13! Thanks again, Jason.
Susan

[winnipeg sue]

Christine: Thanks for your message--I didn't see it before I sent my message to Jason. I appreciate the time you took to send all that info. I'm going to print it and take it to my neighbourhood garage. I'm not aware there's a wiring problem, just the aim problem; I'll hope so, anyway.
Thanks again,
Susan

[Green1]

hooray! There's an E13! Thanks again, Jason.
Susan

If there *IS* an E13, then most likely the inspector who gave you so much grief doesn't have a clue what he's talking about, and simply decided that because you were RHD there MUST be something wrong. you now know that he was wrong...

[winnipeg sue]

No, I think I do still need them re-aimed. I have often thought they weren't lighting the correct side of the road but didn't realize why.
I'll let you know if the re-aiming satisfies.
Thanks, everyone. Saved by the Deli-lovers again!
Cheers,
Susan

[winnipeg sue]

I do take your point though, Green1. They were clearly pulling over only those vehicles that were a little bit old or a little bit off the mainstream. I was pretty ticked, especially since they left me sitting there for a long time on a very warm day with FIVE kids in the van, who'd been promised a swim. Next time I'm gonna put the kids in THEIR van!

And, Rod, the story would be much worse were it not for Glen at CCAutos, who helped me out enormously and without whom I would not have made it through all the crises. Sure glad this isn't another one.

Thanks again everyone,
Sue

[Manitoba deli]

Good to hear something is going right for you.

Jason