Dodgy electrics
Discussion
Now then, the button on the door knob has stopped working, the left-hand cooling fan has stopped working and the parking brake light stays on all the time.
Has my 1995 Chimaera 4.0 decided to take the law into its own hands or is there some common thread (wire?) here?
Help appreciated.
Has my 1995 Chimaera 4.0 decided to take the law into its own hands or is there some common thread (wire?) here?
Help appreciated.
Strange that the fan is involved. You mmay have two separate probs.
I'd guess the switch for the handbrake light is located close to the door knob, so they might well share a common earth wire or earthing point.
If one fan is running but not the other, I'd guess that was a fault specific to that fan and its circuit. From other threads I gather the connectors from the loom to the fan are liable to corrosion. If that looks okay it could be the fan's relay (I assume the fans have a relay each as they are switching big currents). If you've got a multimeter you could check for power reaching the fan's connector by shorting out the thermostatic switch that kicks the fans in.
I'd guess the switch for the handbrake light is located close to the door knob, so they might well share a common earth wire or earthing point.
If one fan is running but not the other, I'd guess that was a fault specific to that fan and its circuit. From other threads I gather the connectors from the loom to the fan are liable to corrosion. If that looks okay it could be the fan's relay (I assume the fans have a relay each as they are switching big currents). If you've got a multimeter you could check for power reaching the fan's connector by shorting out the thermostatic switch that kicks the fans in.
OK, done that, now clean again.
Juice is reaching the fan's connector but still no fan. I put the ohmmeter across the fan side of the connector and it's an open circuit -- which shouldn't be the case for an electric motor, unless the relay is embedded in the fan housing.
Is this a fan out job? And if so, how do I get to the bottom bolt which I assume is what's holding the damned thing in?
Any ideas anyone? TIA
Juice is reaching the fan's connector but still no fan. I put the ohmmeter across the fan side of the connector and it's an open circuit -- which shouldn't be the case for an electric motor, unless the relay is embedded in the fan housing.
Is this a fan out job? And if so, how do I get to the bottom bolt which I assume is what's holding the damned thing in?
Any ideas anyone? TIA
Sounds like the fan is stuffed. Should only have a resistance of a couple of ohms max. Never tried to take one out so can't offer any tips there. If you do get it out and you can get access to the motor, best bet would be to test its wiring from the connector to the windings, and the state of the brushes. However if you find one of the windings has gone open circuit, then its going be a replacement job.
Apparently it's a brushless motor so the only thing to go wrong, according to Brian at Fernhurst, is a seized bearing. And since the fan will spin if prodded, that's not the problem.
Back to the drawing board. Tomorrow I'll swap the connectors between the two fans and see what difference that makes.
For tonight, it's getting dark-ish and I fancy a beer...
Back to the drawing board. Tomorrow I'll swap the connectors between the two fans and see what difference that makes.
For tonight, it's getting dark-ish and I fancy a beer...
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