Complete Loss of Electrical Power. Main Relay disconnecting.
Discussion
Calling electrical genius types.
I have an intermittent power feed fault to the LT side of the main relay. It tends to fail as I am pulling away, which is bloody dangerous so absolutely need to identify cause and rectify. I have two main relays the original and a brand new one. The fault is very intermittent. But when it shows up can repeat 20 times in quick succession and then disappears for around 10 drives. Pointless giving to someone to try and find it unless they are ‘design level’ familiar with MK2 (pod dash) electrical components and wiring. The reason for posting is I am casting for an approach to solve. Thinking some kind of voltage logging or recording device, which over a few repeats of the issue I set up in various positions in the LT main relay feed circuit. Any ideas or suggestions welcome. (AFAIK, there is only the on off button and some sort of board with sends a signal to the starter relay if the ign is on, in the circuit. )
If only I knew what to replace I would just replace it!
I have an intermittent power feed fault to the LT side of the main relay. It tends to fail as I am pulling away, which is bloody dangerous so absolutely need to identify cause and rectify. I have two main relays the original and a brand new one. The fault is very intermittent. But when it shows up can repeat 20 times in quick succession and then disappears for around 10 drives. Pointless giving to someone to try and find it unless they are ‘design level’ familiar with MK2 (pod dash) electrical components and wiring. The reason for posting is I am casting for an approach to solve. Thinking some kind of voltage logging or recording device, which over a few repeats of the issue I set up in various positions in the LT main relay feed circuit. Any ideas or suggestions welcome. (AFAIK, there is only the on off button and some sort of board with sends a signal to the starter relay if the ign is on, in the circuit. )
If only I knew what to replace I would just replace it!
I received some information privately which has led me to investigate the binnacle wiring - which was fine. So now I am planning to remove the fuse / relay board from the car and clean it up with contact cleaner. Some water entered the car when it was away having some work done over last winter. There was a lot of rain during that period.
To remove the fuse board; (can't find the old post). There are two bolts and one nut at the rear on a captive stud. These secure the steel frame into which the fuse board is mounted. Once these are detached the fuse board in it's frame should drop to the floor. The map sensor and other bits cable tied onto it, may need snipping out. Thanks to Jason from Str8Six for these instructions.
Booking chiropractor before hand. It's an upside down torch job in the drivers foot well. My favourite!
To remove the fuse board; (can't find the old post). There are two bolts and one nut at the rear on a captive stud. These secure the steel frame into which the fuse board is mounted. Once these are detached the fuse board in it's frame should drop to the floor. The map sensor and other bits cable tied onto it, may need snipping out. Thanks to Jason from Str8Six for these instructions.
Booking chiropractor before hand. It's an upside down torch job in the drivers foot well. My favourite!
I got the relay box out. I am not going to say it's easy. The trick is to cut all the cable ties you can so that you can move cable bundles and get access to the fuse / relay box 13mm securing nuts. One of the 10mm nuts securing the main power wires is hidden behind frame legs, so a pain to undo.
If your interested, there is a huge amount of corrosion on one of my mounting legs. So in my case water, has been a long term issue at some previous point.
https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=7E80ABFCF4A0...
I have some proper Servisol Contact Cleaner / Lubricant. I have used a toothbrush and cleaned all the pins. They look a different colour now. Planning to contact clean the females tomorrow. Some of the plugs were a bit too easy to remove so I am going to try and pinch up the female spades a bit. Probably a lengthy job. Also a lengthy job to do all the other connections while they are accessible and then refit it all nice and neatly.
If your interested, there is a huge amount of corrosion on one of my mounting legs. So in my case water, has been a long term issue at some previous point.
https://onedrive.live.com/redir?resid=7E80ABFCF4A0...
I have some proper Servisol Contact Cleaner / Lubricant. I have used a toothbrush and cleaned all the pins. They look a different colour now. Planning to contact clean the females tomorrow. Some of the plugs were a bit too easy to remove so I am going to try and pinch up the female spades a bit. Probably a lengthy job. Also a lengthy job to do all the other connections while they are accessible and then refit it all nice and neatly.
Um Gordon at Str8six said he sealed a hole to stop the problem ever happening again. The hole was, I am not sure where, but the symptom was the car was cutting out all the time and it was transported to them to fix. He found one of the main connections with water in it. The car was mostly ok thereafter, but still sometimes has the issue I started the thread with.
This all began after it had been out of my garage over the winter having some work done. Annoying, but not their fault that there was a hole in the car and not my fault becuase I didn't know about the hole! I never drive it in the wet, or leave it out in the wet.
This all began after it had been out of my garage over the winter having some work done. Annoying, but not their fault that there was a hole in the car and not my fault becuase I didn't know about the hole! I never drive it in the wet, or leave it out in the wet.
In order to replace the plugs into the fuse board I found it neccisary to slip the circlips off the clutch and brake pedal pins. This allows the pedals for fall foward enough to make the board sit in a better position to re-attach the plugs to it and asses their fit. The plugs would have been a good deal easier to remove if the pedals were dropped before fuse board is released.
Hope all this is useful to someone.
Hope all this is useful to someone.
Gassing Station | Tuscan | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff