[Andrew Nuburry]

Hi All,

I'm halfway through an original resto on my S4 Spider and whilst changing the scuttle drain hoses (that went surprisingly easy!) and whilst there and whilst working around the fuse and relay box, I thought I'd have a go at sorting out the courtesy lights operated by the Sipea 0679 relay.

The relay is tested and working and when voltage is applied the contacts all operate as it should. The wiring into the fuse/relay box is all correct as seen below:

The door pillar switches are new and tested and the doors depress the pillar switches when closed. I have even watched the solanoid working with the cover removed:

The courtesy lights are wired up correcly and they work as they should.

The problem is that when everything is connected up the relay activates even when the door is closed and stays on and activated and keeps the courtesy lights illuminated when the rocker coutesy lights are in the correct (central position) and they do not go out even after many minutes. I have tried several known working relays from friends S4 Spiders (they all still work on their cars when I return the relay) and still its the same issue.

I have even tried a work around that just switches the courtesy lights on and off when the door is opened and closed with the courtesy light rocker switches in the correct position, as below:

The last thing I did was check the wiring loom and there are no obvious alterations or mods to the loom. There are are no worn wires and to be honest I am at complete loss as to what could be causing this problem?

If anyone has any ideas what so ever I will gladly listen as I am completly baffled? Oh and yes I did check that both courtesy lights were wired up correctly ... at a complete loss??

Best to all P

 

[spiderserie4]

so you are saying the interior lights always stay on, whether you use the delay relay or whether you jump the relay socket.

when do the lights go out?...do they ever go out?
Is this a new problem?

 

[Andrew Nuburry]

so you are saying the interior lights always stay on, whether you use the delay relay or whether you jump the relay socket.

when do the lights go out?...do they ever go out?
Is this a new problem?

Hi there ... yes you are correct the interior lights always stay on with the rocker switch in the central position (the lights are wired correctly) whether the relay is in situ or the relay is jumped. The lights in this position will never go out .... it is a problem I inherited when aquiriring this much loved car.

... completly at a loss for the answer to this one!

Besties P

 

[Andrew Nuburry]

All,

Could it be that the problem is in-between the relay and the switches in the A-pillar .... if so, what could it be and where and how do I go about sorting it out???

Besties P

 

[alfaloco]

Pull the wire off each door switch, one at a time, see if either switch is constantly going to ground (or rather... earth!). Sounds like the relay is doing what it should be doing. Do you hear a click when it times out after 20 or 25 seconds?
The floor lamps have three leads, and two of the leads have a regular size 1/4" spade connector. The third has a small spade connector. Did you maybe get those two leads switched around?

 

[spiderserie4]

You say middle position of the footwell lights
And if you try another position, either toggle left or toggle right?

 

[kevinl]

Try your friends courtesy light and see if that works


1993 Spider Veloce
2016 4c Coupe
2018 4c Spider

 

[Andrew Nuburry]

Pull the wire off each door switch, one at a time, see if either switch is constantly going to ground (or rather... earth!). Sounds like the relay is doing what it should be doing. Do you hear a click when it times out after 20 or 25 seconds?
The floor lamps have three leads, and two of the leads have a regular size 1/4" spade connector. The third has a small spade connector. Did you maybe get those two leads switched around?

Hi ya the problem is ... the courtesy lights are on perminantly whether in the middle or right rocker position and ... will not tme out ... the relay clicks as soon as it is connected in any position whether the dor is open or closed?

The floor lamps are connected correctly with the three wires in the correct position and not reversed

Besties P

 

[Andrew Nuburry]

You say middle position of the footwell lights
And if you try another position, either toggle left or toggle right?

Hi,

Yes I have tried that in all three positions ... the relay will click as soon as it is connected in all all three positions and the lighs will stay on unless they are physically switched off in position one (far left) but the relay remains active even in this position and obviosly gets warm as it is still active and conducting.

Besties P

 

[Andrew Nuburry]

Try your friends courtesy light and see if that works


1993 Spider Veloce
2016 4c Coupe
2018 4c Spider

Hi,

Yes I have tried a number of the spares that I have light unit wise and it is still the same result? The loom is original with no mods or bare bits.

Besties P

 

[Andrew Nuburry]

All,

There has to be something amis between the door pillar and the relay?

Besties P

 

[spiderserie4]

Remove the door pushers and see if you can spot something amiss.... pull out the wire as far as you can and inspect it for chafing or something.
How do you know the wiring behind (and at) the relay is correct? Maybe someone removed the fuse box at one time and put one or two out of place

 

[Andrew Nuburry]

Remove the door pushers and see if you can spot something amiss.... pull out the wire as far as you can and inspect it for chafing or something.
How do you know the wiring behind (and at) the relay is correct? Maybe someone removed the fuse box at one time and put one or two out of place

Hi there,

I have a spare fuse box/relay holder from another S4 that the dealer kindly cut off all the wires (as they often do:-( and the wiring matches exactly) ... so I'm sure it is wired correctly.

I have had the door "pushers" out and everything is Tip-top and solid.

I am really ???? on this issue .

Besties P

 

[Andrew Nuburry]

All,

One thing I did notice is that with the relay removed ... the courtesy light would come on with the switch in the far right position (perminantly until turned off) and will not work in the middle and far left positions (as you would expect)

Besties P :-(

 

[alfaloco]

Wow Andrew... you have done your homework, alright.
Something is taking the relay to ground. My guess would be, as Dom indicates, one of the door switches. I would disconnect one at a time, see if the culprit shows himself. Pull the wire lead out of the door a ways so the terminal won't ground.

 

[Andrew Nuburry]

Wow Andrew... you have done your homework, alright.
Something is taking the relay to ground. My guess would be, as Dom indicates, one of the door switches. I would disconnect one at a time, see if the culprit shows himself. Pull the wire lead out of the door a ways so the terminal won't ground.

Alfaloco,

Yes I think that is the next trial and tommorow I will try that, removing one lead at a time from the door pillar switches to see if that makes a difference (time for bed now as its another Monday at work tomorow) ... if sucessful then to try to work out why???

Grateful for your thoughts on this as it is driving me nutz!!!

Besties P

 

[Andrew Nuburry]

 

[Andrew Nuburry]

My baby

 

[kevinl]

View attachment 1659310

Love that Red


1993 Spider Veloce
2016 4c Coupe
2018 4c Spider

 

[alfaloco]

All,

One thing I did notice is that with the relay removed ... the courtesy light would come on with the switch in the far right position (perminantly until turned off) and will not work in the middle and far left positions (as you would expect)

Besties P :-(

Right I would expect that because the footwell lamps have both power and ground which is all they need.