Odd electrical question

[fullthrottlehyde]

Quick question folks I need some help. I've got everything to work now on my 3000m, electrically that is. Turns out it was earthing issues, however here in lies the issue. When the ignition is off, the battery dial now stays on as does the fuel level gauge?? Only solved by pulling the battery negative. Any ideas

Cheers

Ben

[Astacus]

OK, the blindingly obvious....
the gauges are permanently live. This must mean that they are either

a) wired incorrectly; or
b) the feed is shorting with something that is permanently live.

Sorry I don't know what is permanently live on the 3000M, around the dash, but at a guess:
one of the light circuits
the radio
ciggie lighter

I suppose you could trace the wiring back from the gauge to find out

Alternatively it could be that the earth side of the circuit is live, which means you have another earth fault to find!

sorry not much help

[griff 200]

As you have only been poking about with the rear lights. There is I think a live feed to the old electric Ariel assy so you may have some how connected it into the ing circuit just a thought? If not may be remove one fuse at a time to find faulty circuit.richard.

Edited by griff 200 on Tuesday 31st December 19:03

[griff 200]

As you have only been poking about with the rear lights. There is I think a live feed to the old electric Ariel assy so you may have some how connected it into the ing circuit just a thought? If not may be remove one fuse at a time to find faulty circuit.richard. Good luck with the pto

Edited by griff 200 on Tuesday 31st December 19:57

[fullthrottlehyde]

Thanks for the help, I've checked everything that I can or know of, Richard I checked the rear aerial and it doesn't seem to have any power and I've not attached it to anything.

Interestingly on side lights the bulbs are marginaly brighter than on full lights, they seem to dim slightly when I press the switch fully down, is this normal?

Cheers

Ben

[griff 200]

Check for good earth May be run a good thick wire from the back straight to the batt but a dimming of the lights is properly due to low voltage rather than earth fault but easy check. Make sure the batt is good and fully charged working on the lights will be pulling power and you may have a low batt keep the charger on it? If still doing it poor connections two fuse box or after inc light switch. Again a lenth of good thick wire straight from batt pos to light switch may point out ware you're voltage drop is. But could be tvr normal with engine not running. Sorry not more help but elec faults on here is a bit like snooker on the radio. Richard

[bluezeeland]

at a guess; it something touching iwo the contact, for instance in refitting the cowls of the steering column ?

Is the voltage stabilizer wired up correctly ?

[ausi steve]

If the engine is not running there for the alternator will not be charging, when the side/tail lights are switched on they will operate at battery voltage eg approx 11.5 volts. when the main/headlights are switched on the battery voltage will further drop,there by all the lights will dim. However if this happens with the alt charging I would suggest it may be an earth problem. On my car there are many earth points and after being subjected to the UK conditions before I bought it, there is rust & corrosion on all the earth points, so ensure all these earth connections are clean & tight.
The battery volt meter should be connected to an ignition switch controlled circuit as should the electrically operated gauges but these should have a voltage stabiliser in the circuit between the ign source & the gauges.
On my car the electrical wiring behind the dash is a mess to look at but take the time with a circuit test light and or voltmeter,there is nothing terribly technical as per a modern car.