Auto-electrictian recommendations

[John D.]

The 205 has some kind of electrical gremlin. Keeps blowing a fuse which controls wind wipers/brake lights/cooling fan/electric windows. Looking for places in Reading area to get the problem traced and sorted.

[GeoffW]

John D. said:

The 205 has some kind of electrical gremlin. Keeps blowing a fuse which controls wind wipers/brake lights/cooling fan/electric windows. Looking for places in Reading area to get the problem traced and sorted.

I can recommend Ralph:

http://www.t-v-s.co.uk/contact.html

Mention my name and you might get a discount or possibly have to pay a bit extra

[JC2012]

Ralph at TVS definitely!

[volks al]

Prob a dodgy earth wire somewhere John, the rear cluster earths were always a culprit on my old fords.

When does it blow, what are u using, pressing bake pedal etc?

[John D.]

volks al said:

Prob a dodgy earth wire somewhere John, the rear cluster earths were always a culprit on my old fords.

When does it blow, what are u using, pressing bake pedal etc?

Not sure what triggers it. I'll be merrily driving along and suddenly realise I can't use wind wipers or my window won't go down or the music stops (it kills stereo).

I got away with simply changing the fuse after it went the first time and that was ok for a few weeks (admitably I don't drive the car a great deal). Then it went again the other day so I tried changing the fuse again but it blew immediately when I wound a window down.

I suspect the stereo could be the culprit as that is new. Removing it hasn't solved it unfornately.

Finding the time and inclination to have a proper poke around is limited! Partly as I don't really know what I'm looking at I'll have a crack next weekend perhaps.

[volks al]

Could well be a loose stereo wire. It now reminds me what caused my rear lights and dash lights to keep blowing...

When wiring the stereo and looking for a earth what I used as an earth and tested as an earth (ign on and off) turned out to be an illumination feed for the stereo when turning side lights on :headwhack:

Good luck, I'm not reading way for a while or I would pop in.

[Lakelord]

John, replace the fuse with a nail and the faulty component will spontaneously combust saving you hours of costly diagnosis.
Hope that helps?

[wackojacko]

It's telling you it wants Perspex windows .....

[John D.]

Lakelord said:

John, replace the fuse with a nail and the faulty component will spontaneously combust saving you hours of costly diagnosis.
Hope that helps?

Not a bad idea. Whats the worst that could happen?

[MX-5 Lazza]

John D. said:

Lakelord said:

John, replace the fuse with a nail and the faulty component will spontaneously combust saving you hours of costly diagnosis.
Hope that helps?

Not a bad idea. Whats the worst that could happen?

The whole car could be completely burnt out but that's not a big disaster as the fire brigade are pretty good at analysing burnt out cars so could probably tell you where the fire started.

[marksbike]

Its always worth checking wiring looms that go into the doors and tail gates as over the years they tend to get brittle and break causing live wires to float around and touch ground. Pull back the black rubber conduit/covers and look inside at the wires. Done 3 different vehicles with the same fault in the last 2 months, all in the tail gate.
But then again it could something simple like the wiper motor!

[CypherP]

GeoffW said:

John D. said:

The 205 has some kind of electrical gremlin. Keeps blowing a fuse which controls wind wipers/brake lights/cooling fan/electric windows. Looking for places in Reading area to get the problem traced and sorted.

I can recommend Ralph:

http://www.t-v-s.co.uk/contact.html

Mention my name and you might get a discount or possibly have to pay a bit extra

Another recommendation for Ralph. He's a very knowledgable guy and definitely worth calling.

[John D.]

I'll probably give him a bell next week. Thanks chaps.

[x 7usc]

John, i've had the same sort of problem before, it was the cooling fan bearings failing, just give the fan blades a flick, it should spin freely.

[Fer]

Anyone know of someone around Maidenhead/Windsor who knows anything about BMW alarms, as fitted to an E36? I've had a problem with mine, but can't justify taking it to a main dealer who will know nothing about a 17 yo car and will extract his training from my wallet.

[Crunchie Gears]

Hi all

Just someone else recommending Ralph.

He has used his knowledge to get round problems while I find time to get the work done properly by him. He does much more than just the electrics, he races and builds cars so takes a broader view of the car and will suggest solutions and recommend trades people who can deliver for you. He also trailers my car when I need it.

I am sure he would travel to Maidenhead too.

[John D.]

He's paying my car a visit on Wednesday whilst I'm at work.