SNAIL Forum Index SNAIL
☠ Vintage School 2CV
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Electrical fault

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    SNAIL Forum Index -> Technic
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
Dowsabella
Snailer


Joined: 29 May 2011
Posts: 24

PostPosted: Mon Oct 15, 2012 9:28 pm    Post subject: Electrical fault Reply with quote

I have an intermittent electrical fault, and was wondering if anyone could shed some light on it so that we know what to look for.

When I indicate, my car stops. To be more precise, I think the electrics cut out, as the wipers stop too. It doesn't happen every time I indicate, and is most likely to happen shortly after starting. Today I forgot to turn the indicator off when she stopped, and she wouldn't start again. She was turning over, but wouldn't start until I'd turned the indicator off.

I'm currently 6 months pregnant, so ferreting round under the bonnet isn't terribly easy. If anyone has any idea what might be going on, it'll be very helpful (and save me ferreting for quite so long)

Thanks
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
brammie
Dropped


Joined: 25 Jan 2011
Posts: 159
Location: holland

PostPosted: Mon Oct 15, 2012 10:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I like ferrets Wink

you're not the only one with this problem
http://forum.2cv.nl/viewtopic.php?t=11944&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
they haven't found the solution yet
but I let you know as soon as they do
_________________
https://picasaweb.google.com/bram.martsen
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Dowsabella
Snailer


Joined: 29 May 2011
Posts: 24

PostPosted: Mon Oct 15, 2012 11:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Well, if nothing else, Google's translation gave us a good giggle!

It could be the 'not good soil' I suppose.

She was a bit sluggish starting today, so I wonder if maybe it's the battery, and the extra pull of the indicator light is enough to tip it over the edge.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
dyanut
Dropped


Joined: 05 Aug 2007
Posts: 177
Location: North Yorkshire

PostPosted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 9:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dowsabella,
it's probably one of the wires for the front indicators shorting out onto the hot engine manifold, between the light bar and the wing.
For some reason, it's most often the nearside at fault.
You should get this checked and fixed sooner rather than later, before the loom is damaged, or worse... Crying or Very sad

Here's one where the dealer/vendor thinks it's OK to have a plug lead resting on the manifold. Rolling Eyes
http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt48/chrishew85/IMAG0016-1.jpg
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380485053423&ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:GB:1123#ht_14768wt_1026

Ken
Also get the fuses checked, there should be 3 ( or 4) of 10 amps capacity and 1 of 16 amps, any rated higher than that should be replaced
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Dowsabella
Snailer


Joined: 29 May 2011
Posts: 24

PostPosted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 10:06 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks Ken. We'll take a look this weekend.

Unfortunately I know exactly what happens when there's an electrical fault that doesn't get sorted in time - a visit from the nice friendly firemen, followed by new roof, new wiring, new steering wheel, new mats, new paint on the front of the car...in fact, there were 2 pages of parts on my garage receipt Shocked I wasn't even driving at the time - she was parked up at a friend's house.

I have a battery switch fitted (after an attempted theft) and I always turn it off, so hopefully that will prevent any more night-time dramas.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
dyanut
Dropped


Joined: 05 Aug 2007
Posts: 177
Location: North Yorkshire

PostPosted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 4:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Dowsabella,
leaving it to the weekend might be too late, if you're continuing to use the car.
The fact that the wipers stop or slow down confirms that the indicator is shorting to earth and also that the rating of the fuse is too high, as it should have blown by now.
It should only take a few moments to check for this fault and avoid another 'meltdown'...

Ken
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Dowsabella
Snailer


Joined: 29 May 2011
Posts: 24

PostPosted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 4:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Ken

Thanks for the warning.

I only have one more trip to make in her before the weekend - half a mile to collect sprog no.1. The weather's quite nice though, so I may see if sprog no.2 will stay out of my lungs long enough for me to walk!!

I think I'll leave her all switched off until the weekend, when I've got a bit of help.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Dowsabella
Snailer


Joined: 29 May 2011
Posts: 24

PostPosted: Sun Oct 21, 2012 2:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Battery is fine. Alternator is fine. Indicator wiring is fine. And today she's working fine.

Mystery still not solved, but at least she's probably not going to catch fire again.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Dowsabella
Snailer


Joined: 29 May 2011
Posts: 24

PostPosted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 3:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It happened again, so I thought I'd record the details in case it gives any clues.

First drive of the day. It's was grey, misty and drizzly.
Sprog 1 had a play with the steering wheel before being deposited in his car seat.
Car started fine.
Lights on, wipers on, heating on.
Indicated to pull away. Got to the end of the road. Indicated to turn left. Got to the end of the road. Indicated to turn left. Got to the roundabout, and she stopped when I indicated left.

I didn't indicate again until we got to our destination. I dropped Sprog 1 at the childminder's, got back in to my car, and she was fine for the rest of the day.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
brammie
Dropped


Joined: 25 Jan 2011
Posts: 159
Location: holland

PostPosted: Thu Oct 25, 2012 7:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

heating on?? Shocked
_________________
https://picasaweb.google.com/bram.martsen
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Dowsabella
Snailer


Joined: 29 May 2011
Posts: 24

PostPosted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 9:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Alas my heating is broken, so it's set to 'hot' all year round. That's fine in winter, but not so great in summer!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
breninfrance
Dropped


Joined: 16 Jan 2012
Posts: 166

PostPosted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 7:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think what he meant was how would the heating affect the electrics?

the heater system uses no electrikery,so cannot be the fault Wink

electrical problems are a nightmare to trace, so it's nigh on impossible to do like this Sad sorry
_________________
if it aint broke, fix it till it is
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
brammie
Dropped


Joined: 25 Jan 2011
Posts: 159
Location: holland

PostPosted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 11:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

check all your grounds
and check all youre wiring
that's all we can say

maybe youre indicatorwire burnt on the exaust
_________________
https://picasaweb.google.com/bram.martsen
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
Dowsabella
Snailer


Joined: 29 May 2011
Posts: 24

PostPosted: Sun Nov 04, 2012 1:16 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

breninfrance - I just wanted to give all possible info, in case someone else had had similar.

We've just had an MOT failure anyway, so she'll be in the garage next week (I'm now far too whale-like to even think about changing my brake pads). I might ask them to have a quick poke around. It wasn't as bad a failure as I'd expected - non-working lights which I knew about, brake pads, and excessive CO emissions.

It seems more common in wet/damp weather, so I suspect a dodgy wire somewhere too. It does explain why it doesn't happen when my car's been running for a while, as the heat will have dried out things under the bonnet (hopefully).
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    SNAIL Forum Index -> Technic All times are GMT + 2 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group. Hosted by phpBB.BizHat.com