Electrical Gremlin.....F*ck!!!
Discussion
Okay, last thursday evening, went out to car, started car, drove car 10 miles, stopped car, got out of car, took piss, got back in car, started car, started car, started car! The F*kcer wouldn't start!! Left it for 20 minutes, car started! I'm thinking I had an overheat, so carry on to the cinema to get the weekends listings, stop car, get listing, back in car, car started - Just!
Friday morning, go out in car - it started ok - buy new alternator for £28, alternatoe doesn't fit
saturday, change alternator, fit new alternator! WooHoo! But, Dead battery, so jump start! No joy, change batter for one that is in the van my mum uses for work, car starts first turn of the key! Woohoo! So monday, go out and buy new battery! Everything works fine except for the Needle on the Rev Counter, it jumps everytime I press the brakes, and moves whenever I use the electric windows, fan, reverse gear, stereo etc!
Then on Wednesday night, the car died on me - WHILE THE F*CKING POLICE WHERE BEHIND ME! All the lights went out and the engine died and I stopped suddenly!
Anyone have any Ideas what he problem could be? IU noticed the rev counter needle buggering about when I drove last thursday, first time I had seen it doing that! Slightly worrying to say the least!
Is there a problem with the charging circuit or have I got a short circuit!
HELP!!
Friday morning, go out in car - it started ok - buy new alternator for £28, alternatoe doesn't fit
saturday, change alternator, fit new alternator! WooHoo! But, Dead battery, so jump start! No joy, change batter for one that is in the van my mum uses for work, car starts first turn of the key! Woohoo! So monday, go out and buy new battery! Everything works fine except for the Needle on the Rev Counter, it jumps everytime I press the brakes, and moves whenever I use the electric windows, fan, reverse gear, stereo etc! Then on Wednesday night, the car died on me - WHILE THE F*CKING POLICE WHERE BEHIND ME! All the lights went out and the engine died and I stopped suddenly!
Anyone have any Ideas what he problem could be? IU noticed the rev counter needle buggering about when I drove last thursday, first time I had seen it doing that! Slightly worrying to say the least!
Is there a problem with the charging circuit or have I got a short circuit!
HELP!!
1.) Could be the fuel pipes getting to hot?
2a.) I guess your electrics were made by Lucas, Lord of Darkness?
2b.) Serious: using of certain consumer loads interfere with the rev counter; check which loads share one fuse with the rev counter, sort them out by using the rev counter by an exclusive fuse. See if needle jumping disappears.
3.) I don't think it's the charging; I can't see any coherence between the alternator assy and the complete electric crash. Is there slack joint somewhere? Corroded connections?
as bodo says if you have let the "smoke" out of the electrics they will cease to work 
Without knowing which of your vehicles this problem is afflicting, but to be fair neither of them have a good reputation for electical stability or longevity (sp?).
Ford Escort/Orion: does it still have the fuse-box mounted on the scuttle beside the air intake for the heater ?? Check the security of the fuses, carefully clean the terminals as best with contact cleaner. Be carefull, the wires entering the fuse box from beneath become very fragile with age, and it's an integral part of the front loom so a bugger to replace.
Vaux Astra/Cav: Go over the fuse box the same, it's in the passenger compartment by the drivers right leg isn't it ?? I've heard of these catching fire in extream short circuit/high current situations, which is nice.......
Assuming the tacho is driven from the coil or ECU and the engine still runs ok when it runs, and the other faults you mention I'd guess something fundamental. Check the engine-to-body earth strap isn't broken or the battery leads arn't only hanging on by a couple of strands. Also clean the points where the battery earth and engine earth straps mount to the body as they are probably covered in rust and crap by now. Back to shiney bare metal if you can, new bolts and some copper slip if you've got it. These are fairly common Mini problems and displays all the same symptoms you describe.
Ford Escort/Orion: does it still have the fuse-box mounted on the scuttle beside the air intake for the heater ?? Check the security of the fuses, carefully clean the terminals as best with contact cleaner. Be carefull, the wires entering the fuse box from beneath become very fragile with age, and it's an integral part of the front loom so a bugger to replace.
Vaux Astra/Cav: Go over the fuse box the same, it's in the passenger compartment by the drivers right leg isn't it ?? I've heard of these catching fire in extream short circuit/high current situations, which is nice.......
Assuming the tacho is driven from the coil or ECU and the engine still runs ok when it runs, and the other faults you mention I'd guess something fundamental. Check the engine-to-body earth strap isn't broken or the battery leads arn't only hanging on by a couple of strands. Also clean the points where the battery earth and engine earth straps mount to the body as they are probably covered in rust and crap by now. Back to shiney bare metal if you can, new bolts and some copper slip if you've got it. These are fairly common Mini problems and displays all the same symptoms you describe.
Ooops, Sorry, It's the Orion! It's a real bugger! (not the car - the gremlin!) The negative connection on the old battery was heavily rusted and corroded,
[ENGLAND HAVE JUST SCORED! WOOHOO!] hence why I changed the battery! I have checked all the earth's that I can find, Battery - Body, Bonnet - Body, Gearbox - Body! They all seem ok!
