#1: Think I have an intermittent elec fault? **Pic added** Author: Tolkienfan001, Location: SpaldingPosted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 12:02 pm ---- It happens once a month at most. The car beeps once. The steering becomes heavier. The car seems slightly down on power and runs a little bit roughly.
If I turn the car off and leave it for an hour it is fine next time I start it. There are no error messages or warning lights.
The battery is five months old. Never been flattened. Been tested and is ok
It has had a full service. It is a 2005 1.4 16v.
Does anyone have any ideas?
Thanks Last edited by Tolkienfan001 on Sat May 11, 2013 4:50 am; edited 2 times in total
#2: Re: Think I have an intermittent elec fault? Author: Timon2210, Location: PalestinePosted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 2:31 pm ---- when it peeps,what light come on the dashboard if you notice?
#3: Re: Think I have an intermittent elec fault? Author: Tolkienfan001, Location: SpaldingPosted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 2:40 pm ---- None? And no message on the mfd? That's why I am confused...
#4: Re: Think I have an intermittent elec fault? Author: V9977, Location: Athens, GreecePosted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 2:49 pm ---- Might be worth scanning it with diagnostic tool and see if there are any DTC's stored.
They sometimes get logged without the EML coming-on.
#5: Re: Think I have an intermittent elec fault? Author: Tolkienfan001, Location: SpaldingPosted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 2:57 pm ---- Ok thanks
I don't have a code reader. What is the cheapest I can get for now to read the codes? What am I looking for.
Thanks
#6: Re: Think I have an intermittent elec fault? Author: Timon2210, Location: PalestinePosted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 3:28 pm ---- well do u hear the peeping sound when u r goign up a hill?
#7: Re: Think I have an intermittent elec fault? Author: Tolkienfan001, Location: SpaldingPosted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 3:31 pm ---- Usually when turning or braking or turning and braking. Brake fluid level is full. So it's not that.
#8: Re: Think I have an intermittent elec fault? Author: Timon2210, Location: PalestinePosted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 3:33 pm ---- heheh..well that what I had in mind,cuz usually it peeps,with the handbrake light in dash falsh for few sec then go away
#9: Re: Think I have an intermittent elec fault? Author: Tolkienfan001, Location: SpaldingPosted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 3:34 pm ---- Yea I used to have this on my Astra. So first thing I checked. I am completely stumped??
Will a cheap £20 code reader from eBay do the job?
#10: Re: Think I have an intermittent elec fault? Author: V9977, Location: Athens, GreecePosted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 3:35 pm ----
Tolkienfan001 wrote:
Ok thanks
I don't have a code reader. What is the cheapest I can get for now to read the codes? What am I looking for.
Thanks
Well..
PP2000 clone interface would be best obviously, if you're planning long-term with Pugs.
#11: Re: Think I have an intermittent elec fault? Author: Tolkienfan001, Location: SpaldingPosted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 3:36 pm ----
V9977 wrote:
Tolkienfan001 wrote:
Ok thanks
I don't have a code reader. What is the cheapest I can get for now to read the codes? What am I looking for.
Thanks
Well..
PP2000 clone interface would be best obviously, if you're planning long-term with Pugs.
I am and I agree only thing is I just cannot afford it till August. So a bit stuck really...
#12: Re: Think I have an intermittent elec fault? Author: kwakzx7r, Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 10:33 pm ---- I bought one of these from ebay and have to say i've been very pleased with it for the money. It does what it says on the tin.
#13: Re: Think I have an intermittent elec fault? Author: macca1411, Location: Westhoughton, LancashirePosted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 4:41 am ---- PMd you with a link
#14: Re: Think I have an intermittent elec fault? Author: Tolkienfan001, Location: SpaldingPosted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 7:13 am ---- Thanks
Will get one of these. Big help as always Macca!
#15: Re: Think I have an intermittent elec fault? Author: Tolkienfan001, Location: SpaldingPosted: Thu May 09, 2013 1:07 pm ---- Update!
Codes have been read and none stored.
The issue happened again today but different. My lights were on this time. I was indicating to the left to pull up. The car beeped the lights dimmed revs dropped and indicator stopped. The car immediately went back to normal. Indicator lights revs etc.
The car almost felt like it was going to stall or cut out. But the clutch was down.
The battery has been tested and is brand new.
Am I looking at an earth fault or something else?
How many earth cables are there and where are they?
Thanks
#16: Re: Think I have an intermittent elec fault? **UPDATED** Author: V9977, Location: Athens, GreecePosted: Thu May 09, 2013 2:48 pm ----
Tolkienfan001 wrote:
Update!
Codes have been read and none stored.
The issue happened again today but different. My lights were on this time. I was indicating to the left to pull up. The car beeped the lights dimmed revs dropped and indicator stopped. The car immediately went back to normal. Indicator lights revs etc.
The car almost felt like it was going to stall or cut out. But the clutch was down.
The battery has been tested and is brand new.
Am I looking at an earth fault or something else?
How many earth cables are there and where are they?
Thanks
When you say tested the battery? How old is it?
Definately check every earth strap and there's quite a few.
The top of the gearbox is a good start. Also check the ones below the ECU and in the BSI area, and esp. the ones behind the headlights.
Sounds like an interminent earth somewhere.
#17: Re: Think I have an intermittent elec fault? **UPDATED** Author: Tolkienfan001, Location: SpaldingPosted: Thu May 09, 2013 3:00 pm ---- The battery is 5 months old. Garage has checked it and it is 100%.
