24 replies to this topic

[brivinci]

When it rains, it pours so it seems. Aside from my other issues, this has cropped up. Went to peep the horn today and it did not work, but the factory radio powered flickered, requiring the code to be punched back in. Like when the battery is disconnected. I pressed and wiggled the horn button while driving a few times and I did get it to peep but only once. If I hold the horn button for more then a quick flick, the radio sorts.

Also, my Headlight flashers are not working as well. Main and dip work but not flashers.

Ive dug in have not figured it out. This is a 94 SPi with the 4 fuse holder and the purple wire on has power and continuity within the car. I took apart the horn/flasher/turn/dip switch assembly and tried testing. I had continuity when pushing in the horn button. Ran out of time but anything else I can test here??

[timmy850]

Might be a dodgy connection or earth?

[brivinci]

I need to see if I have a list of all the earth locations in one of my manual for the SPi.

Something else, the factory installed spots and dogs up front arent working either. Geez!!!

[brivinci]

Last night, I undid the main earth connection on the right side of the engine compartment. I believe there were 5 or 6 wires connected to it. It was tight and clean looking but I chased the threads, sanded the wire ends, lubricated with diode grease and reassembled. Nothing changed. 

[WiredbyWilson]

Sounds like a suspect stalk to be honest. Flash has a seperate copper tag to the dipped/main switch over so chek that it is making contact.

 

As for the horn / radio issue - you are losing the permanent live when pressing the horn on the stalk which is switching the radio off.

 

Any way you can borrow a known good stalk unit, plug it in and see if the problems are still there?

[brivinci]

I took the stalk off and took it apart but to no avail. The mounting collar on it was broken as well. Regardless, I need to replace it. When I do, I'll post up my findings.

[Twincam]

How are the in line fuses to the back of the airbox holding up?

I had a similar issue after changing my front indicators to the older glass type. I'd flash and the indicators would stop working, plus every time the radio would turn off like you're saying.

Never found the solution so I'm subscribing!

[Alice Dooper]

This will sound daft, but have you checked the hazard light switch? I had similar problems, creeping intermittent faults that started with the interior light following through to the radio, indicators etc... I chased my own tail cleaning up earth points, replacing some suspect looking wiring and in the end had to give in and I brought in the heavy squad. The electrician went straight to the hazard switch and the lot was cured.

[brivinci]

The hazard switch works and Ive looked at that in the past. It wasnt working at one point so I replaced. Ill give it another look just in case.

I checked all the in line fuses throughout. Ive replaced a few in line holders over the years as the plastic can be both brittle as well as start to melt. I really wish I had a 95 wiring harness, with their individual blade fuses at times like this.

[brivinci]

Well, my NOS stalk just arrive so I test fitted it straight away. I have all of the same issues. My stalks mounting collar had broken so it needed to be replaced by I was hoping for the ol 2 with 1 trick.

If I press the horn for a second or so, 1: the horn doesnt sound, and 2: the radio resets like the battery was disconnected. All presets and prompts me to enter rover code.

So, heres whats working:
Headlights main/dip
Turn signals
Hazards

And whats not:
Flashers
Horn
Radio reset when horn pressed
Spot/fog lamps. I only just realized this. Both my factory spots and fog lights up front are not working at all. Man, Im scared to see whats next to fail.

[xrocketengineer]

Well, it sound to like fuse box fuse 3-4 might be suspect. It feeds the horn, headlamp flasher, brake failure circuit and radio memory. But also, it feeds the inline fuse LF-14 (purple/purple) for the driving lamps. There might be voltage at fuse 3-4 under no load (no current). Check the voltage there under load and see if it goes away with the driving lamps on (Main beam on) or using the flasher. The fuse or the brown wire feeding it might have developed high internal resistance.   

[brivinci]

Thats an interesting concept. Ill check that tonight. If it turns out to be the case, how would you set about rectifying that??

[xrocketengineer]

If there is voltage at the entry point (brown) of the fuse box fuse 3-4, but not (or low) at the purple end, then the fuse or the fuse holder are bad. I there is low or no voltage at the fuse entry point (brown) the brown wire is bad or the connection at the starter needs cleaning for that wire.

I had a similar problem with the electric radiator fan. It would not work. I unplugged the connector at the fan, I had full voltage. So, I was thinking bad fan motor.  Hot wired the fan and it ran. Re-plugged the fan, and managed to connect the voltmeter and no voltage when attempting to run the fan. Connected the volt meter at the relay output to the fan, again no voltage. Same thing with the input to the relay, but there was voltage at the fuse end of that wire (purple). So, I cut the wire at both ends, and spliced a piece in between and that fixed the problem. The original damaged piece of wire is still buried in the taped loom.         

[brivinci]

Just did a quick test as something was on my mind. As stated, the horn makes the radio lose constant power. Well, the flasher does too! Never thought to test that. So both cause that circuit to go dead.

So, I tested the 3-4 connectors on the fuse block, again. As before, there is 12v both in and out. Also 12v from the block to the inline fuse on the purple wire. BUT!!! When I push the horn or use the flashers, the voltage drops to 0.

[brivinci]

My favorite kind of problems (he says sarcastically), one that fixes itself!!!

I was digging a little deeper, around the fuse box and the inline fuses. Checking to make sure things had continuity and what went where. Disconnected the brown and purple spade ends from fuse box a few times to test. Also disconnected the inline fuse behind the airbox that is brown in, purple out. After a bit of fiddling, it go to test and it all works!! Thats never good.

I need to look a bit closer but where does the purple/brown inline fuse behind the airbox control! Reason I ask is because the flashers and horn still worked with it disconnected. There is continuity between the brown on number 3 in box.

Oh, and my spot/fogs still are not working...

Edited by brivinci, 12 October 2017 - 05:13 AM.