More electrical problems
Discussion
Ok, updates and more problems.
The headlight problem (rising slowly and in a jerking motion) seemed to sort itself. I just put this down to lack of use as it seems to be fine now.
The problem with the wiper motor. Well, a friend and I took the motor out. The wiper moved freely and smoothly...big relief as I was worried that the wheel box may have been knackered and really didn't want to have to fix/replace that. We connected the motor and tried it on its own and yep, it made the nasty noises and moved slowly. Gearbox part seemed fine, greased, moving smoothly etc. Opened the motor and found the 2 magnets unstuck from the can. Figured this has to be the problemm. Cleaned them up, stuck them back on and reassembled. Now it wasn't a 100% fix...the wiper pulled strongly and worked fine, but there was still a clicking/grating noise.
Yesterday I was out and it srarted to rain so I turned on the wiper. Working fine, clicking away, then the clicking changed slightly and was gone. Just the slightest sound which it has always had. Thought that would be the end of it. Got home, parked up and left it. Later on I go out again, driving alone wipers on and they just stop. Not just that, but I have the battery light glowing. Now, I can't remember too well since it was pouring down and I was focusing on the road trying not to crash, but I know the voltage guage was reading 0, yet I think all the other guages were fine. My first thought was fuse or relay, but they did stop in the correct park position though. I assume if a fuse wsa to blow they'd stop dead (unless it was coincidence that they were in the park postition...
Been out to look at it today and I'm a little confused. The car starts and runs and this time the battery light stays off, but all the guages are dead.
My car is a series 2 registered in '83, but built in '81. The fuses and relays are in the engine bay, but according to the bible, all cars should have the blade type fuses. I've never seen fuses like mine before. They're a plastic and cylinderish with a metal strip running along the side of it. The strip varying in width from fuse to fuse depending on the amps. I've checked these and they are all fine.
So. I need to sort this asap, it's my daily driver and it's no good to me as it is now.
Anyone have any idea of a cause? Or anyone come across my style fusebox that has any ideas? I've looked around, but can't see any other fuses anywhere.
The headlight problem (rising slowly and in a jerking motion) seemed to sort itself. I just put this down to lack of use as it seems to be fine now.
The problem with the wiper motor. Well, a friend and I took the motor out. The wiper moved freely and smoothly...big relief as I was worried that the wheel box may have been knackered and really didn't want to have to fix/replace that. We connected the motor and tried it on its own and yep, it made the nasty noises and moved slowly. Gearbox part seemed fine, greased, moving smoothly etc. Opened the motor and found the 2 magnets unstuck from the can. Figured this has to be the problemm. Cleaned them up, stuck them back on and reassembled. Now it wasn't a 100% fix...the wiper pulled strongly and worked fine, but there was still a clicking/grating noise.
Yesterday I was out and it srarted to rain so I turned on the wiper. Working fine, clicking away, then the clicking changed slightly and was gone. Just the slightest sound which it has always had. Thought that would be the end of it. Got home, parked up and left it. Later on I go out again, driving alone wipers on and they just stop. Not just that, but I have the battery light glowing. Now, I can't remember too well since it was pouring down and I was focusing on the road trying not to crash, but I know the voltage guage was reading 0, yet I think all the other guages were fine. My first thought was fuse or relay, but they did stop in the correct park position though. I assume if a fuse wsa to blow they'd stop dead (unless it was coincidence that they were in the park postition...
Been out to look at it today and I'm a little confused. The car starts and runs and this time the battery light stays off, but all the guages are dead.
My car is a series 2 registered in '83, but built in '81. The fuses and relays are in the engine bay, but according to the bible, all cars should have the blade type fuses. I've never seen fuses like mine before. They're a plastic and cylinderish with a metal strip running along the side of it. The strip varying in width from fuse to fuse depending on the amps. I've checked these and they are all fine.
So. I need to sort this asap, it's my daily driver and it's no good to me as it is now.
Anyone have any idea of a cause? Or anyone come across my style fusebox that has any ideas? I've looked around, but can't see any other fuses anywhere.
