I need a re-wire...
I need a re-wire...
Author
Discussion

mrzigazaga

Original Poster:

18,816 posts

195 months

Tuesday 4th January 2011
quotequote all
Hi chaps..Thought id go for a drive earlier as the ole currant bun was out..Turn the key..nearly started then there was a clicking noise coming from the relay box..Turn the key... not even firing..Turn it off and there was a buzzing noise that went on for about 2 seconds..Sounded like it came from the fuses..Pulled each one out and checked them..put them back in..Pulled all the relays out and in again..Turn the key nearly started..Turn it off buzzing again..Eventually it wouldnt fire at all..Flattened the battery..Got the hump..I think i need to save up and get someone to re-wire it as it is starting to pee me off again..This did happen before and after about an hour it started..The battery is on charge so ill try it again later..It would help if the cold start operation was working as each time i start it i have to pump the accelerator and it slowly picks up..
This car is more trouble than its worth...Cheers..Ziga

Flyin Banana

2,182 posts

268 months

Tuesday 4th January 2011
quotequote all
I know how you feel, had mine re-wired last year at dulfords TVR all the electrics work loverly now, all i have to do is stop the oil leeking from the front and rear crank case seals the head and diff seal

WHY !!!!!


Rob

hallsie

2,185 posts

250 months

Tuesday 4th January 2011
quotequote all
Seems like its all about the earths on these things!
I am just about to go out to the garage and run another Earth cable to the instruments after your post about the amp meter being affected by the brake lights!
Also sounds like not enough juice for the starter motor, have another go after a bit of a charge up!

Stu

mrzigazaga

Original Poster:

18,816 posts

195 months

Tuesday 4th January 2011
quotequote all
Cheers chaps..I only forgot to switch the charger on in me blind rage..silly sausage..Ill try it later..Just out of interest how much was the re-wire..Its ok Im sitting down..Cheers..Ziga

Flyin Banana

2,182 posts

268 months

Tuesday 4th January 2011
quotequote all
i think it was in the region of £750ish

Rob

Wedg1e

27,041 posts

295 months

Tuesday 4th January 2011
quotequote all
Flyin Banana said:
i think it was in the region of £750ish

Rob
yikes I can feel a new career coming on.

mrzigazaga

Original Poster:

18,816 posts

195 months

Tuesday 4th January 2011
quotequote all
A Mobile Auto-electrician would be a fantastic idea mate..hehe..I can make wicked bacon sarnies and a superb cuppa rosey...

grahamw48

9,944 posts

268 months

Tuesday 4th January 2011
quotequote all
My 'reliable' diesel did the same thing the other morning rolleyes , so wouldn't worry too much.

Combination of standing about doing nowt for days, freezing weather, and short journeys using lots of accessories.

Charge battery fully, check and clean all battery and earth contacts, then go and have a lie down while trying to remember where AA card is...the people who supplied and fitted my last battery. irked

Wedg1e

27,041 posts

295 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
mrzigazaga said:
A Mobile Auto-electrician would be a fantastic idea mate..hehe..I can make wicked bacon sarnies and a superb cuppa rosey...
I eat no bacon and drink only coffee... and you're about 200 miles too far away biggrin

mrzigazaga

Original Poster:

18,816 posts

195 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
What about Tuna salad and a rich roast columbian..banditI said columbiancoffee...Well you certainly know your onions and it could be a good venture..

jeff m

4,066 posts

288 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
Hi Mark,
I think it might be worth you heading up north and kidnapping Wedg1e.

But while you are putting that plan together. Charge the battery on low overnight. Don't worry about the buzzing relay, thats just a lack of current to hold the relay coil when you try to op the starter.

You will see some "feedback" on the voltmeter from the turn signals as there is a big fat capacitor disharging. That's normal. I assume it's not FSD. Bad ground if it is.

My suggestion is to not try and fault the electrics. I would buy a couple of spray cans of contact cleaner and a tube of dielectric grease (Comes in a small tube like toothpaste) . I would then unplug every plug (one at a time) spray with contact C., then apply a little Die Grease. Pull the relays and fuses do the same. Then do the bulbs and bulb holders. Clean up the ground cables, retighten after a dose of the same grease.
Spray the contacts in the steering col stalks, no grease.
This is a full mornings work, but it is worth it with older cars.

Just be glad it's not older or you would be retensioning all the fuse holders for the glass type fusesbiggrin

Got some grease left in the tube?
Do your plug leads, both ends. (Definately one at a timebiggrin)
Then your batt terminals.