Any chance you could upload a pic with the areas with the earths marked. I know where the gearbox is so should be able to find that one...
#18: Re: Think I have an intermittent elec fault? **UPDATED** Author: Tolkienfan001, Location: SpaldingPosted: Fri May 10, 2013 3:57 pm ---- I want to take a look at this sat. Anyone able to advise exactly where I am looking for these three earths?
Thanks
#19: Re: Think I have an intermittent elec fault? **UPDATED** Author: donnypaul81, Posted: Fri May 10, 2013 8:37 pm ---- There's an earth at back of both head lights you might wanna take the lights out to get to these as there's little room to get to them. If you don't know how to take the lights out then start with removing the grill first just pop the black push in pins placed across the black part of the pannel next to the bonnet catch and work to either side they may be a bolt holding it in place some where can't think off top of my head but go steady when removing the grill at each edge under the lights as it may snap but it's just held in with plastic clips. Then there's 2 bolts at the top of the lights and 1 under the light where the grill once was and give the lights a jiggle they will slide out a little bit in plug them and take them out you will now see an earth bolted down just take it off and clean it up do same to both sides. When putting lights back in don't go crazy tightening them back up there only made of plastic and tend to break if over done. As for the other earth look under the car on the gear box side you will see a strap bolted to the side of the gear box somewhere and it's bolted to the inner wing. Good luck pal French cars have the worst electrical faults and tend to be the hardest to try and sort out well that's my opinion any way.
#20: Re: Think I have an intermittent elec fault? **UPDATED** Author: Tolkienfan001, Location: SpaldingPosted: Sat May 11, 2013 1:15 am ---- Thank you that's a big help!
#21: Re: Think I have an intermittent elec fault? **UPDATED** Author: Tolkienfan001, Location: SpaldingPosted: Sat May 11, 2013 3:48 am ---- Ok so the black cable that goes from the gearbox to the bodywork has green corrosion at the point it joins to the gearbox and battery negative cable. There is also 1/3 split at that point.
I assume this is probably my problem. Next question is we're do I get a replacement?
Thanks
#22: Re: Think I have an intermittent elec fault? **UPDATED** Author: Tolkienfan001, Location: SpaldingPosted: Sat May 11, 2013 4:49 am ---- Here is a pic
#23: Re: Think I have an intermittent elec fault? **Pic added** Author: macca1411, Location: Westhoughton, LancashirePosted: Sat May 11, 2013 4:57 am ---- Gearbox earth strap is a fairly common fault. If you have the gear, you could cut it back and put a new lug on it.
Think they are only pennies to buy. You might find a local auto electrician will be able to knock one up for you. Failing that. go to a scrapyard and get a decent looking one off one of the cars.
#24: Re: Think I have an intermittent elec fault? **Pic added** Author: Tolkienfan001, Location: SpaldingPosted: Sat May 11, 2013 5:03 am ---- Ok thanks buddy will have a look
#25: Re: Think I have an intermittent elec fault? **Pic added** Author: macca1411, Location: Westhoughton, LancashirePosted: Sat May 11, 2013 5:30 am ---- Just looked on servicebox and they are £78.
Definitely a DIY or auto electrician job. You can probably buy the ring connectors for less than a £. Cut the cable back (if there is enough slack) and crimp the new ring on. If you have the gear, a touch of solder will make the connection a good one, and then a bit of heatshrink or insulation tape will tidy the cable up and slow down the corrosion.
#26: Re: Think I have an intermittent elec fault? **Pic added** Author: Tolkienfan001, Location: SpaldingPosted: Sat May 11, 2013 5:32 am ---- Thanks my neighbour has all the tools so we will give it a go.
#27: Re: Think I have an intermittent elec fault? **Pic added** Author: V9977, Location: Athens, GreecePosted: Sat May 11, 2013 5:47 am ---- That doesn't look too bad though.
Have a check at all the other ones too while you're at it.
Esp. the one at the ECU below it somewhere and possibly in the cabin for the BSI.
I take it you've checked the ones behind the headlights..
No need to take them off just to examine if they're OK.
#28: Re: Think I have an intermittent elec fault? **Pic added** Author: Tolkienfan001, Location: SpaldingPosted: Sat May 11, 2013 6:03 am ---- Yea I have. Where is the one in the cabin?
#29: Re: Think I have an intermittent elec fault? **Pic added** Author: V9977, Location: Athens, GreecePosted: Sat May 11, 2013 6:42 am ---- It should be in the fuse/BSI compartment and you might have to un-clip the BSI and have a good rumage-around in there (behind the fuse panel), being careful not to disturb or break anything too much.
#30: Re: Think I have an intermittent elec fault? **Pic added** Author: Tolkienfan001, Location: SpaldingPosted: Sat May 11, 2013 6:50 am ----
V9977 wrote:
It should be in the fuse/BSI compartment and you might have to un-clip the BSI and have a good rumage-around in there (behind the fuse panel), being careful not to disturb or break anything too much.
Ok thanks
#31: Re: Think I have an intermittent elec fault? **Pic added** Author: Tolkienfan001, Location: SpaldingPosted: Sat May 11, 2013 10:49 am ---- Took the cable off and it looks like this!
Replaced it with two new straps bolted together. Car started fine. Will see if the fault happens again. Watch this space.....
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