Potential earth fault?

[Big Ashy]

Evening all, my Griff developed an intermittent electrical fault last year which wasn't too much of a problem but now it is permanent and is a real pain in the arse
Initially once the cooling fans kicked in this then turned the wipers on and the fans turned barely more than an idle. However now if the dipped beam lights are on or the fans kick in this produces the same scenario and all light and indicators come on but very dim along with the operation of wipers and fans?
I suspect this is due to a bad earth or a dead short somewhere which I'm sure will be difficult to locate, has anybody experienced similar or has any pointers?
Any advice or thoughts would be much appreciated, thanks in advance

[dnb]

Look at the earth point under the radiator on one of chassis bolts. I suspect this is where the gremlins are living (Yes, it does sound like it might be earthing related if you've checked the fusebox for not having had the smoke let out...)

[hillclimbmanic]

Plus 1 to the above answer- classic earth fault, located by the radiator.


Manic

[Steve_D]

Rad will need to come out to get at the bolt but that would be where I would start. Offside bolt.

After that earth point to chassis in back of offside wheel well.

Next earth point on top of transmission tunnel hidden under the carpet roughly in line with the bottom edge of the dash.

Steve

[Big Ashy]

Thanks for your response and advice guys, had a good route round today but couldn't see anything obvious and all looks well and in good order

Could not find the Earth at the bottom of the rad but just read Steves post about the rad removal which is probably why

Was hoping for an easy fix but it appears not........Ahh well, the joys of TVR ownership I suppose, will have another go at it next weekend

Cheers again guys

Edited by Big Ashy on Sunday 3rd April 23:51

[FlipFlopGriff]

Don't think you need to remove the rad. From memory its accessed through the lower mesh panel at the front end. The bolt should be obvious - looking from the front I think its slightly left of centre on the front bottom rail.
FFG

[Hedgehopper]

FlipFlopGriff said:

Don't think you need to remove the rad. From memory its accessed through the lower mesh panel at the front end. The bolt should be obvious - looking from the front I think its slightly left of centre on the front bottom rail.
FFG

You can just see the earth terminal tags in this picture.

[carsy]

I replaced that earth on mine to one of the arb bracket bolts. Keeps the weather off it a bit more.

[Colin RedGriff]

I had this same set of faults and it was the Earth on the front chassis. As has been said you can get to this without removing the rad, you'll need a socket and a long extension. You'll have to lie on the floor and look under the car. Find the bottom chassis rail on the drivers side and follow it forward. The bolt is screwed into a threaded hole in the very end of the rail.

I got mine off and sprayed them with copper grease and once tightened up all was well again.

[Hedgehopper]

Another pic. showing position of bolt in chassis frame.

[Big Ashy]

Evening All,

Managed to get home half handy after work today and with the help and advice as above, as predicted the off side front earth bolt was slack as, not even hand tight

This coupled with the earth tag being against fibreglass and a fairly corroded large washer and bolt was the problem

Earth tag was cleaned up with a wire brush and I've now fitted the earth tag between two shiny new galv washers and used a new M10 bolt torqued to FT which has sorted the problem out, everything now works again as it should

Once again, many thanks to all for help and advice, initially yesterday I was looking in the wrong place on the back side and top of the front cross member, didn't even occur to me it could be on the front face of the cross member

Cheers

BA

[Steve_D]

Big Ashy said:

.......This coupled with the earth tag being against fibreglass and a fairly corroded large washer and bolt was the problem ........

Glad you got it sorted.
It may look like the earth tag is against GF but it is in fact against a brass bush which is built into the layup of the GF body.

Steve