Electrics and dead windows !!

[neildyson]

Hello all.

I've been reading these threads now for a few weeks and have just taken the plunge and got myself an amazing S2. Absolutely chuffed with it, its my first 'performance car' and don't think I will ever look back.

One problem it came with was the electrics. Most work, but both electric windows do not (and the drivers window is down !!). I've done the obvious - looking for fuses, wiring etc but I don't even have a fuse box ! I'm sure, though, that power is getting to the drivers window as you can hear the motor click but I can't even force the window back up (yet it is not snagged anywhere).

Does anyone have any ideas on what to do or look for (at least just to get the window up) ????

Cheers

[M@H]

quote:
I've done the obvious - looking for fuses, wiring etc but I don't even have a fuse box !

Hi,

..so what do you have beside the ECU under the glovebox then ..?

Cheers
Matt.

[Jonzo]

Greetings !

As Matt says, fuse box is under the glovebox, pull trim down. Also read on here that you should prise the window switches out and clean the contacts on the back of the switch.
Maybe do a 'search' on this forum using the word 'windows' may give more answers from previous queries.
cheers
Mark

[JSG]

Hi Neil,

Welcome. Your fuse panel is underneath the glovebox in the passenger footwell. You can get to it by pulling down the flap of carpet (may be held in place by some velcro - usually falls down of its own free will).

Along with the wiring loom you will find a board (should be fixed to the top of the bulkhead) which holds the fuses and relays plus the ECU.

A sample photo below - yours will be slightly different.




It may be worth swapping the window switches over (they just prise out and then using a meter or test lamp to check power is getting to the motor if the fuses are ok.

Finally I would recommend you get a copy of Steve Heath's book on the S series (the bible) as it gives stacks of useful info including wiring diagrams. You can get this through the car club or Steve's web site.

Cheers,
JSG.

[bugmeister]

Hi,

Others have told you where the fuses are. The fact that you can here the motor clicking would suggest that you may have problems at that end. To get at the motor you need to remove the door speakers, once these are out you can fish around inside the door, this will involve serious scraping of knuckles. When i had a similar problem with my car, I discovered a significant amount of water in the bottom of the door ( a leaky TIV, never I hear you cry!!). Removing the door panel is a whole different kettle of fish and i would not try this without reference to Steve Heaths book. Steve does hang out on the tvrcc email list which you can join at the link below

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tvrccmaillist/

And is usually helpful. That list also holds an archive of previous postings and can be very useful.

Bugs
Green S3

[neildyson]

Thanks for all the info.

Firstly - I have taken the carpet down from the passengers side, but the fuse box is not there. All I have are a load of half-taped wires with the odd fuse attached, a couple of black relay boxes (??) and thats it. Definitely no fuse box !

I will get a copy of the 'bible' straight away, cheers for the pointer.

I will also have a look at the switches and check them. Does anyone think it basically sounds like a re-wire job, including actually putting a fuse box in ???

Thanks again for all the comments.

[Justin S]

Also see if the wires cut in the door to chassis area.Sometimes mine work if you wiggle the door open and close!!!!!

[samdring]

that is your fuse box!
mine exactly the same just as TVR intended - a fuse box with no box - you just have to test each by exclusion to work out what is what.
Wonderful cars

Regards

Sam

[JSG]

quote:
that is your fuse box!
mine exactly the same just as TVR intended - a fuse box with no box - you just have to test each by exclusion to work out what is what.
Wonderful cars

Regards

Sam

The fuses should be in a holder fixed to the same board as the relays (see prev pic). There is a copy of the fuse layout in the bible but the S2 diag doesn't show a fuse marked for electric windows. For the S3 it shows a 15 amp fuse at the top right postion.

Cheers,
John.

[samdring]

sorry john - disagree
My S2 is same as previous post - no box - just a mass of wiring harness with vauxhall type fuses in many locations within the mass - all fuses are there - I assure you

sam

[JSG]

quote:
sorry john - disagree
My S2 is same as previous post - no box - just a mass of wiring harness with vauxhall type fuses in many locations within the mass - all fuses are there - I assure you

sam

Sam,

I bow to your knowledge as I've not owned a S2 (or looked at the wiring on one) but Steve's bible shows a fuse board layout which led me to my conclusion.

When you say Vauxhall fuses do you mean the bayonet type? I'm now wondering if it became a common mod to remove the fuse board due to electrical gremlins.

Are all S2s like this, any other owners care to comment johno / Jas / anyone.

[spaceman]

I had a similar problem with the windows on my Chimaera, they would not go down.
This turned out to be an alarm related problem (the alarm closes the windows)general playing with the alarm wiring has fixed the problem, although I dont know which bit fixed it.
Good luck.

Regards
Spaceman

[neildyson]

Well thanks to all for the info on this one. I can confirm that I too do not have a fuse box, just a jumble of cables and the odd fuse.

I did manage to get the windows fixed, though. The problem was the connectors on the back of the switches (which i would never had found had it not been pointed out on this board). I had to replace a couple of connections, but voila !!!!

Thanks for all the help. I suppose the next job is sorting the wiring mess !