Is it electrical.....?

From CEM to VEM, from LED to lightbulb and more. If you have an electrical problem, like a broken info-centre, search for answers in this category. This is also the place to be when you expect the problem to be of an electrical nature...

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edie_fox
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Is it electrical.....?

Post by edie_fox » Sat Jul 27, 2019 3:04 pm

Again, car didn't start after getting wet. By wet, I just mean 'being in the rain'. It turns over once but then on the next try all you get is a fully dead, slight ticking around the ignition and zero dash lights.

Luckily, I was at a race circuit this time so there were many helpful people on hand without having to call out recovery. Brand new Volvo battery about a month ago. Coolant also getting used up very fast. No furring to oil or anything obviously sinister. Is this a starter motor or alternator issue maybe? Is it best just to replace both to see if that will remedy this always-seems-to-be-on-its-last-legs-when-starting feel or can someone test wether or not either of those things are in need of replacement? Shouldn't this have been picked up last time? :?

It started fine straight away with a jump start (nothing had been left on; lights all off, radio off, nothing plugged into lighter socket, windows shut, car locked)
It's due in to have new terminals and earth strap made in a few weeks. So I need to get him to check to see if he can find the issue.

I was so close to giving up on it a few hours ago. Haha. There's no point, we all know we're trapped in an inescapable toxic 480 cycle. :bla:

jifflemon
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Re: Is it electrical.....?

Post by jifflemon » Sat Jul 27, 2019 3:26 pm

ok, get yourself onto eBay/amazon and gets yourself a nice cheap multimeter. Nothing more than £10 will suffice.

Armed with one, we can do much more troubleshooting....

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edie_fox
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Re: Is it electrical.....?

Post by edie_fox » Sat Jul 27, 2019 4:17 pm

jifflemon wrote:
Sat Jul 27, 2019 3:26 pm
ok, get yourself onto eBay/amazon and gets yourself a nice cheap multimeter. Nothing more than £10 will suffice.

Armed with one, we can do much more troubleshooting....
OK, will do. On it right this minute. Will report back!

arthuy
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Re: Is it electrical.....?

Post by arthuy » Sat Jul 27, 2019 6:11 pm

Starts with a jump but not with its own battery.

When you attached the jump leads did you put the leads directly on the battery or negative to the engine block?

If it happens again put a jump lead from the battery to the block and see if that works, would point at an earth strap fault.

Could be you are just leaking is water an issue, it could be a cable with poor insulation. Water can act as a conductor and make it worse.

Worth checking if you have any melted cables. I damaged a cable which got a bit burnt from welding, I taped the burnt bit but the battery was draining. I proved the current drain with a meter. Seems the insulation was damaged with the heat and let a little bit of current escape.

Can be anything but check the basics first.

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edie_fox
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Re: Is it electrical.....?

Post by edie_fox » Sun Jul 28, 2019 11:31 am

arthuy wrote:
Sat Jul 27, 2019 6:11 pm
Starts with a jump but not with its own battery.

When you attached the jump leads did you put the leads directly on the battery or negative to the engine block?

If it happens again put a jump lead from the battery to the block and see if that works, would point at an earth strap fault.

Could be you are just leaking is water an issue, it could be a cable with poor insulation. Water can act as a conductor and make it worse.

Worth checking if you have any melted cables. I damaged a cable which got a bit burnt from welding, I taped the burnt bit but the battery was draining. I proved the current drain with a meter. Seems the insulation was damaged with the heat and let a little bit of current escape.

Can be anything but check the basics first.
Multimeter should be here today. Although, I do hope it comes with instructions as I have no idea of all of the functions! Haha.

The guys at the track just took over. They attached the neg to the engine block.

Earth strap and pos side are all being replaced on 24th. Although, the guy who is doing it said ''it looks fine, I wouldn't bother" but the terminals are chewed and very hard to do up without nearly snapping now and there is a lot of mix and match going on on the pos side make-up!
I've just gone out today (after covering on return yesterday), dried it all off totally, checked to see if under bonnet was damp or any condensation at all but nothing. Gave it a go and....same again. An initial full dash display as per ignition turn on then a quick turn over with no luck, then a second go and nothing at all; dash or engine wise, just a very slight ticking noise.

Will also buy jump leads. Never needed any before!

Thank you for suggestions though. I think it will have to be checked by the man doing the battery bits. He's a recommended auto electrician, deals with mazes of madness in motorhomes so doesn't get overwhelmed by a little bit of work on a car!

jifflemon
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Re: Is it electrical.....?