Yeah, don't panic. That style of fusebox (12 fues, vertically down the wing IIRC) was standard on the early cars.
If the batery light is on you may have a duff alternator.
Wiper motor was a Lucas unit used on many Brit cars of the period; the only slight difference concerns the large gearwheel which may have been doctored to give the wiper a larger clearing arc.
Try Ebay, there are usually a few on there. Failing that, root round a scrappy for something like a Mini, Marina etc., theres are probably derivatives.
Ian
If the batery light is on you may have a duff alternator.
Wiper motor was a Lucas unit used on many Brit cars of the period; the only slight difference concerns the large gearwheel which may have been doctored to give the wiper a larger clearing arc.
Try Ebay, there are usually a few on there. Failing that, root round a scrappy for something like a Mini, Marina etc., theres are probably derivatives.
Ian
Thanks Wedg1e,
I'll start looking for a replacement motor, but any ideas on what it could have done to stop all the guages working? I've disconnected the wiper motor and tried running the car. It runs ok, all the guages are dead and there is no battery light on when running or with the ignition on when the engine isn;t running. The indicator lights (on the instrument panel) do still light up and the dash lights (from when headlights on) still work.
The fuses look ok. Could a problem with the motor have blown a relay?
I'll start looking for a replacement motor, but any ideas on what it could have done to stop all the guages working? I've disconnected the wiper motor and tried running the car. It runs ok, all the guages are dead and there is no battery light on when running or with the ignition on when the engine isn;t running. The indicator lights (on the instrument panel) do still light up and the dash lights (from when headlights on) still work.
The fuses look ok. Could a problem with the motor have blown a relay?
I think on the early black wiring 280s the instrument cluster ground is a flat braid that is bolted to the wiper motor and is 'fed' ground through one of the heater fan bolts, where it is attached on the other side of the firewall to the engine ground, by a similar strap.
Might be worth checking this strap out, the wiper mechanism might have chewed it up!
-jim
Might be worth checking this strap out, the wiper mechanism might have chewed it up!
-jim
Uriel:
Don't worry about relays, the wiper doesn't use any.
The instruments do share a common earth and a common 12V feed though, as JChase says. The indicator dash lights get their feed from the flasher unit, so that's irrelevant, as is the main beam lamp (fed from the column switch). However IIRC the charge warning shares the feed that the instruments use, so if that's out as well it may be the 12v feed that's missing and not the earth.
One of the fuses supplies the instruments along with (I think) the radio or interior lights. Whilst the fuses may be OK (ceramic, by the way) the push-on connections to the fuse box may not be, so it would be worth checking the rats' nest of wiring either side of the fusebaox. Some of the (Lucar, as they are known) terminals are 'piggy-back' type and can get really grotty given the environment in a Wedge engine bay. TVR evidently realised it was a problem and moved the electrics inside the cabin. Where you just need to have hands like a paedophile to work on them
Try all the other electrics on the car and see if you can spot anything else not working. Chances are they'll be on the same fuse/ wiring.
Ian
Don't worry about relays, the wiper doesn't use any.
The instruments do share a common earth and a common 12V feed though, as JChase says. The indicator dash lights get their feed from the flasher unit, so that's irrelevant, as is the main beam lamp (fed from the column switch). However IIRC the charge warning shares the feed that the instruments use, so if that's out as well it may be the 12v feed that's missing and not the earth.
One of the fuses supplies the instruments along with (I think) the radio or interior lights. Whilst the fuses may be OK (ceramic, by the way) the push-on connections to the fuse box may not be, so it would be worth checking the rats' nest of wiring either side of the fusebaox. Some of the (Lucar, as they are known) terminals are 'piggy-back' type and can get really grotty given the environment in a Wedge engine bay. TVR evidently realised it was a problem and moved the electrics inside the cabin. Where you just need to have hands like a paedophile to work on them
Try all the other electrics on the car and see if you can spot anything else not working. Chances are they'll be on the same fuse/ wiring.
Ian
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