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Some electrical problems
Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2021 5:22 pm
by Max12
I have been trying to point out the problem with my 480 for quite some time now and I can't quite figure it out. Most of my dash does not work including the speedo, odometer and info center, only the backlight, indication lights and rev counter, but now the backlight is gone too. Recently some new problems appeared apart from the previous ones, when I turn the ignition on the car it completely dies and it isn't until I open the bonnet that the battery starts functioning. I also noticed that the car radio does not turn off completely and I can still hear some faint audio coming from the speakers.
Help me out here please.
Re: Some electrical problems
Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2021 6:46 pm
by WRDendy
Start here for your dash problems:
viewtopic.php?f=24&t=35684
Sounds like a combination of dry joints and blown bulbs.
We might need some more information for the other problems - thinking out loud the only electrical difference raising the bonnet would make would be opening the microswitch that disables the pop-up motors. Definitely more information needed for the radio - what model is it, does it switch on and off correctly using the front controls, does it respond to the switched live on the loom, what exactly can you hear when it's off etc.
I see this is your first post, so hello and welcome!
Re: Some electrical problems
Posted: Thu Aug 05, 2021 9:45 pm
by Max12
I think the positive pole made contact with the bonnet and shorted the battery, so I have to excuse myself for that one. However...
I have already resoldered all the connection points on the dash unit, to no avail. But I don't think the main issue is with the unit itself, because I have seen the IC light up and do the cycling check. And it was only yesterday the backlight was working.
The previous owner had to splice the original cable to fit a blaupunkt SQM20 with older connections. It lacks the one of the wires for permanent voltage which perhaps is why the radio never really turns off. What I hear is just whatever channel I have tuned in. Image:
https://imgur.com/gallery/pQ8Ei0t
Re: Some electrical problems
Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2021 7:26 am
by dcwalker
Hello and welcome!
480s and their electrics
. Enough sometimes to drive anyone mad as it can seem as if the car is possessed!
Don't worry - I am sure between us on here we can get you to the bottom of the problems!
Which model do you have, and is your car post 1991?
If it is 1991 onwards, a possible contender for your IC problems lies in the fuse box - check that fuses 21 and 22 haven't blown and that the orange "bridge" is properly in place in slot 23.
Under the air filter box you will find the plug connection for the speedo - double check that is clean and making a good connection.
As Jaster says, the other things might need a bit more thought. If the battery positive pole made contact with the bonnet it must be sitting too high. Do you have the right battery/is it properly located on its tray?
My guess is you're right about the radio...
Keep asking and good luck!
David
Re: Some electrical problems
Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2021 10:41 am
by jifflemon
Max12 wrote: ↑Thu Aug 05, 2021 9:45 pm
I think the positive pole made contact with the bonnet and shorted the battery, so I have to excuse myself for that one. However...
Bonnet is fibreglass so should be safe there....
What year is the car?
Re: Some electrical problems
Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2021 10:55 am
by Max12
It is an 87 model
Re: Some electrical problems
Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2021 11:04 am
by brinkie
Model year 87 or late 87 which makes it model year 88? That might sound trivial but the electrics were changed in 1988, and again in 1989, 1991 1/2 (major change) and 1993 model years. Does your instrument cluster have yellow and red connectors? If yes, it's MY 1988. Blue and yellow makes it MY 1987.
Re: Some electrical problems
Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2021 11:56 am
by Max12
It is an 87, with blue and yellow connectors. Here is the diagram for the fusebox which might be useful:
http://imgur.com/gallery/GqL2Glt
Re: Some electrical problems
Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2021 12:00 pm
by Max12
dcwalker wrote: ↑Fri Aug 06, 2021 7:26 am
Hello and welcome!
480s and their electrics
. Enough sometimes to drive anyone mad as it can seem as if the car is possessed!
Don't worry - I am sure between us on here we can get you to the bottom of the problems!
Which model do you have, and is your car post 1991?
If it is 1991 onwards, a possible contender for your IC problems lies in the fuse box - check that fuses 21 and 22 haven't blown and that the orange "bridge" is properly in place in slot 23.
Under the air filter box you will find the plug connection for the speedo - double check that is clean and making a good connection.
