So I'm trying to convert my headlights to a relay system, on a 70 Charger - but I'm having issues with the hideaway headlights

If I unplug the left headlight, (to install the relay conversion) the headlight doors open as soon as you turn on the ignition - regardless if you have the headlight switch on or off.

After lots of testing, I found that if I plug the conversion harness into the RIGHT headlight plug and put a spare headlight on the left headlight plug - everything works great.

So obviously, for the hidden headlight relay to function correctly, the left headlight needs to be installed to complete a circuit. Of course, it's pretty lame to have a 5th headlight hanging there...

Has anyone on the board worked out headlight relays, on a hidewaway headlight system?

Thanks

I am a little confused but the system on my 70 Charger used its factory headlight door relay, and the Painless H4 conversion kit for the Hella's I installed. I put the male Painless pigtail on to the factory female pigtail on the left headlight (where it comes from the headlight switch)...and the Painless kit has two female |_| pigtails that go to each headlight beam. When you turn on the headlights, the motor rotates the doors open and turns on the headlight beams. It was a 15min. install

What is happening is the relay uses the headlights bulbs as the ground for the relay- factory setup!!!

so if you do the headlight relay upgrade for the bulbs you take away the "ground for the relay to work.

did this several years ago for another car- what I did was replace the orginal relay with a Bosch type-still use the circuit breaker, but use a physical ground wire from the relay to the dash frame to make it work correctly.

diagram attached

I used THIS thread to wire mine in.

It may or may not help, but it was all I had. Good luck with your project. Keep us posted.

Here's a picture I made after I upgraded to relays. You definately need a 5 prong relay for the headlight motor as the old one grounds through the headlights (light green wire) - doesn't work when you use relays.
The diagram includes parallel wiring from the alternator (Lima) to the ammeter and from there to the battery.

If you need further translation from German to English let me know but it should be self-explanatory.

Zündschloss = ignition switch
Lichtschalter = light switch

Thanks Guys! - great info here - looks like I have some wiring to do

I'll let you know how it goes

Chris