Couple of minor fixes.. but where to begin??

[jayse]

Only got my car last wednesday.. already spotted a couple of things that don't work, Usual couple of bulbs blown.. so had them changed...
but there are a couple of others, that I'm sure would be MOT failures.. a little help would be much appreciated as to where to start to sort these out..

1) main beam flash not working, had a look at the fuses and they seem fine.

2) windscreen washer (off the stalk) doesn't work.. Have noticed that the pipe near the bonnet hinge has been cut, but I don't hear the motor or anything when pulling the stalk. The wipers do come on though. Possibily strangely... The intensive wash thing (button next to the speedo) that sounds like it's working as I can hear a whine of a motor, but I believe there is a another water bottle for this? is that correct, if so, where is it?

Thanks

Jayse

 

[nathan 1981 930 G50]

1) Might be a relay. Probably is the stalk though, they are quite weak. I have tweaked mine in the past succesfully.

2) Again, might be the stalk. I have had to tweak this one too but not due to the washers. IIRC the top up for the intensive is in the luggage compartment, possibly close to the passenger compartment. My early 3.2 doesn't have an extra system which is why I am not really sure on your '89.

 

[zwhitea]

1) If the main beam works but the flash doesn't I expect it is just the contact on the switch which just needs a clean, with some very very very fine wet & dry or something similar... should be able to see the contact without taking anything apart.

2) Intensive wash (one mine) is located inside the luggage bay, next to where the fuel filler enters the car.. Not really that much bigger than the brake reservoir.
The main washer bottle sits inside the front passenger side wing, and has 2 pumps.. One for the Lights and the other for the windscreen... Can't remeber which is which but there is one intengal to the reservoir right at the bottom (think this is for the lights..?) and I have another which is inside the luggage bay next to the battery... I would check these with metre, and clean up ALL your fuses..

Regards Adam.

 

[Gary C]

If you clean the contact, unless its badly pitted already, dont use wet & dry. Most contacts are coated and while a rub with wet & dry will work, the copper thats exposed then pits easily and you will be back to square 1. Try paper, its slightly abrasive and removes arcing deposits quite well (often clean contacts at work like this).

 

[jayse]

thanks for the responses... Took a stab at it over the weekend given the fine weather...

On the main beam, it works is the full on position (stalk pushed back towards the instrument cluster), so your ideas of a poor contact when pulling it towards the steering wheel to flash seem bang on.. I'm quite relieved at this point as I was worring that I'd have to start following the wiring...

As for the washer, beginning to suspect the contact for the stalk in the steering column as well.. will have to take a closer look at it when I next have time.

Thanks again everyone.

 

[nathan 1981 930 G50]

My contacts have always just needed tweaking (bending), never cleaning.

 

[Big_nige]

check the pump first as they mainly fail, rather than the stalk, its the one next to the battery, you can test it easily by using some leads straight form the battery, £30 to replace, I got mine form my local car spares as the pump is the same that's used on Mercs and Volvos. Also, on both my Carrera and 912 the water resevoir in the front wing needed removing and flushing out as the water in the bottom turns to jelly over time, guess its screen wash that gets added, it blocks the water pickup, therefore putting pressure on the pump and it fails. If you remove it also jet wash the wing out around the headlamp bowl and treat any rust whilst your in there. Its a pain in the ass to remove as the fixings are usually very rusty.

Also use a needle to clean out the nozzles as they'll probably be blocked as well.