What a berk!
What a berk!
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Discussion

njw 77

Original Poster:

17,065 posts

267 months

Tuesday 11th October 2005
quotequote all
Me I am referring to:

Its my birthday today , so I took the day off work to go out with the wife and kids in the cerb.

Started him up and left him ticking over whilst I load up baby seats, pushchair and kiddy paraphanalia(sp?) in the boot (its amazing how much you can fit in there), load wife and kids in, ready for the off. Everything is sweet

"Hold on" I says to the wife, "that TVR cigar lighter I bought 2 months ago off eBay is still sitting in the kitchen, maybe I should put it in the car? It looks smart"

So, get out the car again and fetch said item, put it in the hole and all hell breaks loose!! Lights on full beam, hazards flashing, wipers and washers going nuts. Interior lights dont work. Boot and drivers door wont open. Everything is beeping and going crazy. Ahh boolarks

Decant family and stuff into the Audi and off we go, me chastising myself for being such a pratt for a) buying a cheap cigar lighter off eBay and b) for being so stupid as to put it in the car and firking everything up. No matter I thinks to myself, must be the famed big fuse? Ive got a spare, cant be that hard to find/fit when we get back?

Just got back, blush with pride when I manage to unscrew the 2 bolts holding the engine cover in place. Look in, nope, big fuse is OK. Now standing in the garage scratching my head as I have no idea what to do next. Ahh, pull out the boxes in the back, see if that resets it. Nope

Only one thing to do, call paul at Austec

From my description down the blower Paul believes the dodgy cigar lighter has sent a power surge down the electrics and blown one or more of the control boxes.

OFFS

Luckily Paul has agreed to send his low loader out to collect the car in the morning and get it fixed, but its gunna cost me a nice few quid just coz I bought a £4 frickin ligher off the internet! Thank you Paul, you're a star

Ive been cussing myself all afternoon for being such an idiot! Ho hum. Not how I envisaged spending my birthday

Sorry for the rant guys, just wanted to publically chastise myself. Feel free to call me names, I deserve it

Moral of the story: cheaps isnt always good, treat your car to the best available at all times and sod the cost(IMO). Its only money :shrug:

>> Edited by njw 77 on Tuesday 11th October 17:15

Mrs_T

1,533 posts

278 months

Tuesday 11th October 2005
quotequote all
Give up smoking!. No need for the lighter and you save loads of money
Happy Birthday Nick

Karen
My birthday is on Thursday!

kojak

4,547 posts

282 months

Tuesday 11th October 2005
quotequote all
I've always got mu Road Angel plugged in. Would never smoke in the car anyway.

Hope you get it sorted.


PS Happy birthday Karen for thursday.

Extra 300 Driver

5,282 posts

275 months

Tuesday 11th October 2005
quotequote all
Check fuse #7, I had the same trouble once.

Steve_T

6,356 posts

301 months

Tuesday 11th October 2005
quotequote all
ROFLMAO.

Remember, I'm not laughing at you I'm laughing with you.













ok I lied

SXS

3,065 posts

286 months

Tuesday 11th October 2005
quotequote all
werent you told? to not stick things into holes without permission?

Oh well, at least you didnt kill the day by trying to sort it out, you did the right thing by jumping into the Audi cruiser... more room for the kids to play, and listen to your favourite track

olly

2,174 posts

313 months

Tuesday 11th October 2005
quotequote all
Extra 300 Driver said:
Check fuse #7, I had the same trouble once.


I'll 2nd the fuse theory.

Check fuses before shipping to Paul. Our car did something similar (all electrics going NUTS) when I changed the boot solenoid. 1 fuse later & all was ok again !

BCA

8,651 posts

286 months

Tuesday 11th October 2005
quotequote all
Agree on the fuse - sod the low loader.

had the same happen at croft when trying to get through scruteneering lol just managed it before fixing things in a panic!

njw 77

Original Poster:

17,065 posts

267 months

Tuesday 11th October 2005
quotequote all
Thanks folks for your calming words. Shall have a poke about in the morning before work

nervous

24,050 posts

259 months

Wednesday 12th October 2005
quotequote all
have a look at the car too whilst youre up.

Rob Dance

200 posts

268 months

Wednesday 12th October 2005
quotequote all
Are you going to give us the item # from the magic kingdom,

The feedback should make interesting reading !!

NJW 77

Original Poster:

17,065 posts

267 months

Wednesday 12th October 2005
quotequote all
nervous said:
have a look at the car too whilst youre up.


Naughty, naughty nerv

LoL

Steve_T

6,356 posts

301 months

Wednesday 12th October 2005
quotequote all
NJW 77 said:

nervous said:
have a look at the car too whilst youre up.



Naughty, naughty nerv

LoL


More importantly have you fixed it?

NJW 77

Original Poster:

17,065 posts

267 months

Wednesday 12th October 2005
quotequote all
Steve_T said:

NJW 77 said:


nervous said:
have a look at the car too whilst youre up.




Naughty, naughty nerv

LoL



More importantly have you fixed it?


The truth? No. After trying to have a poke about this morning, the Mrs gave me a slap round the ear so I left the house hurridly The only change from last night is that the full beam isnt staying on now (without the light switch turned on)and the cigar lighter socket is defo dead.

When pulling out the control boxes I did notice some burnt looking pins (noteably on the lights/dim box). Dont know if they where like it already so Im just going to let Austec check everything out for me. Dont want to miss something that may come bite me in the arse later (enough nervy!). Better to be safe than sorry huh?

nervous

24,050 posts

259 months

Wednesday 12th October 2005
quotequote all
:bitestongue:

Steve_T

6,356 posts

301 months

Wednesday 12th October 2005
quotequote all
If I remember right the dipped/dim lights box slowly burns out anyway, so you there's always a chance you needed one. Being TVR, the electrical parts used are only just up to the job.

Sounds like a good plan to get the experts in on it - Paul did manage to persuade my indicators back into life when I had similar electrical woes.

Steve.

Extra 300 Driver

5,282 posts

275 months

Wednesday 12th October 2005
quotequote all
Did you check all the fuses? The burnt terminals on the lights box is normal. There is a quick fix for these.

NJW 77

Original Poster:

17,065 posts

267 months

Wednesday 12th October 2005
quotequote all
Extra 300 Driver said:
Did you check all the fuses? The burnt terminals on the lights box is normal. There is a quick fix for these.


No I didnt E3D, Im a) too lazy, b) it was my birthday and c) my garage was cold and dark. Poor show I know and should be birched

TON70

531 posts

261 months

Wednesday 12th October 2005
quotequote all
NJW 77 said:

b) it was my birthday and Poor show I know and should be birched


Each to his own Nick but what you do on your birthday is your business...


Had the exact same problem...sympathy all round (Cigarette lighter that is not birching )

2 Smokin Barrels

32,001 posts

264 months

Wednesday 12th October 2005
quotequote all
njw 77 said:
Started him up and left him ticking over whilst I load up


that's optimistic in itself! unless you park on a billiard table or a bowling green (not crown) of course!