Author Topic: Electrics nightmare  (Read 4524 times)

Offline Brighouse-gti

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Re: Electrics nightmare
« Reply #10 on: 27 May 2015, 22:03 »
Cheers for the voltage stabiliser suggestion sparkplug, I've managed to find a stockist of the component locally so that's going to be my next process of elimination. Just a random thought, if the above doesn't cure it, is it possible that the alternator may be on its way out?... as in it isn't throwing enough power back out to handle all power that is needed to run everything. Running out of ideas!!!

Offline sparkplug

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Re: Electrics nightmare
« Reply #11 on: 28 May 2015, 01:58 »
possible ,  stick a multi meter (about £10 for one) across the battery to see if it's charging
have a look on you tube for how to check it .
good luck
1986 GTI atlas grey

Offline Sgt_Lemon

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Re: Electrics nightmare
« Reply #12 on: 29 May 2015, 23:17 »
Alternator should be putting out 14 ish volts. What clocks do you need, might have a set for you?

Offline Brighouse-gti

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Re: Electrics nightmare
« Reply #13 on: 30 May 2015, 20:04 »
Problem sorted!! To put this thred to bed it appears it was a 'comedy of errors'. When I originally posted, I said that all the instrument cluster was flashing, well it must have been because a few things failed simultaneously as mad as it sounds. So all the problems must have made the instrument cluster have a mental breakdown! To fill you's in. 1 the lights working opposite to each other, Broken earth. (Things discovered today) 2 coolant level sensor was coolant logged, the coolant level sensor must have come slightly loose as coolant was coming up from around the sensor causing it to short. 3 oil pressure sensor (cylinder head) was'nt plugged, cut away at that plastic crap what surrounds the wires to discover where they join another part of the loom the wire had broken, not completly but enough for it not to send a signal back. And the problem with the instrument cluster dieing when the lights were on appears to have cured itself now all the other little problems are now sorted. Wahoo! There is one thing left tho, the suggestion of checking all the earth straps, well I did and I've found one not connected. Its connected to the body just under the scuttle tray on the passenger side, but where does it go to?

Offline gazareth

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Re: Electrics nightmare
« Reply #14 on: 31 May 2015, 20:21 »
you don't really need that earth but since its there you may aswell re-attach it. it goes to one of the cam cover studs.

Offline Brighouse-gti

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Re: Electrics nightmare
« Reply #15 on: 01 June 2015, 17:29 »
No no, not that one that one is attached. As if your standing in front of your car, its literally in the very top right hand corner, almost the exact opposite of where the ECU sits in the top left hand corner. It's attached on the inner wing if you like, but not attached to anything?! Do you know which one I mean?!

Offline gazareth

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Re: Electrics nightmare
« Reply #16 on: 01 June 2015, 17:55 »
ah yes. the one that fastens to the underside of bonnet. no idea what that one is for. its broken on my car to and seems to have zero ill effect on anything. so that is how it will remain :grin:

Offline Sgt_Lemon

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Re: Electrics nightmare
« Reply #17 on: 01 June 2015, 21:02 »
This could be bullsh!t but I have heard before that it's for the radio antenna. Might work by making the bonnet into a sort of faraday cage to to stop the HIRF signals from the ht circuit messing with any unshelled end sections of the radio.

Offline gazareth

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Re: Electrics nightmare
« Reply #18 on: 01 June 2015, 21:46 »
you could be right sgt. but I have no idea what you mean :grin:

Offline Thom89

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Re: Electrics nightmare
« Reply #19 on: 02 June 2015, 00:15 »
He means that the earth strap that connects the body shell to the bonnet, is there to stop radio interference generated by the cars ignition system, wiper motor etc bleeding through to the radio speakers and creating a dismal droning, not so much on FM, but MW and LW tend to suffer the most

Thom