This may not clear every fault, but it should mean you only get one at a time.
If that makes sense.
Good luck.

mrzigazaga

Original Poster:

18,816 posts

195 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
Thanks Jeff..will look into it..sounds an easy thing to do..Ill put the postal sack and gaffa back in the cupboard,,wedg1e is having none of it..cheers..ziga

mrzigazaga

Original Poster:

18,816 posts

195 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
Hi chaps..Went out this morning with a fully charged battery..Still wont fire..The relay box is buzzing for longer when switching it off and if i turn the key to the on position and then off again there is a double clicking noise coming from the relays...The oil pressure gauge is dropping to zero when i turn the ignition on and rising when off..It nearly started but just coughs and dies...Nothing happens if i give it some throttle when turning it over..Ive called out the RAC

grahamw48

9,944 posts

268 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
Wise move.

Get your moneysworth. biggrin

mrzigazaga

Original Poster:

18,816 posts

195 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
Hi chaps..Called out the RAC and the relay and fuse box diagram that was in the car on a bit of card was a total waste of time as none of it corresponded with the car so he didnt know where to start..He checked what was said to be the fuel pump relay and when he put a piece of wire in to check it the car turned over..Also some of the relay sockets are dead..I was advised to disconnect the battery as the car might catch fire....I have a feeling that ruddy mouse probably got in somewhere and chewed up some wiring and its just been shorting out ever since..I now have no brake lights..Ignition,But did yesterday..No fuel pump..fan heater..cig lighter..and indicators..so basically a dead car..Ive spoken to john at kitfinishers who might be able to help but would need wiring diagrams or info on the loom..Can anyone help with this..I will have a look on your site wedg1e..But any more info would always be welcome..Failing that i might have to get rid to someone who wants a project even though i will not have enough money for another for a while.cry...At least it will run once the electrics are sorted..Cheers chaps..Mark

jeff m

4,066 posts

288 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
Mark,
Its a good idea not to frig with it now if you are getting someone to look at it.
The first ques he will ask you is "did you do anything".

Really sounds like you have lost one of your main grounds. You try to op the starter but the starter current has lost its normal route back to the battery and is getting back anyway it can. Which of course has higher resistance.
Often chooses the instrument panel because of speedo cable outer. This is any car not just Wedges. If it is, he will find this in a few minutes. Good luck.

mrzigazaga

Original Poster:

18,816 posts

195 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
Thanks jeff..Im really hoping your right..I just havent got the funds for a major job at the mo..Most people want £90 per hour+vat round here and i assume it will be the same with a TVR specialist..Although i will make some phone calls to find out..Kitfinishers are the cheapest by far..The last time i took it to an auto-electrician round here they cut out the relay that tells me if me battery is charging or not?..Maybe that was the start of it..I really dont know..Fingers crossed its a simple job as the money could be better spent else where..Cheers..mark

PS: One consolation is that the new headlight switch arrived today and me sidelights and dash lights worked..The headlight stalk on column seems to be faulty as driverside headlight pops up when you push it forward,Put it back in the middle the drivers side goes down and passenger pops up then down?

Edited by mrzigazaga on Wednesday 5th January 18:02

Wedg1e

27,041 posts

295 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
There is, to the best of my knowledge, no 'relay to tell you if the battery is charging'... that function is performed by the alternator feeding a lamp on the dashboard. It doesn't need to be any more complicated than that and if it is, someone has been bu99ering (or it's been TVRed)...

mrzigazaga

Original Poster:

18,816 posts

195 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
Thanks wedg1e..The ignition light was staying on and thats when they removed a relay..I think it was blue and they stung me £180 for that..It was when i first got the car..Robbed or what..Motherfcensoredrs

Wedg1e

27,041 posts

295 months

Wednesday 5th January 2011
quotequote all
OK, being slightly more helpful... your car must be '83/84. I don't know when the change happened but TVR introduced a pair of relays (rather than just one) to switch on the circuits when you turn the key. If one relay dies you lose most of the car (as you have) which would include fag lighter, wipers, horn, instruments, reverse lights, fog lights (possibly), heater fan, indicators (but not hazards)...and of course the ignition system (also the fuel pump 'cos without the rest of the electrics there's nothing to tell the pump relay to switch the pump on). It's slightly more complicated on the later cars because the circuits are split between two relays so some things work and others don't.
From memory you'd be looking for a relay with a heavy brown feed coming in and heavy white coming out going to several fuses, which then feed the different circuits.
Edited to remove daft question hehe

Edited by Wedg1e on Wednesday 5th January 18:35