116 replies to this topic

[paulrockliffe]

Didn't get loads done today, I decided to play badminton instead, but I did manage to hook up a lot of the electrics to the new dash. Unfortunately, some of the wiring is all the same colour and impossible to work out what does what, so I just wired up the rear brake lights, rear lights and rear indicators at random, will test them and see which wires need swapping when everything works again. I have two wires labelled as the water temperature sender, which obviously isn't ideal as I can't work out what wire I'm missing at the moment. I had to guess a few other wires as well, so I'm sure there'll be a few gremlins to sort out when it's done! I realised I've put an On - On switch in for th eindicators instead of an On - Off - On one, so that'll need changing.

Next job is to sort out an earth loom for all the components, then tap the electrics into the main power cable and sort out a better engine earth. That should leave everything doing something, then I'll just need to fine tune things a bit to sort out whatever's hooked up wrong, the design of the dashboard means this will be pretty straightforward.

I have to go away with work tomorrow so I won't have the evening for Jason, but I might come home in the afternoon and then travel down to Kent early evening so I can get a load more done. Will be tight for thursdays deadline, but I tihnk I can just travel up to the Lakes late on friday or first thing on Saturday if necessary, so still on track........

[Jammy]

Looks like you almost have more of a wiring mess than I had, and to some extend still have! I pretty much started again, but now have loads of extra wiring for the Megajolt and Digidash looms. I don't want to cut it to length, because I know as soon as I do I'll change something and will need more wire!

Great to see progress on this though, have you thought about trying to get down to Brands in September for Mini Mags track day/evening? Andy from MLM will be there with his Minus, and I should make it with mine, would be great to have a third!

Looking forward to seeing the interior and dash all finished.

[paulrockliffe]

Jammy, I'll have a look at the date and see how I'm fixed, no guarnatees thoguh as I drove allt he way down to Kent yesterday and it's a right pain, I imagine the Minus would take longer and might be a stressful drive. Will see though.

Quick update as I still have loads to do before I set off to the Lakes tomorrow; the dash is in, everything pretty much works as well! I had knocked a connector off the back of the dash, so only side lights worked, but I soon fixed that. I need to swap the warning lights over as the headlight warning and main beam warning are the wrong way round. I had to swap the brake lights and the rear lights over, but that took 5s. I also had the left indicator at the front working with the right at the back, which isn't ideal. Another easy fix, and as I said earlier, it was easier to plug everything in and see what was wrong than trace the wires, which would have required a multimeter.

I layed a length of Vehicle Wiring Products thickest battery earth cable from my engine to the back of my dash and suddenly the battery cranks the engine like you wouldn't believe! the wire weighs about a kilo, but worth it for an earth that is independent of anything that might rust!

I think my amp works, but need to check with some music to see if I have sound or not (runs to put iPod on charge)

My hazards aren't earthing properly, but they're relatively non-essential, so they can wait, one of my warning LEDs isn't earthing properly either, so takes about 10s to go out whent he switch is off, but these problems shoudl both be easy to sort out. I did have a look but couldn't see any obvious problems.

So tomorrow I'm up early to sort out a few things , like the fuel gauge and the wipers, then check the engine timing and make sure it's all ok. If it is I'll load it up ready to drive to the Lakes.

Right, gotta go tidy the house and pack.........

Looks like you almost have more of a wiring mess than I had, and to some extend still have! I pretty much started again, but now have loads of extra wiring for the Megajolt and Digidash looms. I don't want to cut it to length, because I know as soon as I do I'll change something and will need more wire!

Great to see progress on this though, have you thought about trying to get down to Brands in September for Mini Mags track day/evening? Andy from MLM will be there with his Minus, and I should make it with mine, would be great to have a third!

Looking forward to seeing the interior and dash all finished.

[paulrockliffe]

Didn't get a chance to update before I went away as was working flat out to get him sorted. Unfortunately I failed due to the way the ignition is wired up (I think!). I think stripping the *rubbish* wiring out of the dash removed a connection between the coil and the starter motor that shoudln't really have been there. Long story, but I'll get it sorted this weekend if all goes to plan.

In the meantime, here's a few photos of a couple of little projects I'm working through!

First coat of gloss on the first Weller wheel, will need a bit of tidying up and a couple more coats. Have run out of primer for the others, but they're down to bare metal, so they should be done soon. These won't be on the car until I've got some new arches on, which there's no rush for.

Steering wheel buttons attached and relay loom put together ready to go in the back of the dash. The buttons are mounted with a piece of carbon fibre that was removed from the dash. I simply drilled the steering wheel boss holes, then fixed the carbon sheet in place, then drilled the holes for the buttons and fitted. I roughly cut the centre out, that needs neatening and then the edges round the buttons need trimming, but shouldn't take very long to do. Looks mint and will make driving much easier, buttons are left and right indicators, horn and light flash.

More updates at the weekend I expect!

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[paulrockliffe]

Got called up for my CLub's final British league athletics match at the weekend, so didn't get as much done as I was hoping, but I have managed to finish the steering wheel switches, fit them and wire them in. THey all work very well, though I knew there was a reason I wanted six core cable instead of five.............

......the indicators don't flash as there isn't a power feed to them that goes through the flasher unit! An easy fix, but will need to fit two more flasher units, one for each side, so three in total. Not the most efficient, but a very easy fit, so no problems. Have sorted a few electrical gremlins, just a couple more to deal with; for some reasont he hazard light switch flashes much faster thant he indicators, no idea whats causing that at all, doesn't make any sense to me! Will work it out. Then I need to check all the wiring on the ignition and get the engine to fire up again...

Pics:

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[Jackman]

Paul, that looks good.

Regards the hazards, are you still going through the flasher relays? If so they sometimes start to flash quicker and quicker when they start degrading, if you swap them around the indicators will flash quicker instead. Nothing to worry about really.

[paulrockliffe]

Paul, that looks good.

Regards the hazards, are you still going through the flasher relays? If so they sometimes start to flash quicker and quicker when they start degrading, if you swap them around the indicators will flash quicker instead. Nothing to worry about really.

Thanks for that, my loom is completely custom and I suspect you're referring to the standard wiring of the flashers. I have a two pin flasher module, so both hazards and indicators take exactly the same feed. The positive 12v goes to the flasher unit, then to the indicator switch, then to both poles on an on-off di-pole switch . THere is also a take-off that takes power to the indicator warning lights (one left, one right).

When the indicators are on both sides flash at about the correct rate and the warning lights on the dash illuminate about the right brightness. When the hazard switch is open, both warning lights flash dimly and too quickly.

WAIT! Because I have four lights flashing instead of two its drawing double the current, so the flasher is flashing faster right? Is that why there are three-pole flasher units then, to keep the hazards flashing at the same speed, or is the third connector for an earth?

I guess I'll have to take my flasher out, then put two new ones in the feed to the indicators, that will be the easiest way to get around it as I think the way I've wired everything in the back of my dashboard will be a pain to change.

[Jackman]

I dont know, quite possibly that is the case, not an expert with electrics though.

[paulrockliffe]

I dont know, quite possibly that is the case, not an expert with electrics though.

Its the only explanation that makes sense to me, I expect the earthing pin on the more usual 3 pin flasher relays is to stabilise the flasher speed irrespective of the current draw. I will fit a 3 pin flasher and see if that helps, though given that I need to fit flashers inline with both left and right feeds so my steering wheel buttons flash, I'll be removing the flasher I'm using at the moment. Will be good to see if I'm right or wrong about this.

[T.Harper]

I don't know why but my car does this too - and this is something I haven't tampered with. You could try asking dklawson about flasher relays he's very knowledgable with car electrics

[Jupitus]

Yer on the right lines with what you said, Paul... in a standard loom the feed for the hazards (ie 4 bulbs) is from a permanent live feed on the fuse box through one kind of flasher relay, the feed for the indicators (one side at a time so just 2 bulbs) comes from an ignition only fuse and through a different flasher unit... don't know if you can set yours up that way..... loving the spaghetti though, mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[paulrockliffe]

Cheers, that makes me think the third pin earth is just something to do with the way the flasher unit works rather than to stabilise the current draw somehow. I will just fit the two flasher units that I need for the steering wheel switches and that should fix the hazards as well.

[Jupitus]

Just one thing to check Paul, and this is just something I saw someone else mention so I am not sure myself, but I think the hazards may by law have to have a warning light in the cabin for the MOT perhaps.... I can't remember where I saw this but it might be worth checking out if not already catered for

EDIT: Paul... I am REALLY SORRY! I meant to say lovely project but got carried away on the electrics stuff!!

Edited by Jupitus, 19 August 2008 - 02:47 PM.

[paulrockliffe]

Just one thing to check Paul, and this is just something I saw someone else mention so I am not sure myself, but I think the hazards may by law have to have a warning light in the cabin for the MOT perhaps.... I can't remember where I saw this but it might be worth checking out if not already catered for

EDIT: Paul... I am REALLY SORRY! I meant to say lovely project but got carried away on the electrics stuff!!

Ha ha, thanks! The indicator switch and hazard switch are both hard-wired to the warning lights on the dash so regardless of how the flasher units are wired the warning lights will work with the indicators, all under control!

You're partly right, you do need a warning for the hazards and typically this would be a light, but an audible warning is sufficient. The loud click that comes from the flasher is a sufficient warning, though as I said, all covered! Will report back when I've fixed it.

Cheers

[paulrockliffe]

Evening!

Good news to report; it turns out the wire I'd connected to the terminal in my dash for the engine temperature gauge was actually the 12v feed to the coil

So now thats wired up correctly he fired up straight away. I gave him a quick rev because I've forgotten what he sounds like and he absolutely shrieks like a good 'un, I'd forgotten how good the induction roar on twin HS2s is!

Right, big list of things to get done this weekend:

1. Amp wiring so I can get some tunes going
2. Tidy up the wiring and fix dash in place.
3. Wire up rev counter
4. Wire up No charge circuit
5. Fit a few bolts here and there
6. Fit passenger seat and seatbelts
7. Check ignition timing
8. Check screen wash wiring
9. Check wiring on number plate bolt lights
10. Check I can select all gears with the dash in place
11. Design a switch panel to sit between the seats and the gauge pods then get my Dad to machine them up for me
12. Check clutch adjustment
13. GO FOR A DRIVE!!!!!!

And next week when I've got a few bits:

1. Flasher relays for steering wheel switches
2. Get a few extra switches and fit
3. Carry on refurbing the new wheels