Classic Cerbera electrics gremlins

[Chuggaboom]

So today was the first time that Cerbie's electrics have played up. Went to start after a 20 minute journey with a 4 hour gap.....ignition on.....start, and click, dead ! Totally everything. Tried various so left and returned home to gather tools etc. Arrived at car too find wipers have moved and washer motor going full on. Blip the fob and able to enter. Ignition off kills the washer motor. Try to start and saggy turn over....well no doubt the volts have dropped while I have been away for a couple of hours and things have been consuming the battery. So manoeuvre car,during which the radio starts on its own, and I kill be ejecting the facia, and bump start and after a couple of efforts she runs. I leave running not dearing to switch off. Transfer tools etc and leave. On way home odd smell around 20 mins of running...could be car or something form outside through the window. Arrive at home and put in garage. Open doors and boot and disconnect battery. Where do I start ?

[Chuggaboom]

Battery is disconnected from the car now and on the accumate directly......if that isn't showing green in the morning then that will be a sign of a dead'n ! Up until now never had any battery issues while using accumate as in always plug in when back in the garage at home.

[Chuggaboom]

Oh apparently there is another important substantial fuse other than the big one in the engine bay inside the cabin......do you know where ?

[Chuggaboom]

Well today was far too nice to be inside a garage and had other things to do anyway, but the accumate on charge overnight resulted in turning to green around 10 this morning. Next step then get it load tested.

[Chuggaboom]

So the upshot of the battery test was that it's duff despite a recharge turning green. Basically it would charge but fail when put under load.....a thing that happens to batteries many a time over.....having said that me using an accumate had extended that probable life several times over.

Right, new battery in and connected up......let's see what works......answer, everything except the wipers and wash wipe......no response at all from the steering wheel buttons.

Hnm......where is the wiper control unit ? No haven't checked the fuse yet.....depending on car era looks like 16 or 31.

[Chuggaboom]

Byker28i said:

The other thing when fault finding wipers is to lift the wiper blades off the windscreen to remove load from the motor. No point stressing it.

Yes did this before connecting the new battery.

[Chuggaboom]

Pulled every fuse in the boot and all Ok.

Found the wiper control unit in the passenger foot well behind the pull out piece of carpet next the the ECU and heater control unit above.

Wiper unit wires are not charred but the unit label showers either signs of heat or simply old age compared to those other units in the boot.

Also found I have no hazards, although indicators are fine.

Next step change big fuse in engine bay and try a wiper unit swap.

[Chuggaboom]

Penelope Stopit said:

Is this correct or not?

Yes just wipers, wash wipe and hazards NOT working. Think I've checked everything else and they are OK.