Electrics meltdown.

[KarlT]

Bear with me..........
Last couple of weeks main headlight switch has been playing up.
Driving home new years eve. switch stuck on dipped setting but only running sidelights.
Had to drive holding full beam on (as in flash stork held on) after 40 minutes full beam wouldn't work.
Had to stop and wait 90 minutes for RAC recovery.
Couldn't turn side lights off so prized connector off back of faulty light switch.
RAC dropped me home..........

Next morning, replaced switch with good unit.
Checked all fuses. two blown and replaced.
Ignition comes on.......

Non-start, like no power to starter.
No wipers.
No full beam.

What the hell has happened? What do I do?
Do I need to check relays? How?

[itchyfeet]

There are no relays on lights
check you have a fully charged battery, that could be the reason for not starting.

[KarlT]

I believe battery is good, charge light hasn't come on, I will check, but what about wipers and full beam?

[itchyfeet]

charge light is no indicator of battery charge
get a voltmeter on it

dunno about wipers and full beam, one thing at a time.

[KarlT]

fair point.

[KarlT]

Any starter motor wiring diagram on here?

[itchyfeet]

From fuse box big red wire to ignition switch, then big wire red/black to solenoid
just possible the ignition switch melted

you could bypass ignition switch it to prove, take cowling off , remove plug, short red to red/black briefly
it won't start but it shouls spin starter.

[KarlT]

Rather than going through all this issues one at a time.
Does anyone know of a common feature that could cause all these faults to cascade?
Seems unlikely they are all unconnected.

[KarlT]

No wipers.
No highbeam
No start, (Starter completely dead)

[dave friday]

With my van it was the negative wire from the battery negative to the engine block ( corroded )

[rowlesy]

Or ignition switch? Checked your earth crowns and made sure one or two earths haven't come off?

[itchyfeet]

Rather than going through all this issues one at a time.

If you don't want to work through fault finding methodically then an auto electrician may be your easiest fix.

[KarlT]

Blimey, its not that, its just that logic states it is very unusual for 3 separate items to go wrong on same day.
Logically it would seem there would be some common connection. No?

[itchyfeet]

Yes agreed but you are pinning your hopes on somebody who happens to have had the exact same scenario.

[Titus A Duxass]

You have to find the common failure - look for a fuse (there is a big one up behind the main fuse box that has the strip type fuse like the glowplug).