Total electrical failure

[Gizze]

Hi All,
I've experienced total electrical failure on my 4.3 Griffith - ignition/lights etc. I've searched for the infamous 100A fuse but can't find it. It's not between the battery and starter motor or alternator (and I have power on these) yet everything is dead. Battery is good and I've checked the earth lead from the battery connects to earth - all ok. However when connecting the leads to the battery there's not even a spark on connection....HELP please!

[Hedgehopper]

Some Griffs have an 80amp fuse in a black plastic holder that protects the entire fuse board. This is to be found buried in the birds nest on top of the battery.
Good luck.

[stevesprint]

Precats don't have the infamous 100A fuse, does your clock or interior lights work???
Steve

[Gizze]

Hi,
I've been in the footwell.......I can't find any extra fuses other than two small ones (which were ok), and have also felt the bound wiring just in case anything was lurking underneath. Nothing works at all (clock/Hazards/lights). However when I ran a temporary feed from the battery to the ignition switch I was able to open the boot and hazards worked.I'm afraid without a decent wiring diagram I'm lost.

[QBee]

In my later Chimaera the fuse is hiding up and behind the fuse board to the right, in a black plastic holder bound in tape.
But from your other comments it sounds like your ignition switch may have failed. Possibly auto electrician time?

[Gizze]

I can't see how it's the ignition as you wouldn't need that for lights/hazards.....I think but will check it anyway. I'll also take the fuse board off and see what lurks behind. Failing that it could well be auto-electrician time but don't want to admit defeat just!

[Hedgehopper]

Seems to be some doubt that your car has this fuse, but if it does it looks like this............



(This is with the lid open).

[Colin RedGriff]

I think you will need to get your multimeter out and start tracing the wires leading from the battery to see where the circuit is failing

[davep]

Check that you have +12 Vdc at the rear of the alternator (terminal with brown cable (N) connected) or at one of the two permanently live terminals (position 22) on the fuse panel - if not check the clamp and post connectivity on the battery and then work out from there. A 100 Amp fuse was not original fitment on a pre-cat.

[stevesprint]

Gizze said:

Hi,
Nothing works at all (clock/Hazards/lights)

As you've checked the earth it sounds like a bad connection on the starter motor.

On Precats absolutely everything including the fuse board, clock/Hazards/lights and alternator are all feed from the back of the starter motor, the main red to multi brown junction is on the starter motor.

Hopefully it's just a loose connection on the starter motor.

Good Luck
Steve

= EDIT =

Thinking about it, it's confusing if you have +12v at the alternator but at least confirms you have a good battery connection.

When you checked the alternator for +12v what earth did you use the chassis/engine/battery??

Also, might be worth tightening the two main earth connection under the whale tail, they have been known to work loose.

Edited by stevesprint on Tuesday 30th August 23:47

[davep]

Gizze, if there is +12 Vdc at the alternator and the terminals on the fuse panel, the earths check out OK and nothing beyond the fuse panel then this would suggest that the internal +12 V distribution rails within the fuse panel have gone open circuit or there's been a major burn out (you would smell this immediately you put your head in the passenger footwell).

[Gizze]

Hi All,
Firstly many thanks for the replies.
After some further investigation, and finally calling out an auto electrician the fault appears to have been the alarm/immobiliser malfunctioning.
Ultimately I couldn't find a main fuse (in line with the comments made) but with the immobiliser bypassed everything works again.
Back on the road again to enjoy the great weather...................will need to sort the spaghetti on top of the battery out at some point though, a job for the winter.
Cheers

[stevesprint]

Gizze said:

Hi All,
Firstly many thanks for the replies.
After some further investigation, and finally calling out an auto electrician the fault appears to have been the alarm/immobiliser malfunctioning.
Ultimately I couldn't find a main fuse (in line with the comments made) but with the immobiliser bypassed everything works again.
Back on the road again to enjoy the great weather...................will need to sort the spaghetti on top of the battery out at some point though, a job for the winter.
Cheers

Glad to hear its all sorted, the old alarms often cause electrical gremlins.
Enjoy, Steve