Dashboard Earth

[tvrgit]

My rev counter wobbles about all over the place - ie can swing between 2000 and 4000 revs for no particular reason. The engine speed doesn't change, just the needle on the rev counter.

In the daytime it's usually ok. If I put my lights on it starts. If i switch the cooling fan on manually, it stops. Sometimes. Sometimes it starts when the fan kicks in...

All the evidence points to a duff earth connection. Where do I look?

[bridgdav]

Everywhere....You'll never find it...

[KentishS2]

Mine used to flick around and I found that there was a poor connection to the speedo, so I fixed that but now it does the same as yours - flicks around when I switch the blower on only though. Lights don't usually cause a problem.

[pies]

Have you cleaned the main earths up

[KentishS2]

pies said:

Have you cleaned the main earths up

Nope but it's been on my list to do for a few .....months

[tvrgit]

thanks colin it's worth a go eh? I was thinking of a more local earth but might as well be systematic

[pies]

When i had my dash of there were no earths on the dash itself just on the actual dials

[tvrgit]

pies said:

When i had my dash of there were no earths on the dash itself just on the actual dials

And that's supposed to make it easier??? You said taking the dash off isn't exactly a two-minute job...


>> Edited by tvrgit on Friday 29th October 13:26

[pies]

You can actually see the rear of the dials (speedo and rev) once you have you head in the footwell and moved some stuff around,i would still clean the main earths first

[tvrgit]

well that's all right then... as long as you can fix it by seeing it...

Reaching it, however, might be a different story...

Yep you're right I'll start with the main earths first...

[KentishS2]

tvrgit said:

well that's all right then... as long as you can fix it by seeing it... Reaching it, however, might be a different story... Yep you're right I'll start with the main earths first...

Colin, are you able to tell us roughly where the earths are located, there must be a few I should think. I've not really looked yet so can't give any advice on this job until after I've done it myself.

The only thing I can add really is that vaseline is supposed to be one of the best lubricators for electrical connections as it is supposed to be conductive to a certain extent. Anyone tested this theory?

[tvrgit]

KentishS2 said:

The only thing I can add really is that vaseline is supposed to be one of the best lubricators for electrical connections as it is supposed to be conductive to a certain extent. Anyone tested this theory?

Yes it is, slightly.

[pies]

On my car there were 3 main earths

One on each of the angles which goes down to the outrigger

And one right at the rear on the offside near the pertol tank,i have seen cars with an earth each side at the rear.Mine has a stud for an earth but its not been connected

[pies]

tvrgit said:

well that's all right then... as long as you can fix it by seeing it... Reaching it, however, might be a different story... Yep you're right I'll start with the main earths first...

So long as your hands arn't huge you should be able get to them

[HarryW]

pies said:

On my car there were 3 main earths One on each of the angles which goes down to the outrigger And one right at the rear on the offside near the pertol tank,i have seen cars with an earth each side at the rear.Mine has a stud for an earth but its not been connected

Interesting my right rear (offside) earth is the main battery earth, where's your battery conected too then seeing as it sits in the offside of the boot .

Harry

[pies]

HarryW said:

pies said: On my car there were 3 main earths One on each of the angles which goes down to the outrigger And one right at the rear on the offside near the pertol tank,i have seen cars with an earth each side at the rear.Mine has a stud for an earth but its not been connected Interesting my right rear (offside) earth is the main battery earth, where's your battery conected too then seeing as it sits in the offside of the boot . Harry

About there

[HarryW]

pies said:

HarryW said: pies said: On my car there were 3 main earths One on each of the angles which goes down to the outrigger And one right at the rear on the offside near the pertol tank,i have seen cars with an earth each side at the rear.Mine has a stud for an earth but its not been connected Interesting my right rear (offside) earth is the main battery earth, where's your battery conected too then seeing as it sits in the offside of the boot . Harry About there

OK then smart .... the near side rear has the rear light cluster earth connected on mine .
I basically have earths in all four wheel arch areas which have connections to them. I have found most of the instrument wires from the dash end up using the front near side angle brace thingy one.
Then again this just goes to prove no two cars are the same .

Harry

[tvrgit]

TVRs... ya gotta love em...

[GreenV8S]

HarryW said:

I basically have earths in all four wheel arch areas which have connections to them.

The wheel arches must be just about the most exposed areas there are and the worst possible places to put electrical connectors, nice to see that TVR haven't wasted any of them!

[HarryW]

GreenV8S said:

HarryW said: I basically have earths in all four wheel arch areas which have connections to them. The wheel arches must be just about the most exposed areas there are and the worst possible places to put electrical connectors, nice to see that TVR haven't wasted any of them!

To be fair, I did say areas, and they are not in the direct line of fire from the crap thrown up by the tyres .

harry