Strange electrical fault

[Yatesy350i]

Got a bit of a strange one on the FHC.

When I turn the head lights on. The main beam indicator on the dash comes on all the time. When you push the main beam stalk forward the main beam does come on and stay on. When you pull the stall back to flash. The handbrake light comes on, on the dash along with another red lamp. Main beam does work though.

Any ideas?

Cheers Karl.

[ElvisWedgely]

Sounds like an earthing problem. Can be quite difficult to solve as the earths of each component has to be checked along with the main battery earth to the chassis etc.

Tony. TCB.

[RCK974X]

I agree, it's probably an earth probem. There's no easy way to magically find where it is, you just have to trace back from the dash lights.... Dodgy earths are a lot more common on fibreglass cars !!

[Yatesy350i]

Thanks Guys

Sounds like hours of fun coming my way then? It doesn't help that some muppet has at some time in the cars history tried to make a few elec mods! All of which I have now removed/ repaired.

I have the complete dash out at the minute so at least I can access the loom.

I've found a few mods in the wiring under the bonnet as well. It really annoys the #### out of me when people mess and do a p$$$ poor job rather than leave things alone or do the job right in the first place. I have a set of aftermarket gauges to sort out as well some working some not. Most of the originals missing.

Really considered ebaying the thing today :-(

[dixiebabes]

Yup agreed earthing problem karl. Good luck mucka.

Dix

[RCK974X]

Yeah, you tend to find some appalling home mods in lots of cars...

Mine is a all black wired one (82), and it looked like the FACTORY made a pretty poor job too - joins were soldered, but then simply wrappped with insulation tape !! I had a run of blown fuses, and discovered that after 30 years, tape had fallen off. I heat shrinked all the joins, and not had a (fuse) problem since.

Whilst you're there - I added some thicker earth wires in mine, as well as cleaning up the earth points - discovered some of the eylets weren't crimped very well and had corroded. this was engine bay though - chances are dash won't corrode as fast - but could still be a corroded earth !!

Good luck - if you have a testmeter, you can check if the earth side of the bulb is 'floating' (i.e. has some voltage from TRUE earth at the battery) which will probably help tracking...

[adam quantrill]

Also check the bulbs in the dash in case one has shorted over - start with the main beam lamp. But yes probably a poor earth in the dash area.

[ElvisWedgely]

It could also be that someone previously replaced a dash bulb with the wrong one, or one that has the wrong wattage, hence upsetting the current flow to the rest. Check that all bulbs in the dash are the right ones and are the correct wattage in relation to the others.

Tony. TCB.

[Wedg1e]

Yatesy350i said:

It really annoys the #### out of me when people mess and do a p$$$ poor job rather than leave things alone or do the job right in the first place.

It's daft really, because the lengths some people go to when bodging could just as easily be used to do a proper job.

[RCK974X]

It's just occurred to me - it could actually be a fault in the HEADLIGHT or Engine Bay earths too. Less likely though - check dash first.

I know this sounds a bit suspect, but I realised it's possible that ALL of your dash earth returns (ie all the bulbs and gauges) are floating. Mine had only one earth return wire from the dash going back to the battery, via the front connectors behind the driver's side pod. Yes, it was corroded green, like several others in the connectors !!

It's also possible a floating earth on the main beam will lift the voltage enough to have current return though the warning lamps.

Just saying - so that if you don't find anything behind the dash...keep looking !!

[pasogrande]

Karl,

Try a temporary earth wire direct from battery -ve. If this makes a difference you KNOW it's the earth.

Wilf.