Electrics - Help!

[Xenocide]

I took one of my Duttons apart this weekend and uncovered a f***ing mess of wires!

I got everything working (Lights, horn, fan, etc) then took the dash off (with a hammer. Who hides screws under a vinyl covering?) and now nothing works. Why? Well...

There are random wires coming in (with a 12V load) that go.. nowhere. There are wires that are just twisted together. Relays with nothing but a ground plugged in, switches with fuse wire wrapped around them, stuff taped together with masking tape, relays with no writing, melted ground wires, TWO ignition cutoff switches, NO LABELING! >:-(

Anyway, I know everything works (save one bulb but I think that one's just knackered) and I want to move it out of this car into another one. At the moment i'm trying to label stuff but it's pretty hard as you can imagine.

Does anyone know of any sites where there's lots of info regarding this sort of stuff. I want to reuse as much as I can but I'm going to get new switches straight off because these are crap.

Also I want a nice list of things that i'll need to pass the SVA.

Lights:
Front sidelights
Front dipped
Front Fullbeam
4xindicators
Brake lights (x2)
Rear Fogs
Rear numberplate

And something on the dash telling me that they're on. (This was done with escort switches before. I think i'll get nice toggle switches with a led in them)

Then there's the wiring for the dash (mk1 escort type) which I need to think about in advance (Anybody know of a wiring diagram for this btw?)

Where I will need:
Handbrake warning light
... Out of ideas

Other wires running around will be:
Fuel level
Ignition
That's about it too..

Anything obvious i'm missing?

Thanks!

[Sam_68]

To be honest, it sounds like you'd be better off with a complete re-wire and a new loom.

They're not difficult to make yourself (wiring diagrams can be sourced from books like the Champion Locost book or Westfield Build Manuals) and all the bits can be bought from companies like Vehicle Wiring Products

Failing that, if your really electrically inept, get a specialist to manufacture one for you, or modify the loom from another 'Seven' type car.

[Davi]

I'd echo Sam's thoughts - when it's that bad, bin it. You can strip out the individual wires if you want to use in your new home made loom, and just buy what you need to finish & replace, but the last thing you want is your car going up in flames because you missed a dodgy bit somewhere.

[Xenocide]

Yeah I'm intending on making a new one based on that one. What about the relays and stuff, how do I find out what the inputs and outputs are?

I'm not *that* bad at electrics .

Should I do a build thread here? I've got one going on another forum. Might be fun!

[Davi]

always worthwhile. I found the easiest way to learn what was going on was to get some schematics and trace the wires!!! when you know what's going where on an existing, and can compare it to something you are holding, it makes a lot more sense (well, does to me anyway)

[Xenocide]

Any ideas on where I can find schematics?

[flossythepig]

Xenocide said:

Any ideas on where I can find schematics?

Have a look at Haynes manuals for older models. Their wiring was much simpler.

Beware of toggle switches and SVA. Look at the BMW Mini.

[Davi]

as above, haynes manuals are the easy way to go for the schematics, though there are occasionally some available on the web.

If you know what the base loom is, or if it's fairly obvious what would constitute a good base loom get the manual for that vehicle.

[Xenocide]

flossythepig said:

Xenocide said:

Any ideas on where I can find schematics?

Have a look at Haynes manuals for older models. Their wiring was much simpler.

Beware of toggle switches and SVA. Look at the BMW Mini.

The little hoopy things?

Aww nuts, they look great .

I can always swap escort switches in for the sva or something

[Sam_68]

flossythepig said:

Xenocide said:

Any ideas on where I can find schematics?

Have a look at Haynes manuals for older models. Their wiring was much simpler.

Beware of toggle switches and SVA. Look at the BMW Mini.

If you genuinely can't find schematics, let me know. I've got plenty of wiring diagrams for 'Seven' type cars that could be adapted.

If the dash uses an Escort Mk1 instrument pack, then you need to get a copy of the Mk 1 Haynes Manual (E-bay or specialist motoring bookshops) to see how it patches in to the rest of the system, but other than that it's quite straightforward.

[pearl nicholas]

the owners clubs are your best bet,plenty of people there who have probably done this sort of thing or can advise on diagrams etc..