Engine cut out

[mxi933]

Cant believe it - had the car since January and its been running as sweet as a nut. Today it let me down. Nothing serious, just cut out. No ignition or nothing. I prodded and poked around the fuses an after 20 mins the ignition came back on but now the doors and windows dont seem to work. After a quick search the prognosis is that its the big fuse thats to blame. Trouble is a search on here hasnt revealed where the big fuse is. Can somebody enlighten me please

[byker28i]

It's on the very back of the engine - look for the thick wires going into a small black long box, about the size of half a finger. You have to take the rear panel off to see it.

Fuses are cheap but unless you've got small hands like me it's probably a bit fiddly to change. Remember this carries power from the battery so either disconnect the battery or use an insulated socket. - Don't short it.

[DC53]

Not a very good example of where it is, but i knowit's right at the back of the engine....

Someone will come along with correct place later, just thought you may be able to have a look/see it.

[gazzab]

Your problem doesnt sound like big fuse.
The big fuse basically impacts the battery charging and the voltage regulation. It wont cause (in my experience) the car electrics to fail and then come back.
Sounds more like immobiliser or battery lead or fuses in the boot.

[Cyclone1]

But if it is the Big Fuse then there is a good guide in this thread -

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=312307&f=6&h=0

Jules.

[BLUETHUNDER]

To get at it properly remove the scuttle panel.Looking down at the back of the engine,directly in the middle you will see a black box with two wires coming off of it either side.Pop the lid open and the fuse is inside.Even if the fuse looks ok to the naked eye they can suffer with hair line cracks so replace.Clean all the terminals as well and re-grease the battery terminal.Cerbs need a good power supply.

[Ireland]

byker28i said:

.... it's probably a bit fiddly to change...

Yeah, it's an absolute pig to get at.

byker28i said:

Remember this carries power from the battery so either disconnect the battery or use an insulated socket. - Don't short it.

I'd say to disconnect the battery as you'll be pushing your hand in there with a very limited view of what you are doing and could very easily move something onto the fuse that shouldn't be on it.


Changing the big-fuse is about the only job I've done on the car that I forgot to take a picture of what's involved.

If you can take one, mxi933, stick it on here once the job's been done.

[Ireland]

mxi933 said:

After a quick search the prognosis is that its the big fuse thats to blame.

Are you certain it's this that's causing the problem?

One of the other Irish Cerbs had the same symptoms as your car recently and it turned out to be the immobiliser and not the big-fuse.

Worth checking .....

[mxi933]

Like anything with the Cerb, its all a matter of elimination. To be honest it may have something to do with gubbins in the boot. Playing about with the fuses in the main panel seemed to do the trick but on the way back the car started chugging a little at junctions and it sounded to me like the battery was labouring a little. According to a search, these things pointed to the big fuse. I'll change it anyway, posting photos as I go and work back.

Thanks for the info

[ireland]

When I was having starting issues with my car I spent ages checking things and doing things, including changing the big-fuse, and it turned out to be the immobiliser that was giving me grief.

As was pointed out to me in the past, if the car starts then it's not the big-fuse.

The big-fuse is like being pregnant ..... someone's pregnant or they're not, well the fuse is the same - it's either blown or it's not.

There's an alarm expert who's been recommended on here several times and he might be worth a call.

I haven't got his name or number here, but I've saved a bookmark to his website on my computer at work.

If nobody else can tell you who he is, I'll try to remember to post his details for you tomorrow.

[dempsey]

It's Carl Baker at www.tvruk.tv
Top man.

[ireland]

That's the one.