Auto Electrics

Author
Discussion

jq3104

Original Poster:

170 posts

166 months

Monday 14th February 2011
quotequote all
Hi All,
Does anyone know of a decent auto electrician in Scotland,preferably Central belt who can look at a sticking indicator(formerly a reversing light) in a 05 GT?
Thanks in advance

benny.c

3,518 posts

214 months

Tuesday 15th February 2011
quotequote all
I'm afraid I can't recommend anyone in Scotland but your car probably needs to go to someone who really knows these cars, not just a decent auto electrician. I don't want to frighten you but a sticking indicator can be a sign of a fried SJB (Smart Junction Box). Take a read here and do a search for SJB elsewhere on s197.co.uk as there are plenty of similar threads.

http://www.s197.co.uk/s197/forum/phpBB3/viewtopic....

It may be worth contacting James at Atlantic Sports Cars as they have an Edinburgh office and may be able to suggest someone North of the Border.

http://www.atlanticsportscars.com/home/contactdeta...

Edited by benny.c on Tuesday 15th February 15:52

jq3104

Original Poster:

170 posts

166 months

Tuesday 15th February 2011
quotequote all
Cheers Benny,
I was reading that post earlier, the fault that chap had is similar but not exact.
My passenger side indicator is positioned where the US reversing light was.
Upon alarming the car some days ago, the amber light stayed on. By messing around with the indicators and hazards the light died.
However,over last 24hrs the bleedin thing stays on whenever I indicate or alarm.
The front and side indicators as well as the dashboard lights work as normal.
I.ve had a look at the rear lights but to be honest I don't have a clue what I'm looking for.
A novel way I've found to get the light off is to open and slam the boot shut-a loose connection somewhere?
Don't know if relevant but I had a slow puncture and used the fag lighter as a power source and it's packed in!!!
Regards Atlantic I've heard there very good as well as Hereford Tyres and others.
The pisser is that I'm in Scotland (Atlantic's new premises up here are still under construction).
Anyway if anyone else sees this and wants to give me words of comfort,please feel free.


benny.c

3,518 posts

214 months

Tuesday 15th February 2011
quotequote all
jq3104 said:
A novel way I've found to get the light off is to open and slam the boot shut-a loose connection somewhere?
I'm no expert on electrics but that does sound like a loose connection. I know some dodgy SVA conversions are done by hiding dummy bulbs in the boot area. Have you had a good look around there, including removing some of the plastic trim and carpet?

jq3104

Original Poster:

170 posts

166 months

Tuesday 15th February 2011
quotequote all
Thanks again Benny,
Had a look this afternoon behind the plastic couldn't see anything untoward but then again what do i know.lol
Never lifted the carpet so lord knows what's lurking under there.
There's a guy in Paisley who is doing some work on the car next week;

http://www.alexanderautos.co.uk/

He deals with a local electronic chap who currently has two mustangs in with complete light failures.So ill pay him a visit next week.
Im taking comfort in the fact that the other two same side indicators are working fine as is all other electrics.
Had two s2000's and a nsx prior to this and never had to spend a penny.
The joys!




benny.c

3,518 posts

214 months

Tuesday 15th February 2011
quotequote all
Don't let it get you down, they are generally very reliable and cheap to run. It may be worth a post on s197.co.uk once you have spoken with the electrics guy as there is loads of very knowledgeable people on there.

Good luck with it.

LuS1fer

41,708 posts

252 months

Wednesday 16th February 2011
quotequote all
Most Mustang owners don't have to spend a penny either - sadly it's the conversions that are badly bodged as they're done using old school electrics principles. Over on S197.co.uk we've been banging home the message since 2005 that the conversion is the most important part of checking a Mustang. Seriously, even if the car can be "fixed", the electrics need checking and possibly the wiring redone.

Roo

11,503 posts

214 months

Thursday 17th February 2011
quotequote all
As Wayne says, some of the conversions are shocking.

When the S197 came out very few people realised how differently the electronics worked compared to the previous model and carried on doing light conversions the same way. Over a period of time a lot of these have now had problems.

But, can be rectified so don'y worry.

jq3104

Original Poster:

170 posts

166 months

Thursday 17th February 2011
quotequote all
Cheers Guys,
I'd been looking at MOCGB and S197.co.uk for a while, before and after I bought the car.
I actually joined MOCGB a couple of weeks ago but they've neither taken my money or confirmed my membership.
Re S197, on applying, they ask for a "BOT TEST".Wtf? What's one of those?
I guess when a novice like me buys the vehicle all you do is check that all the electrics work which they did and have done for last six months.The car was ordered in 04 and delivered in 05 by a chap from "IVES".Had the plate USA 666 for a number of years.
Probably all irrelevant but if anyone knows of it, it would be interesting.
I do love the car and it's a daily driver.I wanted this year to get rid of the stripes and spoiler and get 20 wheels.Who knows, maybe if it aint all bad news I can still carry on with these.
I'm in touch with Mike Allan so hopefully he can take a wee look.
Thanks for all the replies,I'll let you know of the outcome.
Meantime I'll drive with no rear indicator.
Cheers

LuS1fer

41,708 posts

252 months

Thursday 17th February 2011
quotequote all
A lot of forums including S197 are being spammed by Chinese fake ads so the bot test may be to check the veracity of your IP address.

Good luck with the electrickery.

jq3104

Original Poster:

170 posts

166 months

Thursday 17th February 2011
quotequote all
Cheers Wayne,
But what is a BOT TEST?
What do I insert in that box?
Cheers

LuS1fer

41,708 posts

252 months

Thursday 17th February 2011
quotequote all
No idea. I thought it was automatic like a Google bot. E-mail Ozza and he'll tell you, it's his forum.

jq3104

Original Poster:

170 posts

166 months

Friday 18th February 2011
quotequote all
Just a quick update.
A fellow owner suggested that I prod about in the boot.
I've removed the plastic cover and removed/lifted all carpets and revealed lots of wee wire which I admit all look very tidy and functional.
There are no weird additonal bulbs and by gently dabbing anything that caught my eye the indicators started working again.
The indicator is still solid when i alarm the car but I'm confident the problem is nothing worse than a loose connection somewhere.
Thanks for all your help.
Til the next cry for help

Roo

11,503 posts

214 months

Saturday 19th February 2011
quotequote all
With the bot test on s197 don't you just enter the number it gives you?

I'm sure that's what I did.

Twin Turbo

5,544 posts

273 months

Saturday 19th February 2011
quotequote all
As the chaps have already said, the BOT test has been introduced to get rid of spammers. Just answer any questions and you'll get your account set up on S197.

The membership on MOCGB relies on two things.....the webmaster to approve your account (and he's been away on hols for 3 weeks) and the Membership secretary, who does the new memberships in batches every 3 to 4 weeks. Both do this free of charge, just takes a little while. If you PM me your email address, I can ask Mark (webmaster) to get your account working asap on the owners club.

I hope your issue is just a loose connection, but it'd be worth getting the IVA wiring checked as a precaution. Other symptom include cruise control not working as well as other bulb related fun. A new SJB and re-wire will be around the £1k mark, so you don't want to go there!

Mine was a botch-job, but was lucky to have a friend who rewired it.....or rather replaced all the connections, added resisters & heat syncs etc, for the price of a chinese and some beer. And 4 very cold nights in my garage!!


Cheers
Paul