I have been advised to check the blue wire that runs from the alternator to the dash light, but it is OK, I am womdering if perhaps my alternator connections are the wrong way round? [ENGLAND HAVE JUST SCORED AGAIN! WOOHOO!] (bugger this is taking me a long time to write!)
Anyway, could it be the Alternator connections, and should my Alternator light be on if it is?
[ENGLAND HAVE JUST SCORED! WOOHOO!] hence why I changed the battery! I have checked all the earth's that I can find, Battery - Body, Bonnet - Body, Gearbox - Body! They all seem ok!
I have been advised to check the blue wire that runs from the alternator to the dash light, but it is OK, I am womdering if perhaps my alternator connections are the wrong way round? [ENGLAND HAVE JUST SCORED AGAIN! WOOHOO!] (bugger this is taking me a long time to write!)
Anyway, could it be the Alternator connections, and should my Alternator light be on if it is?
quote:
Then on Wednesday night, the car died on me - WHILE THE F*CKING POLICE WHERE BEHIND ME! All the lights went out and the engine died and I stopped suddenly!
HELP!!
Happened Thursday last to the festa. Wire from the alternator to the starter motor. The crimp connector that is bolted to the starter motor had cracked almost off so there could not have been enough charge getting to the battery for a while.
quote:
quote:
Then on Wednesday night, the car died on me - WHILE THE F*CKING POLICE WHERE BEHIND ME! All the lights went out and the engine died and I stopped suddenly!
HELP!!
Happened Thursday last to the festa. Wire from the alternator to the starter motor. The crimp connector that is bolted to the starter motor had cracked almost off so there could not have been enough charge getting to the battery for a while.
Somebody said to me the other day about the Starter - ALternator wire, problem is, on mine, the wires go into a plastic sleeve, up behind the radiator then disappear into the bodywork and that is where I lose them!
If your engine is a CVH, i would assume the wiring would be the same, if so, which wire is the one in question and how did you fox it?
Sounds like you need a wiring diagram, and a multi meter to solve this one - have you got the Haynes manual for the car Stuart? Normally the wiring diagrams are fairly easy to follow.
I've had a few electrical problems over the years, and without a wiring diagram and meter, you may as well have a blindfold on.
Hope you some a bit more luck with fixing this.
I've had a few electrical problems over the years, and without a wiring diagram and meter, you may as well have a blindfold on.
Hope you some a bit more luck with fixing this.
Don't know about the Orion but the festa is in plain view. Didn't spot it at 11:30 pm but on looking in the morning it didn't look right, quick waggle and it came off in my hand. No crimp that size to hand to solve it so I used a couple of penny washers until I can get one next week.
Not a good idea. If you are not handy with a multimeter leave alone and ask a friend. Bear in mind that the battery has a large potential and can cause a lot of damage if the wrong wire is earthed etc.
Before I repaired mine I disconnected the battery.
>> Edited by JMorgan on Sunday 16th June 18:21
Before I repaired mine I disconnected the battery.
>> Edited by JMorgan on Sunday 16th June 18:21
quote:
Not a good idea. If you are not handy with a multimeter leave alone and ask a friend. Bear in mind that the battery has a large potential and can cause a lot of damage if the wrong wire is earthed etc.
Before I repaired mine I disconnected the battery.
Hmmmm, I don't think you saw the funny side of that one
Woohoo! 
Cheers peeps! :cheers: I owe you all a pint 
(god, this pint lark costs some doesn't it!) Turned out to be the bolt that holds the battery wire and the Alternator wire into the starter motor had worked its way loose! Quick tighten up with a 12mm socket and it's as good as new!
So had a wee blast for half and hour to charge everything back up to strength and I'm now like a kid with a new toy! (the worrying thing is, this new toy is an Orion 1.4 LX!)
Still got one little gremlin though! Can anyone shed any light on why the needle on the Rev Counter jumps in either direction when I press the brake pedal???
Always a favourite on Ford's, the rear lamp earths. Usually it's the old brake and indicator on together problem. You could check them out, but I'd be surprised if that caused problems with instruments ??
The tacho is a simple device at the end of the day (at least it is in vehicles like Orion's and Mini's !!), it's just a sort of voltmeter displaying the average of the pulses from the coil. I'd be surprised if it needs a regulated voltage. Here's a bizare idea, how much does the engine move about ?? Something being pulled tight when the engine rocks forwards under braking ?? Damaged wiring earthing out against the engine/body somewhere ??
The tacho is a simple device at the end of the day (at least it is in vehicles like Orion's and Mini's !!), it's just a sort of voltmeter displaying the average of the pulses from the coil. I'd be surprised if it needs a regulated voltage. Here's a bizare idea, how much does the engine move about ?? Something being pulled tight when the engine rocks forwards under braking ?? Damaged wiring earthing out against the engine/body somewhere ??
Gassing Station | General Gassing [Archive] | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff