Seriously Annoying Electrical Problem

[Goliath 94]

I have the most annoying electrical problem in the 205, it has only been there since I put the V6 in however it wasnt there for the first few days after the engine was in and being run, it has slowly appeared and is getting worse and worse.

 

Almost all the electrics I can think of are affected. E.G. With main beams on the indicators do not work, nor do the flashers. If you have the main beams off then the indicators will work, untill you press the brake and then the indicators stop ticking. The headlights are dim all the time unless under very hard acceleration, likewise the petrol guage will read empty (although not the reserve light) untill you give it hard acceleration then it will go upto about half full (with £20 of fuel in).

 

I have checked the alternator, I get 14.4v across the battery at idle, all wires connected securely to the alternator. Battery terminals are securely fixed to the battery. All fuses are in tact, the electric window fuse will blow if you do the passenger window up from the drivers side switch, otherwise none of the fuses have blown. As far as I can see all the relay's are fine, one of the ones in the glovebox gets very hot, I assume this is normal though?

 

I can hear a relay click (99% sure its a relay clicking) every time I come on or off the throttle.

 

What else can I check? Its driving me mad as I can't drive anywhere at night and cant use the indicators while braking etc, its a nightmare.

 

The only thing I can think is that there is a loose live wire somewhere that is earthing out everytime the throttle is opened (and the engine tilts)

[nick9one1 2]

first thing I would do is wire brush all the earth points and make sure they are making good contact.

I once had a punto that stopped indicating when you pressed the brake pedal and lit up the rear demisting light instead. all due to a bad earth.

Edited May 22, 2009 by nick9one1

[Goliath 94]

I forgot to say that I have checked the main earth point from the negative terminal to the gearbox and I have cleaned it up and made sure it is nice and tight. What other earths should I check? I have a feeling the problem (be it a dodgy earth or loose connection) will be in the cabin, but fook knows.

[CosKev 16]

If its the same as a 309 theres an earth block on the column,just above the ignition barrel

 

Could have knocked it and dislodged??????

 

Easiest way to check if its earth problem is connect a piece of cable to earth on battery,run it round into car threw window and connect/hold it onto column or somewhere near stalks thats earthed,then try your indicators etc and see if they are working ok

[Roman 0]

Are you remove dash top when you made conversion?? because i have similar problem when i forgot

conect earth point under dash(little 5 pin fuc..r) attach on plastic under dashboard- but if you wanna check this you must remove all uper plastic

[jimistdt 1]

There is also an earthing block behind the nearside headlamp just next to the radiator,its evident with the headlamp removed.

[richard 0]

There should be an earthing point on each side of the radiator posts. They are normally ripe for corrosion and are Yellow Blocks

[mogsman 2]

Isn't there an earth block behind the passenger rear light cluster?

Ian

[ade 4wd 11]

Hi George,

As was said earlier, check both earth points either side of the radiator. You may have disturbed them when you did the V6 convesion. Those earth points are for the front indicators, headlights and horn.

[4evernewbie 0]

I'd suspect the engine bay. If earth chasing doesn't fix it, I'd take things like headlamps, indicators etc out and see if it goes away.

[Goliath 94]

Bringing up an old topic here....

 

 

It was the electrical problem mentioned above that prompted me to reshell my V6 into my Sorrento so you can imagine my dismay over the weekend, when taking the 'new' V6 out for a spin, that the same (well similar) electrical problem still exists.

 

I think I have now sorted it though..... I decided it HAD to be something to do with a part that had come from the old shell, the only electrical parts moved across were the ECU, Loom and Battery so I have been racking my brains trying to think what could be plugged into the loom wrong, or what part of the loom could be shorting out etc. Couldn't think of anything so decided to tackle the battery (even though I knew it wouldn't make any difference).

 

So what I have done today is,

 

Replace the battery (with a spare used one lying around)

Cleaned up the battery terminals (the negative one had white corrosion on it)

Relocated the earth to the inner wing after sanding the mating faces back the bare metal. (was previously located on the bolt/nut that holds the expansion tank on)

Connected a random earth wire that was hanging around the washer bottle (thick black wire, think its to do with the alarm)

Left the car hooked up to the Focus with jump leads to get some charge in the battery.

 

It seems to have paid off, took the car for a whiz down the road this evening and didn't have any problems so I am hoping its gone for good now!

 

I still don't understand how the symptoms could relate to the problem but at least it seems to be sorted now! I can't believe it was something so trivial all along but caused me so much trouble trying to track it down that I ended up reshelling the engine!

 

 

Fingers crossed...

[timb1046 1]

it may have been a dodgy battery, i had this problem on my bike a while ago. the battery was flat and i had to kick her to life each time, but the indicators wouldnt flash. new battery sorted it.

[Goliath 94]

This was the condition of the battery terminal that seemed to be causing the problem.

 

[GLPoomobile 958]

Nice

 

I hate those stupid OE posts. Much rather have a proper clamp on there like you do with the positive terminal. Seems like you just had a couple of dodgy earths then.