Electrical issues

Is there anyone local to Newcastle upon Tyne who would be willing to help me sort my electrics out.?!

As most of you will recall I've been experiencing some real issues with the electrics on my 90 300TDI. Thankfully other than my horn stopping working last week everything has been pretty much tickety boo. Until today that was!!!

Ok....when I first set off this morning I noticed that my nearside indicator was flashing rapidly, not a problem I thought to myself its most probably a short or blown bulb - I pulled over and took with me a spare bulb. Righty ho both front and side repeaters were flashing but nothing at the rear so I set about removing the bulb but as soon as I touched the connection is started, yup it then promptly stopped and could I bugger get it working once more. The bulb was fine and the multimeter proved there was good continuity and as I was away from home I decided to fix it once I had returned home and for the time being continue with my journey. Around 8 miles later I noticed that almost everything had suddenly stopped working, I'd lost both my fuel and Temp gauges as well as all my indicators including warning lights. Both my dip and main beam continued to work!!!

Seriously chaps I'm at a loss, I've checked all the earth and made sure that they all have a solid clean connection, the fuse's are are all ok - Can anyone help me with this.?! It's becoming a real worry.

Thanks guys

It could be the whole indicator light, not the bulb but the socket. They corrode and cause a whole set of problems of their own.

I got so fed up nursing them I took the lot out and fitted LEDs

It's more I've lost both fuel and temp gauges as well as the indicators that's worrying me!

landyfox, a quick suggestion then I'll shut up.

I had issues such as temp gauge going crazy, radio cutting out, headlights blowing, etc. it wasn't until I bought a new set of jump leads that I though, why don't I try using a jump lead to create new temporary earth between various bits and see how that changes anything. for example, I clamped one end on a transfer box bolt and the other end to a bolt on the front bulkhead, etc. it turned out that my front bulkhead wasn't earthed, problem solved, then i could buy a new earth strap and fit it. jump leads are long enough to get most/some of the way round the car and easy enough to make contact on a bolt,etc.

tho maybe uv done his already?

good luck and keep going! electrics is like maths, just be logical and there's always a solution

second that! If loads of stuff is going mental is usually an earth job, and excatly what will be a sod to discover. Jump lead and try different bits to earth to, rear x member, engine gear box and anywhere you can think of to try on the body. Mine was fine till I went at it with underseal, I think it was just to water lying between panels that provided and earth at all!

OxonLandy said:

landyfox, a quick suggestion then I'll shut up.

I had issues such as temp gauge going crazy, radio cutting out, headlights blowing, etc. it wasn't until I bought a new set of jump leads that I though, why don't I try using a jump lead to create new temporary earth between various bits and see how that changes anything. for example, I clamped one end on a transfer box bolt and the other end to a bolt on the front bulkhead, etc. it turned out that my front bulkhead wasn't earthed, problem solved, then i could buy a new earth strap and fit it. jump leads are long enough to get most/some of the way round the car and easy enough to make contact on a bolt,etc.

tho maybe uv done his already?

good luck and keep going! electrics is like maths, just be logical and there's always a solution

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sounds a very sensible suggestion

OxonLandy said:

landyfox, a quick suggestion then I'll shut up.

I had issues such as temp gauge going crazy, radio cutting out, headlights blowing, etc. it wasn't until I bought a new set of jump leads that I though, why don't I try using a jump lead to create new temporary earth between various bits and see how that changes anything. for example, I clamped one end on a transfer box bolt and the other end to a bolt on the front bulkhead, etc. it turned out that my front bulkhead wasn't earthed, problem solved, then i could buy a new earth strap and fit it. jump leads are long enough to get most/some of the way round the car and easy enough to make contact on a bolt,etc.

tho maybe uv done his already?

good luck and keep going! electrics is like maths, just be logical and there's always a solution

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Fantastic idea and well done that man!

I have one obvious earth on the engine side of bulkhead and although it appears to be a solid clean connection the wire does appear rather slight.

There is a single black earth wire that comes from behind the instrument panel and connects to the window hinge.

I then have the main earth which goes from the battery direct to the transfer box.

On the opposite side of the transfer box I have two further two slim black earth wires.

The above are all very solid clean connections, that said I'm going to give the above advice ago. Is anyone else able to suggest what each of those earth described above are for and where I may expect to locate further earths.

Where would I expect to locate the earth wire for the fuel and temp gauges.

mine seem to meet on a tag on the let hand side of the instrument binacle where the heater speed switch is. But I also ran one from inside the bonnet just behind the clutch master to the one in the driver seatbox for the ecu (its a TD5) and from there theres one that goes direct to the battery. At least there is on mine.There should also be a flat braided strap between the engine and chassis and another between the gearbox and body. They seem to go awol with rust and off-road activities

I had all sorts of wierd problems after I last replaced the gearbox. Horn wouldn't work when the lights were on, radio turned off when I turned on the wipers, washer worked on minute and not the next.

I'd forgotten to put the earth between my gearbox and the body back on. Mine has one big battery lead from the battery to the gearbox and another, the same size, between the gearbox and the battery box.

Don't forget your engine and gearbox are mounted on rubber mounts so you need to get a good earth from the battery to the body and chassis.

Bugger...I wonder if this is my problem.?! I have no obvious earth between the gearbox and chassis/body, neither is there any obvious earth between the body and the engine. Even more concerning the main earth lead goes directly from the battery to the transferbox and does not appear to connect to the chassis.

sounds like uv found ur problem then . get some jump leads or other type of temporary earths sorted and see if any of the problems disappear

Nope nothing, I'm still head scratching!!!

There should be a line from the engine to the chassis ,on mine its near the nearside engine mount.

Landyfox said:

Nope nothing, I'm still head scratching!!!

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If you don't have the earth, add one.

Kev@kenninghall said:

If you don't have the earth, add one.

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That was today's job! I'm now just lost with no idea what to do next. Electrics is my nemesis

Landyfox said:

That was today's job! I'm now just lost with no idea what to do next. Electrics is my nemesis

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Did it help?

sp00k said:

Did it help?

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Nope
Sp00ks do you have any ideas what to look for next.?!

have you checked fuses on front passenger side footwell above starter, have you power to main brown wire on rear of ignition switch, then white when ignition is on

jamesmartin said:

have you checked fuses on front passenger side footwell above starter

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No, I wasn't aware they were there - What are these fuses for. Ill do this first thing tomorrow morning once I get back from hospital.

jamesmartin said:

have you power to main brown wire on rear of ignition switch, then white when ignition is on

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If I'm honest I'm not sure, how would I test this...just using the voltmeter as normal.?!

Thanks James