As Jaster says, the other things might need a bit more thought. If the battery positive pole made contact with the bonnet it must be sitting too high. Do you have the right battery/is it properly located on its tray?
My guess is you're right about the radio...
Keep asking and good luck!
David
Do you mean these red connectors? image:
http://imgur.com/gallery/x0r29yh
I reconnected them and sprayed some contact cleaner.
Re: Some electrical problems
Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2021 12:38 pm
by jifflemon
Now, compare the colour of your instrument panel plugs, with the plugs on the wiring loom.
they Should be the same....
Re: Some electrical problems
Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2021 7:42 pm
by Max12
Any suggestions, guys? I am still stuck with this. Pretty much everything works except the dashboard..
Re: Some electrical problems
Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2021 8:12 pm
by jifflemon
Max12 wrote: ↑Thu Nov 11, 2021 7:42 pm
Any suggestions, guys? I am still stuck with this. Pretty much everything works except the dashboard..
Did you check your plug colours? Dashboards aren’t interchangeable, despite physically looking the same.
Re: Some electrical problems
Posted: Sat Nov 13, 2021 4:43 pm
by Max12
Could you explain to me, please?
https://imgur.com/a/QbAk1Cn I checked this underneath, seems to be in order.
https://imgur.com/a/QMjSGIj https://imgur.com/a/TRCwDpk Anything indicative with these cables? think they are radio.
Re: Some electrical problems
Posted: Sat Nov 13, 2021 6:50 pm
by jifflemon
So.... when you said:
I assumed you'd had the dashboard out?
If you had, you need to make sure that the colour of the wiring plugs matches the colours of the plugs on the dashboard. All dashboards look broadly similar, but the wiring differed massively until about 89.
The cluster is repairable, assuming you've the right one. See
this thread
Re: Some electrical problems
Posted: Sat Nov 13, 2021 8:00 pm
by Max12
jifflemon wrote: ↑Sat Nov 13, 2021 6:50 pm
So.... when you said:
I assumed you'd had the dashboard out?
If you had, you need to make sure that the colour of the wiring plugs matches the colours of the plugs on the dashboard. All dashboards look broadly similar, but the wiring differed massively until about 89.
The cluster is repairable, assuming you've the right one. See
this thread
Yes I did follow all those steps with the instrument cluster, but I don't know what you mean matching the colour of the plugs. In reference to what, the fuses?
Re: Some electrical problems
Posted: Sat Nov 13, 2021 8:13 pm
by dragonflyjewels
Jeff's talking about the connections on the back of the dashboard cluster (rev counter/speedo/info centre). The plugs on the cables should be the same colour as the connectors on the cluster that they go onto. Later cars are mostly one green and one grey, as pictured on the thread Jeff's linked to above.
I've been trying to talk to Jeff this evening as well but no reply so he must be busy, hence I've jumped in.
Re: Some electrical problems
Posted: Sat Nov 13, 2021 8:14 pm
by dcwalker
Two multiplugs go into the cluster. The connectors at the ends of the wiring will be yellow and blue or yellow and red or red and blue on your early car (later cars are grey and green). Where they plug in have plastic surrounds and they MUST be the same colours as the plugs.
Hope that helps!
David
Re: Some electrical problems
Posted: Sat Nov 13, 2021 8:15 pm
by jifflemon
So in the image, notice that the two plugs FOR the dash board are the same colour as the plugs ON the dashboard?
Are yours the same? not as in the same as the image, but if you've got red and blue wiring plugs, you should have red and blue dashboard plugs.
Re: Some electrical problems
Posted: Sat Nov 13, 2021 9:47 pm
by Max12
jifflemon wrote: ↑Sat Nov 13, 2021 8:15 pm
So in the image, notice that the two plugs FOR the dash board are the same colour as the plugs ON the dashboard?
Are yours the same? not as in the same as the image, but if you've got red and blue wiring plugs, you should have red and blue dashboard plugs.
yes they are matching.
Re: Some electrical problems
Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2021 8:29 pm
by jifflemon
Ok, so what currently does and doesn’t work?
Have you checked that the dimmer rheostat isn’t turned down?
If you shine a light onto the infocentre, can you see any activity on it?