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Anything and everything Spitfire.
Section : Electrical Equipment
Alternators, dynamos, lights, wipers, etc.
Posted By : David Scott, 29-Apr-2004, 03:42pm
Something electrical always seems to go wrong when I take my Spitfire (1976 1500) out in the rain.
My wipers stop working and take half the electrics with them. Of course, I've changed one of the fuses and the wipers are back but things still aren't
right.
The fuel and temperature gauges, the indicators and the reverse lights are all not working.
Oddly, the hazard switch brings on the right hand indicator and sometimes, when the switch is given a bit of a wiggle, it will bring on the left indicator
as well. The clicking noise given off is however much less audible.
All of these phantoms have exorcised themselves in the past without the need for a priest but they can't seem to settle down. I understand that it might
have something to with the indicator flasher unit but how would that effect the fuel/temp gauges?
It might also be worth say that the clips holding the fuses in my fuse box are a bit corroded and have to be encouraged to stay firm with shims of match
stick.
Does anyone know what my problem is? Does anyone know a wiz in london/within the M25 who can do spitfire electrics?
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Posted By : Tim Everitt, 29-Apr-2004,
05:18pm
I'm not an electrical whizz and I can't remember off-hand which circuits are on which fuse. What I can say is that poor connections can be no end of a
pain, sometimes working, sometimes not, sometimes just badly. I recently had trouble with my headlights flicking on and off (and associated circuits).
When I checked the fuse I burnt my fingers, it was so hot. I played around for a time wedging the fuse this way and that, which did work for a while
but eventually I had a new fuse box fitted. Seems cured - for now anyway..
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Posted By : Michael Davis,
30-Apr-2004, 09:31am
If your fuse box terminals are corroded, you'll get all sorts of odd effects. I had the same problem when I first put my racecar back together
after several years off the road. Cleaned up the terminals with some wet&dry paper (dry!) and it was fine again.
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Posted By : Paul Bodiam, 30-Apr-2004,
03:01pm
Hi David
I think that you have general problems with corrosion/dirt build up on various electrical contacts in your car's wiring loom. Specifically:
1: in the fusebox (as you have already identified)
2: in the hazard warning light switch
These problems tend to show up in the wet because you are using more elctrical devices (wipers, demister, headlights) leading to higher current flows
through the problem connections, which leads to localised heating which, in turn coupled with the higher humidity, accelerates the problem.
As already suggested by others in this thread, you should clean the contacts in the fuse box thouroughly. Getting to the contacts at the back of that
hazard lights switch is a little harder. The quickest way that I know is to remove the rev counter and reach through the hole... ...but how to actually
clean the contacts?
Try to get hold of some "electrical contact cleaner" (Screwfix and Maplin both sell appropriate products, to name but 2). This is a chemical cleaner
that removes grease, dirt and carbon deposits from electrical contacts. I can particularly recommend the Maplin product (product code JP17T) which
fixed a similar problem with the hazard lights in my car.
hope this helps
Paul
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Posted By : David Scott, 05-May-2004,
05:49pm
Thanks chaps. Have purchased a new flasher unit, a can of electrical spray and some wet and dry paper. Will keep you posted. Thanks for the help.