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Feb 16, 2005 16:02:58 GMT
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One of the jobs I've got to sort on my Golf before it goes for MOT is the intermittant n/s/f indicator. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't... It'll be fine for a couple of days, then not work for weeks. Obviously, I have managed to deduct that it's not the bulb, and the holder looks OK to me. Now, I am terrible with car electronics. I've got access to something that looks like this: only it's got more knobs on it. How do I use it? I'm guessing that there's a break in a wire / dodgy earth / bad connection somewhere. But I haven't got a clue how to go about finding it. Help! What should I expect to see on the display? What should I have all the various knobs set to? I knew I should've listened more in Physics lessons at school ;D
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Feb 16, 2005 16:12:54 GMT
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Darren - you n me, same boat mate! My windscreen wipers work - to the degree that if u put them on intermittant they are on normal speed. Unless you put the lights on main beam, or use the washers in which case they pause ... and then go to working intermitantly. If i put them on normal then they just blow the fuse. Ive got the MoT coming up and ive got an electrical problem to sort, me thinks. Have u looked at a wiring diagram for a golf. NIGHTMARE!! I had a good study last night, it seems most things earth against the body so i am going to check all connections are clean first. Then i will scratch my head. I'm supposed to be wiring my new engine in the bike this weekend too. Bets on how far i will get........ ;D
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Feb 16, 2005 16:14:36 GMT
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My windscreen wipers work - to the degree that if u put them on intermittant they are on normal speed. Unless you put the lights on main beam, or use the washers in which case they pause ... and then go to working intermitantly. If i put them on normal then they just blow the fuse.;D Now you get to feel what its like to own an Italian car,.. except without the thrilling driving experiance
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Feb 16, 2005 16:15:35 GMT
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Before you try that, have a look on www.onboarddiagnostics.co.uk it's packed with electrical faults and has a useful forum. I just fould loads of useful fixes for my wife's dodgy escort Mk6. Failing that, test for 12V at the bulb end of the wire by clicking your tester round to 12v AC, touch the ground (black) lead to a good earth point and the red one to the bulbs supply. Usually, electrical faults are just a bad earth. Clean any contacts and use petroleum jelly (vaseline) on them.
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Peugeot 307sw - Suzuki SV650S - MX5.
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Feb 16, 2005 16:16:04 GMT
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Now you get to feel what its like to own an Italian car,.. except without the thrilling driving experiance without I'll take my thrilling driving experience with some germanic engineering and reliability (yeah yeah most of the time) thanks ;D
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Feb 16, 2005 16:17:57 GMT
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i started to write a long thing on how to use them and then realised, with my degree in computer engineering, working as a computer technician, that i don't have a clue basically put your black wire on a good earth and keep prodding the red wire, with the multimeter set to a 20v DC range, against things that should be live - eg the indicator fuse, the back of the bulb holder etc. you should find suddenly things stop going live, eg if the wires at the back of the bulb holder goes 0v - 12v - 0v in time with the relay, and the bulb isn't lighting, it's the bulb or holder. you can also use it in continuity mode - and then it'll beep when there's a path between the two probes, eg put one on either side of the fuse holder to see if it's making contact with the fuse (with the fuse in, and the indicators off!) if i've learned one thing from electrics, it's don't detatch wires without writing down where they came from.
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Never trust a man Who names himself Trevor. Or one day you might find He's not a real drug dealer.
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Feb 16, 2005 16:22:12 GMT
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without Don't make me school you again on the girlieness of your big pink flowery VWs and Audis, vs. the high speed, hairy, man sweat of Fiat, Alfas and Lancias.
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Feb 16, 2005 16:27:18 GMT
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Usually, electrical faults are just a bad earth. thats what I'm banking on, cos thats about as far as my electrical ability goes!! gonna check out that website now though, cheers!
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Feb 16, 2005 16:44:01 GMT
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Cool...
If the weather is dry etc I'll have a play about with it tomorrow. If I don't electrocute myself too badly I'll report my findings!
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Feb 16, 2005 16:44:46 GMT
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multimeter set to a 20v DC range Oops, Pillock is probably right with the DC thing. I'm just thinking that cars are AC as they have alternators (alternating current) but I'm not sure. Can anyone correct me for sure please!
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Peugeot 307sw - Suzuki SV650S - MX5.
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Feb 16, 2005 17:37:07 GMT
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Yeah it's DC you want, most if not all cars now are negative-earth 12v DC.
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Never trust a man Who names himself Trevor. Or one day you might find He's not a real drug dealer.
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Feb 16, 2005 23:59:42 GMT
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Car electrics has got to be the worst job ever.
Whoever built my abarth rep decided to remove the wiring for the hazard warning lights.The switch is there,but nothing to connect it to! Thats all it needs for the mot with a bit of luck. Its gunna be a dashboard out job to see whats left of the loom. Funny how he's left the ariel wire in the car though. Just what you need in a competition car! Maybe he thought the only way to make italian electrics better was to take them out!
He's proberbly right! ;D ;D
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intermitant wipe ? relay #19, try another relay from the scrappy, don't buy one IIRC they're £20+ you could just have corroded terminals on the relay, or dicky stalks.
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SkoCan
Posted a lot
Quando omni flunkus, mortati
Posts: 1,916
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Car electrics has got to be the worst job ever. Really? I rather enjoy it. 'Course, I used to be an electritian and electric motor rebuilder. ;D
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Car electrics has got to be the worst job ever. Have you never scraped off underseal or fitted a headlining?
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intermitant wipe ? relay #19, try another relay from the scrappy, don't buy one IIRC they're £20+ you could just have corroded terminals on the relay, or dicky stalks. I'm pleased you said that, i was looking at my haynes manual last night and decided to get a new relay so i can eleminate it from the list of possible problems
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