curious problem

An alchemy of sparks, copper wire and earth

Moderators: User administrators, Moderators

Locked
welldonejack
Registered user
Posts: 5
Joined: 28 Aug 2010, 12:47
80-90 Mem No: 8734
Location: Leatherhead, Surrey

curious problem

Post by welldonejack »

ok, so something rather strange hapened the other day...

went out and when i came back i could hear clicking coming from my camper (1985 Aircooled). a mechanic once told me this clicking was the electric fuel pump. i hear it every time i start the engine. which is fine except i hadnt been near the camper for at least an hour. the keys werent even in the ignition.
i put the keys in and started her up. on doing this i discovered that the indicator light on the dash was just permanantly on. the indicators had stopped working and also the hazards. also the clock had stopped working. i let her run for about 15 mins to let the engine warm up before i turned her off. on turning her off, i discovered i couldnt turn her off! i even took the keys out and her engine was still running.
as i went to try and find my haynes manuel ,my friend, very slowly, turned the key to the off position and this cut the engine off. phew!

whats going on? i checked the fuse box and of a possible 12 positions, only 8 actually have fuses in them. the one for the indicators doesnt have one in at all! could it have fallen out? it is exposed when you open the glove box. im not sure. dont know anything about electrics. can anyone help?!


Ralf85
Registered user
Posts: 4447
Joined: 13 Jan 2010, 12:42
80-90 Mem No: 4418
Location: West London - 1985 westie pop top, LHD, 1900 DF engine

Re: curious problem

Post by Ralf85 »

From your description including lack of fuses it sounds like the previous owner(s) have been playing around with your electrics. So it sounds very dodgy and difficult to say what is specifically wrong. My gut feeling is under these circumstances you need to get a specialist involved.
Patrick

User avatar
1664
Registered user
Posts: 8746
Joined: 30 Mar 2006, 15:20
80-90 Mem No: 3299
Location: Coventry Member

Re: curious problem

Post by 1664 »

can't help with the specific problems but here's a list of the fuses for early and later vehicle electrics http://www.brick-yard.co.uk/VehicleSpec ... /fuses.htm

and here's the early and late vehicle relays http://www.brick-yard.co.uk/VehicleSpec ... /relay.htm

might help point you in the right direction. Wouldn't hurt just to clean the earth 'crowns' as corrosion can cause all sorts of problems. I believe there's one behind the fuse box but it's not the only one...
Vorsprung Durch Technik my ar$e!

User avatar
Oldiebut goodie
Registered user
Posts: 7500
Joined: 18 Apr 2008, 01:19
80-90 Mem No: 11135
Location: Eastern Angle

Re: curious problem

Post by Oldiebut goodie »

If it stayed on with the keys out points to faulty ignition switch.That would be the first fix.
1.6D 2019 VW T-Cross
200hp VW T6
1̶Y̶ ̶1̶9̶8̶7̶ ̶H̶i̶-̶t̶o̶p̶ ̶C̶a̶r̶a̶v̶e̶l̶l̶e̶
5̶0̶8̶d̶ ̶M̶e̶r̶c̶

Locked