electrical earth fault???

charlie · Post by **charlie** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 12:42 pm

have got what i think is an earth fault

most obvious to see when the rear lights are on and they fade/blink when the hazards go on and off...

am not that clever on electrics so would appricate if anyone can point me in the right direction, places to check,

ta

charlie

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 1:40 pm

The rear lights earth through bolts attached to the body inside the light units. You will see a bolt with a number of loop terminals under it - that's the one.

The other likely problem is the plug onto the light unit - remove the unit, take the plug off and put it on again a few times. Some switch cleaner can be used and may help. Some people use WD40 but its an electrical insulator but this characteristic doesn't seem to cause problems. A good clean and scrape and re-tension of the terminals works wonders.

cavmad · Post by **cavmad** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 9:01 pm

As Jeremy says I have found removing the bolt(s) which hold the earth wires in and cleaning up the bodywork with emery paper before refitting can do a really good job.

AlanS · Post by **AlanS** » Wed Jun 20, 2007 11:52 pm

When I had the mechanicals out of the TZi, I thought it was a good time to do a bit of general tidying up, so I pulled every plug I could lay my hands on apart, washed it out with degreaser, rubbed it over as far internally as I could reach with a brass bristled brush about the same size and shape as a toothbrush, washed out with WD40 and then sprayed with contact cleaner.
Reconnected, ran a piece of insulation tape aound the outside at the point where the two sides meet and then held the plug together firmly by running a zip tie over both endsI found when pulled apart, most terminals either had corrosion or greasey oily scum over them and I cleaned until this was all gone.
Result has been the best lights I've ever seen on a BX and a starter that spins so fast it almost throws the engine out of the car.
Takes a while to do, but worth the effort IMO.

Alan S

cavmad · Post by **cavmad** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 8:33 am

In the absence of de-greaser I have found choke and carb cleaner does an excellent job of removing grease and slime etc. It should flash off too and leave a nice clean surface to apply grease or insulation tape to.

charlie · Post by **charlie** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 2:55 pm

thanks everyone problem now sorted

did as you suggested and cleaned the contacts,

lights all became brighter but still fading. Then saw front left indicator was not as bright as the others so played/cleaned with this then and hey presto everything ok

although now have another question for you lot. what do i put on electrical contacts to keep the water/damp out. i see the battery itself has some sort of gunk on it. cavmad mentioned some grease, what exactly is this stuff

ta

charlie

Post by **docchevron** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 3:10 pm

I use vaseline.... and for the car...BOOM BOOM.

Way2go · Post by **Way2go** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 3:13 pm

docchevron1472 wrote:I use vaseline.... and for the car...BOOM BOOM.

Given up on the KY Jelly then Doc?

Post by **docchevron** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 3:16 pm

Yeah mate, it's less embarrasing asking for vaseline!

Way2go · Post by **Way2go** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 3:26 pm

Yeah but, they tell me vaseline causes rubber failure.

charlie · Post by **charlie** » Thu Jun 21, 2007 4:32 pm

ahhhh

the wonderful world of petroleum jelly

but i wont be able to buy some now without blushing

charlie

Post by **docchevron** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 3:01 am

Way2go wrote:Yeah but, they tell me vaseline causes rubber failure.

Not a problem for me, I use Michelin bus tyres!

mike st gilles · Post by **mike st gilles** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 12:05 pm

Not a problem for me, I use Michelin bus tyres!

Fnaar, Fnaar ooher missus!

charlie · Post by **charlie** » Fri Jun 22, 2007 7:58 pm

i know ive not been on these boards for a while but really gentlemen, one must not fall victim to crude, base and cheap innuendos

we bus drivers, doc, are better then this

but, if you give us your mobile number and ill send you something really, really bad

and its made out of rubber too

charlie

Post by **docchevron** » Sat Jun 23, 2007 3:50 am

PM sent my good man!