eletrical problem

[jamey]

i swapped out my turn indicator today, i switched each wire one at a time so i wouldn't mix wires or where they go. after i set everything up i tried it and it worked fine..... then it blew a fuse. so i put in a new fuse and it worked fine. then i was driving home and no more turn signals again. when i got home i checked the fuse and it was good. i have no idea why it doesn't work.

also, since doing this switch today my cold engine light is on (never been on before) whats it for and is this part of the prob?

any help will be greatly apreciated.

 

[jamey]

also, does any one know where i can buy a large sheet of that mesh metal stuff you see fender guards and what not made out of? i'd like to cut a piece to fit in back of my s3 and make some door plates for the inside instead of that tapestry stuff.... i'm in cambridgeshire

 

[jamey]

wow a whole day with no replies, this is a first for me! starting to get worried lol.

 

[Blott]

The orange cold start light which is now on is probably on because you have knocked the swich off the choke cable sleeve. It is held on by a couple of plastic clips and operates by a sprung nipple/bearing slipping in and out of holes in the outer sleeve of the choke cable. Over the years the clip weakens and tends to pop off the sleeve. Mine did this and in the end I disabled it by keeping it permanently "closed" with a tie wrap. The clouds of smoke and rich running tell me the choke is left open so an orange light was not really necessary.

I suspect that you may have a combination of things. Double check all the column/switch connections to make sure they are tight and check for arcing. Then check the bulbs and bulb holders. Green connectors due to moisture are a common cause of problems and a light scrape with a bit of emery cloth to bulb connectors has always worked for me and resolved what I initially thought were more serious problems.

Hope this helps.

Blott.

 

[jamey]

thanks, noticed today that the engine temp gauge isn't working either =( don't know what the deal is but i'll figure it out on sat. thanks mate.

 

[Big Sandy]

Its that time of year... damp and electrics, plus Lucas the Lord Of Darkness...

Temp gauge could be the sender unit on the head...wire may be dirty or loose (mine used to go round and round... I tightened the spade with a hammer. Works okay now...Sandy M says I'm a ham fisted bodger....with a long memory... ) On a petrol engine, I think the sender is on the front of the head, round about the thermostat housing. Been a while since I looked at a petrol engine variant Somebody will correct me if I am wrong.

Again...damp and bad earths..they are a common failing with indicators and sidelights. Do both sides not flash? Theres a list of things that could be at fault, even possibly a dodgy relay.

 

[jamey]

thanks guys, i didn't think this was a prob before because it was all working fine untill i switched the indicator, but i jetwashed my landy about 15 mins before doing the job including the engine bay... maybe i knocked a wire almost off and it worked for a min later then fell off.... not sure what a relay is etc as i have no exp with electrics. as of now the head lights and break lights work and the bright lights on my indicator...... the engine temp, gas hand, and turn indicators do not work at all. this all happened at the same time if that will help to narrow down what it could be. don't know if one thing controls those. idk but i'm diving into to in the morning and i saw the diagram you posted on another thread of where wires go etc so hopefully i'll get it fixed!

on a brighter note the guy delivered my rocky mountian parabolics and dampeners today!!! as i have to ship the landy on the 15th i'm not even going to try to do the swap here. called paddocks as well and they should be able to deliver my new galvanised (spelling) chassis next week! all the damn jeeps in the us are going to be sooooo jelous of the rover muuahahahhaa

 

[Big Sandy]

The relay...Typically its not in the diagrams I posted up last night (reproduced here for ease of finding for you Jamey) Its a silver box, sometimes rectangular, sometimes cylindrical, and that is what makes the indicators flash. I have attached a wiring diagram for a SIII petrol, basic, no fog lights. The relay for the indicators is no29 on that, near the bottom. Green wire to it, and than light green to the switch. Yours should be the same, unless somebody has been playing in there already....

The wiper and screen wash share the same fuse as the indicator relay, if they work, its not the fuse box...

Hope that helps!

 

[jamey]

thanks for the help, i fugured it out today! ended up being the connector on the back of the fuse holder wasn't going down far enough so i had to take the lil plastic cover off. that solved it. as for the dash lights the same thing was causing it. AND the lil clips that hold the fuse in was also a lil loose and was losing contact. all fixed now and good to go. tomorrow i'm putting in my overhead dash with cb, speakers, and cd player! i'll prob be posting again after i fry all my wireing

thanks again.