More electrics with a mind of their own

Post by **mig** » 01 Mar 2007, 19:52

Hi,
Just bought a 1981 carravelle-my 1st van-love it!
When I bought it the Hazards didn't work.
Checked the switch -fine
Replaced the indicator relay-fixed the problem
BUT oil pressure warning light flashs untill I use the RH indicator-then it goes out.
Indicators don't work with the lights on
Dash lights only work with the headlights off.
Replaced the relay with the original-same results,except the hazards don't work.
I am guessing a short circuit or bad earth
I have cleaned up the earth above the fuse box,and had a look behind the instrument pod-both corners of which are broken off by the way(not by me)
I love messing around with the mechanicals and even the body work,but find electrics really frustrating!
Any other earths I sould be looking for?
Anyone had a similar problem?
Thanks-any tips greatly appreciated.

Post by **Hacksawbob** » 02 Mar 2007, 11:22

The cuircuit board under the dash pod can get corroded (sometimes badly from windscreen corrosion badly fitting seal) pry off dash pod and trace the white plastic block that feeds it, disconect it and buff up the copper contacts with a green scouring pad can also fix disco lighting effects on the dash warning lights

Post by **Horza** » 02 Mar 2007, 11:48

You can reach the connector sometimes under the dash to the right of the column, wigling it can sometimes cure the problems but sometimes makes it much worse so no wiggling on the motorway miles from home.

People have before found the earth strap at the bottom of the steering column to be the cause of amusing light shows on the dash also.

Post by **Dubstar** » 02 Mar 2007, 12:15

Also check and clean the fuses up, one at a time. I thought I might have to change the sender in the petrol tank as the gauge stopped working, but it was in fact a bit of corrosion on one of the fuses. Cleaned it up, and the fuse holder clips too and now it's fine.

Post by **mig** » 04 Mar 2007, 22:50

Hi,
Thanks everyone for the tips, Traced the fault back to the earthing points on the lhs of the van,

Easyier to reach if you take off the Glove box(has anyone ever kept gloves in a glove box?-anyway back to the point)
Unscrew two large cross head screws and carefully move the fuse box out of the way.These two steps aren't needed but make access much easier.

on mine (1982) two fittings looking vagely like a hedgehog are screwed to the door pillar ,with 6 earths leading into each-all of which had fairy brittle and corroded spade ends-bit suprised as the van is very watertight with hardly any condensation.

Re made them all-problem solved! very pleased ,

especially as now my heater controls light up,(Didn't know they even did)and my previously slow heater blower motor blows hot air into the van at gale force speeds and I can leave fitting my newly aquired eberspecher untill the weather gets better.

Thanks again Mig

Post by **airhead** » 04 Mar 2007, 22:54

Good stuff.

By the way, I have a pair of gloves in my glovebox.