Dull, dull, dull Renault Espace auto electrical problem..

[cmn123]

Hi,

my name is Mark and I am a lurker.
I am possibly a record breaking lurker. is there a prize?

I knew where my life would go if I ever stopped lurking and posted....too late now though.

So - start off with a dull, dull subject ( unless you too have a dead espace on the drive...)

I have an 1998 auto espace with an initally intermittent, now totally bust multi-switch ( starter inhibitor switch..) on the gearbox.
In their near infinite wisdom Renault hardwired the switch into the loom. They do not offer a replacement unit and I can't find a used one.
A full loom costs 1200 notes as it must contain a number of other hardwired sensors..
Obviously £1200 is not really a viable option.

They do however offer a close "it might fit no warrantee" replacement for a slighly later model which terminates in a plug. I have aquired a new one for £60.
The trouble is that while the switch looks identical it has 6 wires coming out of it rather than 7 in my original.
The Dialogys manual ( do renault garages use that software for a living? Blimey...) implies this later one can be grafted on to the loom leaving an unused black wire.

I take that to imply the switch should have a spare black wire which I can ignore.
Sadly If I match up the colours then I am left with a spare white on my loom.

So - close but no cigar.

I got no help from the stealer - Does anyone here have any ideas?


cheers

Mark

[cmn123]

Boy that was quiet!

Anyway - an update...I can tell you all want to know.

I just took apart the old switch with a hand axe, as it was closer at hand than my angle grinder.
Definitely not a user servicable component. Less so now.

half way through I noticed the white wire was slightly different to the others. slightly thinner - more flexible with fibres sticking out of the middle.
So I dissected it and it does not have a copper core. Not even a very thin one.
ie it is not a wire. I must be something the 6 wires are spiral wound around to make an unstressed loom.

Moral of the story: If dealing with sensors for auto computers use a hand axe.

Tempted to change my username to "Dork" if it isnt taken....

Thanks anyway

[steve_d]

So does it all work now?

Steve

[cmn123]

Don't know yet I am afraid.

It isn't that convenient to get at in order to solder it back in - and it was getting dark.
I might get an opportunity tomorrow.

There is of course the chance that the problem was somewhere else anyway.
Dreadful electrics on this car. Previous owner left the removable sunroof in the boot for a rainy day which doesnt help.

[Pigeon]

Find which two wires do the starter inhibit function and connect them together. Then just remember you can now start it in any gear.

[cmn123]

Yes "bodge" was my first thing that came into my mind when they said "£1200".
I am not the only driver though, so it is a touch dangerous.
Excellent last resort though.

[steve_d]

You could wire it to a latching relay such that you have to consciously press a button before it will allow you to start.

Steve

[cmn123]

When the problem was intermitent I was going to wire in a push-to-make override switch. So if the real switch didnt work properly - and you were sure you were in park - and you had double checked you were in park - you could hold the switch down and start the car. Hopefully a bit of shaking and vibration while driving would make it work again next time. In the end it stopped messing about a couple of months ago, and ran perfectly for a couple of thousand miles - then got very very dodgy very quickly, so I decided to fix it properly instead.

But I digress!

After a fantastic day at Bovington I got out some flood lights so I could see and wired up the new switch. It turned out to be too much of a pain to solder the connections. I dont have enough hands that could reach to such an inconvenient place, so I crimped on some spades instead.

I gave it a try and it started first time.
I took it for a quick run and it only starts in park, it changes up through the gears, locks in lower gears, reversing light works. I can't think of anything else that should, or should not, happen in relation to this switch.

So major league success and a saving of £1150 plus labour over Renaults not so cunning plan.

I just need to keep out of the global warming and bargain barge threads and get on with some work now.....


Thanks for the interest.