5 replies to this topic

[Daze]

Hi guys,

Got a bit of a problem with some of my electrics. I don't think all of these problems are related and Ive tried quite a few things. Let me first tell you what problems I have.

- Wipers don't move - really slow. If you hold 'em above the screen and help them over, they work. I have taken apart the motor itself, and on its own it works fine. Although, not sure as it might rotate too slowly. I can't seem to get a reading from my voltmeter from the connector on the wiper motor!

- Headlight flashers don't work at all. Main beam works fine if lights are on and you push forward on the stalk

- Horn sometimes works. I have had a garage fit a relay, they have also replaced my indicator/horn/flasher stalk with a brand new one. The horn comes on and works for a while, then doesn't work. Seems like the relay gets hot or something? Weird...

- Sidelights / dip beam sometimes doesn't work either. Again, this is variable, sometimes works perfect, other times it doesn't.

My car is an 1983 City E, with the standard 4 fuse box. I have replaced the fusebox. All wires going from & to the fusebox has been replaced, and I have moved the fuse box to inside the car. All fuses are fine, and it is not corroded (that much) - However, I will be replacing it with a brand new blade style one this week.

I have also just got an auto-electrian to look at my car, and he won't touch it, since its "modified". Only works on standard looms.

I am not really up for buying a brand new loom and fitting it. I dont think mine is that bad to be honest. I have had a Clifford alarm installed, but i have now removed this which didnt work anyway. I have noticed a green wire coming from the steering column which is one of those rubber bullet connectors which doesn't go anywhere. I can't find the other end of it either. I guess it would help if i removed my heater so that I can then see all the connectors behind / above it?

Not all that bothered about horn or flashers, but lights & wipers are pretty important!

ANY help greatly appreciated!!

[pikey7]

First things first. You may not be bothered about the horn and flashers, but the MOT man will be!

right then.

I reckon that your problems can all be traced back to the garage fitting the new stalk and relay. There's absolutely no reason to fit it!

Can you take some pics of it (the bottom) so that it may be possible to ascertain what the garage have done?

[Daze]

Theres issues with the garage that did the work, and my MOT. My driveshaft fell out thanks to them not putting the hub back properly, ive not fixed that, although they also "fixed" the stalk, horn, etc, (but of course thats broke too).

Ive already contacted DVLA, trading standards, etc but they couldnt promise they could do anything.

Apparently they fitted a relay on the horn because the twin air horns & compressor used too many amps for the button in the stalk to coupe with?

That aside, I am really only bothered about the wipers & lights, since the horn can be fixed at later date! So if anyone could give me a pointer on what could be wrong with my wiper motor? Im tring to get hold of another one in a few days time to see if that works, but Ive got a feeling its either electronic (not enough volts) or a problem with the wiper arm assembly itself?

[mini-mad-dan]

mite be simple, maybe a earth cable? i know my indicators didn't wokr when mine was shot

[pikey7]

The only reason I had a go about the relay, is 'because it stinks. I would think that the forst place to look for faults in flasher/wiper/horn problems would be those stalks if the garage that messed about with them was a bunch of schysters.

The othere thing to consider is that these circuits are the main ones you use, so it may well be that all the circuits have problems. In which case, as mmd says, check the earths!

Otherwise, honestly, it's next to impossible to fault find intermittent electrical faults over a forum. You are best off finding an electrician who knows what he's doing and isn't just bothered with things like standard looms (in other words, he couldn't be bothered, or couldn't do it anyway!)

[cooper_shaz]

To have that many seperate things on different circuits go wrong, sounds like bad luck or an earthing problem...

The wipers going slow could be worn motor or the linkages needing stripped, cleaned and greased

Why did the garage fit a new stalk, was this because the problem existed before they touched the car ?
or is it since they touched the car that the problems started. If it is since they touched it then start looking at what they did, maybe the wrong stalk fitted.

Clifford alarms are soldered into the wiring loom, who removed it ?
It may be they some connection from the alarm is not properly insulated and shorting out.

As mentioned above it is almost impossible to diagnose a large electrical fault like that over the forum..
but start with the obvious..

Earths - clean then all and re-attach

Then check the bits the garage did,

Then on to the alarm removal process that was done..

Process of elimination, Auto spark cold be an expensive process as they will obviously charge for their time and you have no idea how long it could take.

Good luck with it, let us knw how you get on.