Front end wiring issues - 280i FHC series 1

[FlipFlopGriff]

Just acquired the Wedge and all the wires that run from the o/s to the n/s have been broken (by previous owner). All the wires are black with the odd pidgeon ring but I don't know what colour is what anyway) so rather than just try and start from scratch does anypne know what they may be.
Its a very early set up with fuses and relays under the bonnet, near the front on the o/s. There are 2 groups of wires cable tied together, about 10 cables in each bundle.
Thanks in advance for any pointers.
FFG

[chedder]

Oh Lordy.....have you got a headache!!!!
Same wiring set up as mine, the Steve Heath Bible is a big help as their is a number of wiring diagrams.
But best suggestion is to get the Multi-tester out, I have spent many 'happy' hours on mine after being quoted £1200 to rewire in modern colour coded cables.

[BadRedWedge]

Sounds like hours of fun Paul... Good Luck

[Gandalf]

Got just the wiring engineer for you Paul











But seriously at least theres little point waiting for the light nights to come around eh! Good luck with it all and hope to see her sooner rather than later

[MJG280]

That’ll be to the headlight motor main/dip beams sidelights and indicators. Mixed in with that will be some ignition wiring. If your rev counter doesn’t work that’s one of the broken wires.

Also the insulation generally now tends to be fragile. I found one live wire by the relays with no insulation at all so check you are insured for fire.

Buy lots of shrink wrap and crimped joints from http://autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/ or similar. I used crimped joints and shrink wrapped as much as possible and if there are any naked wires you may be able to slide it over to save you having to disturb other wires.

Don’t be tempted to use domestic wire. It isn’t thick enough Auto Electric site tells you the sizes needed

[AJP4.2]

Gandalf said:

Got just the wiring engineer for you Paul











But seriously at least theres little point waiting for the light nights to come around eh! Good luck with it all and hope to see her sooner rather than later

[Wedg1e]

There will be two big multipole connectors hiding in one of the pod wells. If you can find those I can tell you which terminal does what, that'll save you some tracing. Also I have the fuse board diagram... assuming yours is the same as mine was....

[BadRedWedge]

Black one to the black one, then this black one to that black one and the other black one, now hows that ..... ?

[FlipFlopGriff]

I'm going to get loads of cable, connectors etc. I've already got loads of spades and covers, bullets and bullets connectors. I'll probably do it in black again but lab el it up as we go along. I'm no eletrcial guru and can't make head nor tail of electrical diagrams - more of a simplistic start at one end and follwo it through.
The battery isn't connected so no fire issue yet, haven't seen a big connector block but will look tonight.
FFG

[Adrian@]

Paul, The more I think about it will I don't think it has any connectors in the arch as this is essentially M series wiring, from what I saw the other day, you will only need one connector block (the ford 2.8 ecu plug TVR end, which is Lucas double lenght males) and then solder and some heat-shrink, as I said I think the headlamp motor has turned and drawn the passenger loom across the car, the info needed is the 2.8 ecu connector wring/ the ignition ballast wiring and the headlamp pod wiring although, that can be copied from the other side. With the combination of the SH wiring diagrams and a little detective work on those streched wired it's solvable.
Adrian@

Edited by Adrian@ on Thursday 6th December 12:53

[TVRleigh_BBWR]

FlipFlopGriff said:

I'm going to get loads of cable, connectors etc. I've already got loads of spades and covers, bullets and bullets connectors. I'll probably do it in black again but lab el it up as we go along. I'm no eletrcial guru and can't make head nor tail of electrical diagrams - more of a simplistic start at one end and follwo it through.
The battery isn't connected so no fire issue yet, haven't seen a big connector block but will look tonight.
FFG

Seems daft if you going to re-wire, not to re-wire colour coded. as will be lots easier if you need to fault find.

If you want to do it all in black, you can get numbered cable rings, little plastic rings that go over the cables.

Leigh

[FlipFlopGriff]

FlipFlopGriff said:

TVRleigh_BBWR said:

FlipFlopGriff said:

I'm going to get loads of cable, connectors etc. I've already got loads of spades and covers, bullets and bullets connectors. I'll probably do it in black again but lab el it up as we go along. I'm no eletrcial guru and can't make head nor tail of electrical diagrams - more of a simplistic start at one end and follwo it through.
The battery isn't connected so no fire issue yet, haven't seen a big connector block but will look tonight.
FFG

Seems daft if you going to re-wire, not to re-wire colour coded. as will be lots easier if you need to fault find.

If you want to do it all in black, you can get numbered cable rings, little plastic rings that go over the cables.

Leigh

Did think about colours but the black is original so I'd like to keep it that way. Anyway once the wiring is reconnected I'll know which cables are which anyway. These old cars are much simpler than the modern ones.

Leigh - chassis number is on the V5 and the engine plate - haven't found it on the chassis yet - its been dark and wet since we collected it.
FFG

[FlipFlopGriff]

This is the fuse box and relays layout:


THese are the 2 lots of cables which run from the fuse box (ie offside) along the bottom of the front spoiler in fornt of the rad and connect up with the nearside cabling:


Both groups of cables connect into one black and one red connector which is shown below:

Can anyone help identify where the wires from these 2 connectors end up, ie the colured end that seems to disappear into the inner n/s wing?
The connections in and out of the ignition module are intact and appear sound.
FFG

Edited by FlipFlopGriff on Friday 7th December 12:18

[schimg]

Paul,

Good luck with this electical stuff is very frustrating, as we knwo Adrian has a lot to offer, no substitute for experience / knowledge in tis area.