Curious electrics

[DCerebrate]

Hi guys
Has anyone come across something similar to this?
For some time wiper functions have been inconsistent as to whether they will work or not (park function is fine).
Now on the other side of the steering wheel, the main beam does not work consistently - nor will it switch off. Sometimes it will work - more likely when the car is warmed up. And here is the really weird bit. I have discovered that if I need to turn main beam off I can press the horn and then it will work!
So, is this more likely to be ribbon cable, electrical connections or ECU? And will the issue with the wiper functions be related or a red herring?!
Thanks in advance

[Jimm218]

Sounds like the ribbon cable to me. Have fun with that and don't smack yourself in the face with the steering wheel!

[gruffalo]

Jimm218 said:

Sounds like the ribbon cable to me. Have fun with that and don't smack yourself in the face with the steering wheel!

Another vote for the ribbon cable.

[GT6k]

Exactly the symptoms mine had when the cable had chaffed through. This was at the bend next to the connector and it would be relatively easy to cut the damaged section and replace the connector as there is plenty of length in the ribbon.

[DCerebrate]

Great, this is getting looked at next Wed so will report back. Sadly I lack the skills to tackle this myself - without causing more damage and losing a pint of blood!

[FarmyardPants]

The wires leading from the steering wheel buttons are gathered up in the steering wheel hub (accessed by removing the Allen bolts), they can chafe through with the rotation of the wheel. Worth a look if the ribbon cable is ok.

[DCerebrate]

Ok, so the electrics have been tested and typically, the Cerbera being one of these live animals that self-heal, everything was working! But, by a process of exclusion, I have ordered up the lower ribbon cable as I had replaced the upper and I had seen just how brittle 20 year old ribbon cable can be. Will try to get it fitted within the next week, here’s hoping......

[Revvit]

Sod’s law, MOT time; wipers and indicators stop working.

Next stop = ribbon cable unless anyone has any other ideas?

Has anyone sourced a more flexible/durable cable?

[Penelope Stopit]

With fault on vehicle, use multimeter to check circuits through

[Byker28i]

Revvit said:

Sod’s law, MOT time; wipers and indicators stop working.

Next stop = ribbon cable unless anyone has any other ideas?

Has anyone sourced a more flexible/durable cable?

Cable on mine snapped right at the plug, around the centre hub. Symptoms were intermittent on lights, wiper horn etc. Then they stopped working all together the day before going to Le Mans so spent the week with no wipers.

I took the plug apart, cut the cable past the break, sanded it to expose the bare tracks, then soldered it. When I put it back together I used some double sided tape around the hub to hold it.

[DCerebrate]

Turns out that the next stage of the ribbon cable, after the coiled section that simply takes up the slack from turning the wheel, was somehow nipped by something. New section in and the lights / wipers are working fine. Photo of old cable attached.

[Penelope Stopit]

Nicely done

[amazon]

Pleased to hear that you got it fixed without too much hassle. Mine is doing exactly the same! Might be a good idea to keep an eye on the switching boxes in the boot too, because I had some burnt out connectors too, on the dim/dip control box and another.