That elusive blue (no charge) wire....

Post by **mikey9** » 29 Oct 2007, 20:51

Have searched the forum and wiki and found many refs to this wire:
"The 'thin wire to no charge light' on the T25 (T3) is blue and runs from the alternator, behind the fuse box to pin 11 on the multi-pin connector behind the dash."

Excuse my stupidity/blindness but I have a red and a blue multi pin connector in the back of the fuse box (24 holes in each) (is this the multipin connector referred to?

Looking from the Front of the van at these:

In the blue connector - there is a blue wire in column 1 row three (down) that looks very similar to the one coming off the alternator - this joins to the red connector column 1 row 1 - a slightly thinner blue wire then comes out of this same hole and heads across towards the drivers side in the monstrous bundel of wires.

Is this the wire I need - I am happy with the rest of the wiring - I just want to make sure it is the right wire and I go into it at the right point.

Further help/pointers/encouragement appreciated.

Post by **mikey9** » 30 Oct 2007, 06:21

It isn't just me who can't then!
Desmond - posting at the same time and a range of others judging by the many posts on just this (with no resolution) over the last year appear to have problems finding the correct wire.

Once I find it - will post a piccy for the wiki.......

Can anyone take a quick close up piccy of the wiring behind the fusebox? (I know - nothing easy then!)

Post by **moonshine** » 30 Oct 2007, 11:58

can't you just buzz the wire through both ends to make sure? Maplins multimeter-cheap as chips and very useful!

Post by **pmc** » 30 Oct 2007, 12:33

The connector you want is plain white and sits up underneath the dash, close to the steering column and behind the clocks - nowhere near the fusebox.
The connector is best found by turning oneself upside down with your head in the footwell and then looking up - it disconnects with a careful pull.
The connector has some very small numbers on it - you need to find the blue wire from number 11 and join your relay to this You can test if you have the right wire by disconnecting the blue wire from terminal 11 and then seeing if the red 'no charge' light ( on the dash) still comes on when you first start the engine - with the correct blue wire disconnected the light shouldn't come on at all.
Just make sure that you reconnect the wire back into number 11 when you've finished or you'll spend hours wondering why the no charge light has stopped working - don't ask me how I know this!.

pmc

Post by **mikey9** » 30 Oct 2007, 20:48

Thanks PMC - straight to it with your directions

.
Easy when you know where to look - thanks again.

Pic to follow - for the wiki if anyone thinks it useful - certainly would have helped me!!

Post by **Hacksawbob** » 30 Oct 2007, 23:40

added to wiki

Post by **desmond** » 31 Oct 2007, 12:47

Thanks for that PMC, I'm gonna take a look at that tonight. Fantastic to find the answer.

mikey9, if you do get a Pic can you please post it up for us?! I'm nervous about messing with the Electrics and the more I can be sure, the better!

Cheers

Post by **mikey9** » 01 Nov 2007, 06:55

Pics as promised

http://www.flickr.com/photos/15533407@N03/1812373431/

and

http://www.flickr.com/photos/15533407@N03/1813216920/

Wired up yesterday 2.5 hrs start to finish by nervous novice - all seems OK.

I have more pics of the install if anyone is interested.

Post by **desmond** » 01 Nov 2007, 15:46

Hi there Mikey,

Those photos are very handy, thanks for posting them up.

Did you use one of those snap lock connectors to attach the leisure wire to the blue one? Like this:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?Tab ... 6&doy=1m11

If so, did you use a 15 amp?

Sorry to keep asking obvious stuff, just want to make sure I'm gonna do the job right!

If you have anymore photos, please do post them. Thanks for your help.

Post by **mikey9** » 01 Nov 2007, 20:25

Desmond,
Yes - used something v similar from Halfords to connect to the blue wire. Gave it a bit of a squeeze with the pliers for good measure.

I used 30A connectors onto the relay and onto the battery holders (all Halfords) for the power and lighter weight 15 A ones for the connections to the blue and the earth from the relay (Our maplins is a bit C%$P for stock!)

Pics to follow - having to build a kitchen tonight!

Good luck!

Post by **desmond** » 03 Nov 2007, 11:46

Great, thanks Mikey. I've got all the hard stuff done, I just literally need to find the blue wire to connect the relay to. I've got the 15 amp clips, so I'll give it a crack tomorrow.

Thanks for your help mate.

Post by **HarryMann** » 03 Nov 2007, 13:54

Where is that Wiki link Bob, can't see it... whjere I would expect it, Alternator charging light. cheers

Post by **desmond** » 08 Nov 2007, 15:49

Finally got the time today, I've found the blue wire and connected it successfully. My blue wire was actually connected to slot 13 and not 11 though. No's 11 and 12 were empty. Either way, I tested it by disconnecting the wire and sure enough, the no charge light didn't work, so I guessed it was right.

Also, those 15 amp clips were not quite enough to pierce through the blue wire, I had to strip it back first.

Once I got it running, I set the Multimeter to 20v DC and connected the positive and negative to the leads of my leisure battery. Oddly, I got 12v when the engine was off, but 14v when it was on. I tried disconnecting the connection to the blue wire, but I still get a reading of 12v on the multimeter. Not sure why this is, maybe someone else can explain it, but I am definitely getting a charge to my leisure now and only when the engine is running.

Thanks for your help everyone, much appreciated.