Electrics - Various terminating boxes
Electrics - Various terminating boxes
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mickydoo

Original Poster:

297 posts

170 months

Wednesday 9th May 2012
quotequote all
Can anyone point me in the right direction, as to where I can get hold of replacement terminating boxes for the various electrics around the vehicle?

There are obviously several located above the fuel tank in the boot, but I think from recent investigation there are one or two embedded in the dash/passenger footwell (ECU?), as well as one next to the steering column.

Of late my indicators & wash-wipe buttoms have become intermittently problematic - normally fixed by a quick flick of the Emergency Indicator switch on the end of the stalk - and all is well again.

I wondered whether these functions are controlled by the box that is located under the steering column above the driver's footwell. Mine seems somewhat warped (although not burned). It seems almost melted through heat (and was when I bought the car). I haven't noticed any particular heat coming from this area, although when I bought it the driver's hot air vent was closed which may have been a contributory factor!!

Gazzab

21,583 posts

306 months

Wednesday 9th May 2012
quotequote all
On cerb number 2 I had intermittent probs with indicators and a quick use of the hazards would clear it. APM eventually fixed the problem. I think it was an earth issue...?
Have you checked the ribbon cable?

GT6k

948 posts

186 months

Wednesday 9th May 2012
quotequote all
The locations of all the boxes are given in the wiring connectors chapter of the workshop manual ( http://www.tvr-cerbera.co.uk/workshopmanuals.html ) and acording to that the indicator box is on top of the tank.

It always amuses me that a bit like in Thunderbirds all the boxes say what they do on the outside (for those too young, in Thunderbirds [The original series] the saboteurs bomb was always atrtached to a box saying something like undercarriage control box or reactor control unit)

GT6k

948 posts

186 months

Wednesday 9th May 2012
quotequote all
This is what i mean, I wouldnt want to find this over the tank.


K33LER

216 posts

241 months

Friday 11th May 2012
quotequote all
mickydoo said:
Can anyone point me in the right direction, as to where I can get hold of replacement terminating boxes for the various electrics around the vehicle?

There are obviously several located above the fuel tank in the boot, but I think from recent investigation there are one or two embedded in the dash/passenger footwell (ECU?), as well as one next to the steering column.

Of late my indicators & wash-wipe buttoms have become intermittently problematic - normally fixed by a quick flick of the Emergency Indicator switch on the end of the stalk - and all is well again.

I wondered whether these functions are controlled by the box that is located under the steering column above the driver's footwell. Mine seems somewhat warped (although not burned). It seems almost melted through heat (and was when I bought the car). I haven't noticed any particular heat coming from this area, although when I bought it the driver's hot air vent was closed which may have been a contributory factor!!
Hi Mickydoo

I have recently undetaken a complete overhaul of my electrics and have also sent these to Paul Smith to be rebuilt as I has issues with my headlights operating and indicators.
From the steering wheel, there are some very thin wires coming from the buttons on the wheel. These can chafe on the the metal under the wheel. They go to the steering wheel boss under the TVR badge (in the centre of the steering wheel). From there they through a ribbon cable to the box above the steering wheel column. The ribbon, I believe, shares an earth. The box is grey in colour.

In my opinion, these electrics are VERY simple. The box just has some simple electrics. If it is warped then there is another issue as the electrics do not carry enough current to heat it to that degree.

You possibly have an earthing issue but if you think the box is the cause, please send it to Paul to get it checked out. On from there... the indicator box is in the passenger footwell.

I hope this helps somewhat,


mickydoo

Original Poster:

297 posts

170 months

Sunday 13th May 2012
quotequote all
Well now I'm p*ssed off. Just took the Cerb down the road to buy some oil, & on returning to the car she refuses to start. Starter motor not even grumbling. The relay in the boot sounds like its firing ok when I push the start button, but no power to the starter. I even tried a jump start but no difference. What is even more frustrating is that I can't find the key to my other car and have gotta get my kids home to my ex-wife this evening somehow! If it wasn't a sunny day I'd be ranting....I'd thought I'd bought a reasonably well sorted car, but the more I use it the more I realise that in fact there seems to be a lot a niggles needing sorting. frown Seriously having 2nd thoughts about Cerb ownership.

robsco

7,875 posts

200 months

Sunday 13th May 2012
quotequote all
Presumably the immobiliser is disarming and you get the beep? If this is the case, hold the black button down for 2 minutes. You may find there's not enough voltage getting to the starter.

GT6k

948 posts

186 months

Sunday 13th May 2012
quotequote all
I would start with the simple things and try checking the major conections and earths starting with battery terminals, this could just be a bad earth or starter connection.

mickydoo

Original Poster:

297 posts

170 months

Sunday 13th May 2012
quotequote all
Well. I left the car cursing under my breath, & took the kids for lunch. On my return 45 mins later, yes you guessed it, it started first time. I think somewhere there MUST be a leak to earth, maybe a loose cable or one rubbing the chassis perhaps. Any ideas how on earth (scuse pun) I find the fault?

GT6k

948 posts

186 months

Sunday 13th May 2012
quotequote all
Do you mean that you left it oncharge for 45 min or did it just revover by itself. There is a good video on you tube on hunting for current drains http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFCT-YZbU5o

If the drain is excessive then start pulling fuses and see which one drops the current draw.


matty1275

190 posts

175 months

Sunday 13th May 2012
quotequote all
sounds like a dodgy starter. mine kept doing that.

it would start fine when cold and then once it warmed up a bit it wouldn't start.
give it half an hour or so to cool down and she'd fire first time.

ended up with a new starter motor and alls ok

mickydoo

Original Poster:

297 posts

170 months

Sunday 13th May 2012
quotequote all
No charging at all. Just left it and it recovered on its own. The car was barely warm when it refused to restart. Although the weather was warm today. On the other hand I drove my kids back 80miles in it. Stopped on arrival and it started again fine after a 15min coffee break before my return leg. Seems like a circuit issue of sorts. Either a loose wire or perhaps something internal to the starter motor in the same vein. Red Mist next week I think.

K33LER

216 posts

241 months

Monday 14th May 2012
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Right Mickydoo... You have the same issues as mine did... If you have no click on the starter then it will probably be the black starter button. I changed mine as the contacts were shafted. In fact (please see previous reply from me above) you seem to have very similar issues to mine. My Cerb was bought off a bloke who left it on his drive for 2 years after an industrial accident. He left the window slightly open and the cabin had a mini pond in it. Most of the electrical issues stem from water / vapour. My switches needed replacement, all of my connections needed descaling and I needed to have my dim / dip box and the headlight box in the boot rebuilt.

If you disconnect the black two pin connector under the dash (under the drivers side air tube) and use a wire to bypass the switch by touching both exposed connectors, the car should start.

If it doesn't, I'm wrong!

mickydoo

Original Poster:

297 posts

170 months

Monday 14th May 2012
quotequote all
K33LER

I know the start button itself is fine - I can hear the relay in the boot electronics doing their job when the button is pushed. I suspect I have a dodgy starter motor, or some iffy wiring between the electrical starter unit & the motor.

K33LER

216 posts

241 months

Monday 14th May 2012
quotequote all
I had an issue with voltage drop when the starter was hot... took it in to have a relay put into the system taking a direct feed from the battery (Roses Garage, Sandwich) as I didn't know the fix myself. It 'may' be worth a call.
It was only when hot though and the starter used to 'clonk' or click
Good luck

Gazzab

21,583 posts

306 months

Monday 14th May 2012
quotequote all
I have had starter out, refurbished, additional relay etc and still it clicks when hot.