Electrical gremlins

Post by **Geez** » 01 Dec 2004 04:20 pm

HI guys , need some advice ! My '88 GLT has developed some electrical problems . When I am driving does nt matter whether she is cold or hot the dashboard lights and head lights go very dim, if I switch the lights on and off a couple of times they come back on normally, Then this morning on way home after a nightshift the same thing happened but when I switched them on I lost all power she just died completely!!! TUrned the key got nothing no lights, engine, heater nothing! Then I took out key ,put it back tried to start her and she fired up perfectly everything working as normal. Does this sound familiar to anyone or any ideas or is she just haunted!!!!!!!!!! HEEELLP!!!!!!!

Post by **5lab** » 01 Dec 2004 04:29 pm

sounds like a dodgy connection somewhere. i couldnt tell you where thou - possably the headlights?

Post by **redline** » 01 Dec 2004 04:43 pm

were there any bright lights in the sky when your engine died if so its the same aliens that took Dougle and the dumped car down my road, sounds like you had a lucky escape you could have been transported to the planet VOLcan

. P.S. as Hugh said its probably a loose connection , try battery terminals , ignition switch , light switch and plug connectors at rear of lights + might be worth cleaning up earth connections,

Post by **DeKayDAD** » 01 Dec 2004 05:47 pm

Definitely loose or corroded connections check all main connections not forgetting the earth to body and earth straps.

Post by **Geez** » 01 Dec 2004 08:47 pm

Nice one cheers guys!! Will have a good look at weekend . There wre some bright lights in the sky but I think the source was in the Milton Keynes area

Think the car is haunted by a little ol lady who is scared of rivers (General forum, DONT GO NEAR THE WATER!)

Post by **wjp01908** » 01 Dec 2004 10:03 pm

Have a look at the thread on Ignition relay problems over in general technical.

One of the manifestations mine had was that the engine would die if you turned the lights on sometimes....

Will

Post by **tail happy torch boy twat** » 01 Dec 2004 10:10 pm

Yup, sounds similar to my problem (the same as Wills') although not connected to the headlight switch in my case...

Post by **foggyjames** » 09 Dec 2004 02:34 am

There was a thread about a week ago about one of the multi-pin plugs on the fuseboard causing general electrical faults - probably worth checking!

cheers

James

Post by **Tom** » 10 Dec 2004 05:29 pm

Mine seems to do this also, although not quite as serious as yours. When the engine is idling with no choke you can definately hear it growing weaker when you switch on the lamps. The courtesy light and most of the dash lights dim also.

Post by **5lab** » 10 Dec 2004 05:44 pm

you've not got a revgauge have you?

it sounds like you need to up your revs a tad - sounds like its idling a little slowly and the altinator isnt generating enough power to get the lights going. little more 'umph' would sort that, so sort your bloody carb out

Post by **Tom** » 10 Dec 2004 05:52 pm

5lab wrote:you've not got a revgauge have you?

it sounds like you need to up your revs a tad - sounds like its idling a little slowly and the altinator isnt generating enough power to get the lights going. little more 'umph' would sort that, so sort your bloody carb out

It does idle a little slow. That's probably the problem.

Post by **5lab** » 10 Dec 2004 05:54 pm

step 1 : get a revgauge
step 2 : install
step 3 : sort your carb

Post by **foggyjames** » 10 Dec 2004 09:47 pm

Hugh...you forgot stage 4...

4) Get and fit alloys.

cheers

James

Post by **Geez** » 11 Dec 2004 09:10 pm

Just a quick update, the poor ol girl gave up completely earlier in the week

Have narrowed the problem down too either afaulty ignition switch or a break / bad connection in the wiring up to it . have got all electricds that run on a direct battery feed but nothing that runs through the ignition. Cheers for all your ideas and suggestions ,Will soon have her back on the road . . . . . . . . . hopefully

Post by **Geez** » 12 Dec 2004 02:48 pm

She s running again

Thanks to my brother. The problem was a multi plug connector that sits under the dash through the bulkhead connected to the back of the ignition ,had partially burnt out sounds like similar problem that a few of us have had now.