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Odd electrical gremlins

pauljmcnulty

pauljmcnulty

Active member
Ok, VJ is due for her annual physical shortly so it can wait, but tonight I've had 2 strange electrical faults.

Firstly, the fan stays on. Sure, I know it's the sensor in the rad and it happened before back in the Spring, but I pulled the relay to stop it and it was very hot. Not too hot to handle, but I guess as hot as a domestic radiator. Is it worth changing it before trying anything more complicated?

More frightening, on an unlit country road at "entertaining" speed, I pushed the indicator stalk forward for full beam. And all the lights went out. [:eek:] The full beam came on after about a second, but there were some mutterings from the passenger seat! Pulling it back is fine, and after several goes (I guess a dozen on'off cycles over a few miles) it seemed to correct itself, or at least the "lights off" was almost intstant. It almost seemed as if there was moisture somewhere, and it dried itself out gradually, if that makes sense?

Any ideas? [&:]


 
Your lights could be signs that your voltage regulator might be on its way out. I had several very strange electrical effects when mine was failing which included all the lighting going super bright with the voltmeter going off the scale only being cured by me fiddling with the stalk, and i'm sure on a couple of occasions I lost lights altogether. I eventually got a whole used alternator (the voltage reg is attached on the back of the alternator) from the breakers and all has been fine since.
 
Our S2 started behaving exactly the same regarding the lights going off when I indicated or went for main beam. I guessed it would be a bad wire to the popup headlights, but when I took it in to Promax for rewiring they diagnosed the actual indicator stalk and swapped it with a good one. Perfect ever since
 
ORIGINAL: pauljmcnulty
I pushed the indicator stalk forward for full beam. And all the lights went out. [:eek:]
Click to expand...
When this happened to me, I got some electrical contact cleaner spray, sprayed some into the base of the stalk and operated the switch a few times, which cured it.
 
When this happened to me, I got some electrical contact cleaner spray, sprayed some into the base of the stalk and operated the switch a few times, which cured it.
Click to expand...

That's my plan to start with, it's a cheap option...[&:]. The car does sit for weeks, sometimes, and builds up the usual amount of moisture inside. It makes sense that the contacts build up a bit of oxidisation.

The other question, would a very hot fan relay be pointing to the relay itself, or just because the fan's been on for about 2 hours on the journey and therefore a current is running through it permanently?
 
..........so I search under "Beam" for a lead on why changing from dip to full Beam is making the rev counter blip and the Volt guage jump erratically, and find you all have the problem too.

I will start with a clean up of the Switch, but Scotts suggestion of a faulty voltage regulator intrigues me. I fitted an adjustable regulator some years ago. I may change back ...and lose the marginally improved electrical output.

George

944T
964
 
Hate to be the bearer of bad news but I am with Mr Smith on the lights out scenario. My previous car had exactly the same problem and after alot of faffing about trying other cures which did nothing (permanently at least), it ended up with a new stalk assembly which cured it for good. Not cheap though generally preferable to making discrete progress down a twisty B road and suddenly finding yourself navigating only by the light of the stars... [&:]
 
Paul, if its a series two car then the fan problem is more than likely caused by the relay. This happened with my old CS (when it was still quite new): a new relay and a new battery fixed it. My discharged battery sulficated in the week before I noticed, so I doubt that thisll apply to you.

Simon
 
Hi Paul
Id say both problems are related to the car not being in use for long periods. As the lads said try the contact cleaner in the stalk first.... As for the fan - my rad switch jammed on and left me with a flat battery. Didnt realise the fans were running due to the noise of the vintage show I was at. .. When I got home I pulled the relay and it was hot. I let her cool down and checked to ground at the relay base. Cant right remeber which terminals they were . ( N23 and N34 seem to ring a bell [&:]) This saved me pulling and dragging at the rad itself..... If it works out ok then its a jammed contact on the relay....!
 
I'd disagree on the relay. Not to the extent that I don't think it could be the cause, but the swtich in my experience is the more likely cause by some margin, unless the relay is extra-suspect through being warm which I don't think is the implication.

It's been the switch both times I have had a fan staying on, but I can also recall a good numbe of other people who have had the same issue that has been the switch and I don't know that it has ever been the relay when people have posted the question. The relay is a lot more expensive than the switch or it would be worth a try first as it's an easier part to fit I guess.
 
Updated to add that now I've got the speedo and econo-meter flickering around like crazy!

The speedo is no problem, I've got a tom-tom and the mileage will be staying low. [&:]

But how do I drive for maximum fuel efficiancy without an accurate econo-meter! [8|]

So, for it's service next month it's blower-speed resistor, temp sender, clean all contacts in instrument binnacle and indicator stalk.....I think that'll be the "electrical faults" faq written, then. [&o]

Good news though! Whilst driving, or should I say aquaplaning, through the downpour this morning I discovered I've got a third wiper speed! This is a bit like finding the number 11 on a Marshall stack, and at least the wipers are working......
 
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