Post by jifflemon » Sun Jul 28, 2019 11:40 am

edie_fox wrote:
Sun Jul 28, 2019 11:31 am
Multimeter should be here today. Although, I do hope it comes with instructions as I have no idea of all of the functions! Haha.
You'll not need them! Trust me, I'll do a VERY comprehensive set of fault finding, that needs you to set it in the simple 20V range :D

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Murf
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Re: Is it electrical.....?

Post by Murf » Tue Jul 30, 2019 8:44 pm

I had a parasitic battery drain in mine that I traced to the aftermarket radio. It would drain the battery in a couple of days if the car was unused.
Kia Pro'ceed GT 1.6 Turbo
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Alan 480
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Re: Is it electrical.....?

Post by Alan 480 » Wed Jul 31, 2019 11:54 am

Murf wrote:
Tue Jul 30, 2019 8:44 pm
I had a parasitic battery drain in mine that I traced to the aftermarket radio. It would drain the battery in a couple of days if the car was unused.
i think i have a similar issue, maybe the radio, still to check EXACTLY what, but wouldn't start after a week :-(
Alan

480 ES 2litre 'Celebration' ? , C30 1.8ES, SS1

jifflemon
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Re: Is it electrical.....?

Post by jifflemon » Wed Jul 31, 2019 5:35 pm

A drain is simple enough to trace. Meter set to amps, remove the meta ice terminal and insert meter. Anything more than .1 amp should be looked for.
So, leave meter connected, start by removing fuses one by one to see if it drops away.

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Re: Is it electrical.....?

Post by jifflemon » Wed Jul 31, 2019 6:32 pm

Have also been working through fox’s problem via text. Wish I was bloody closer of course, but I think we’re making progress.

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edie_fox
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Re: Is it electrical.....?

Post by edie_fox » Wed Jul 31, 2019 11:33 pm

Haha. I'm £3000 in 480 advice debt already! He's going in to the auto elecs soon. The headache of my other car dying today is bigger than this one now! Thank you all so much for the ideas and clues and possibilities though. Will mention it all!

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Re: Is it electrical.....?

Post by Alan 480 » Thu Aug 01, 2019 11:45 am

jifflemon wrote:
Wed Jul 31, 2019 5:35 pm
A drain is simple enough to trace. Meter set to amps, remove the meta ice terminal and insert meter. Anything more than .1 amp should be looked for.
So, leave meter connected, start by removing fuses one by one to see if it drops away.
i know, but finding the time when swapping out ruddy drive shaft gaitors,

retrieving tow-bar spacers from within chassis leg ( dropped one :-( ) all use up valuable time

keeping a fleet on the road with MoTs etc etc, you get the gist, but on holidays next week so maybe get a day or so at them?
Alan

480 ES 2litre 'Celebration' ? , C30 1.8ES, SS1

jifflemon
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Re: Is it electrical.....?

Post by jifflemon » Thu Aug 01, 2019 3:13 pm

Alan 480 wrote:
Thu Aug 01, 2019 11:45 am
keeping a fleet on the road with MoTs etc etc, you get the gist, but on holidays next week so maybe get a day or so at them?
I fell your pain - My fleet is currently at 7...... :shock:

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dragonflyjewels
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Re: Is it electrical.....?

Post by dragonflyjewels » Fri Aug 02, 2019 8:45 am

we're up to 7 now as well, Al's just bought a Saab, the tatty 850 has got to go !
Sylvia

Snazzy - 1993 Paris Blue ES red dipstick 2.0i bought 2001
Lethal Lily - 1991 White Turbo
Paris the Unicorn - 1991 Paris Edition
hubby has
Sven - 1994 Racing Green GT
Evil Eva - 1992 Paris Blue Turbo

no previous 480s - can't bear to sell any

Alan 480
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Re: Is it electrical.....?

Post by Alan 480 » Fri Aug 02, 2019 11:18 am

jifflemon wrote:
Thu Aug 01, 2019 3:13 pm
Alan 480 wrote:
Thu Aug 01, 2019 11:45 am
keeping a fleet on the road with MoTs etc etc, you get the gist, but on holidays next week so maybe get a day or so at them?
I fell your pain - My fleet is currently at 7...... :shock:
no that's not a fleet that's an obsession :wink:

at least i have some variety!
Alan

480 ES 2litre 'Celebration' ? , C30 1.8ES, SS1

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dcwalker
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Re: Is it electrical.....?

Post by dcwalker » Sat Aug 03, 2019 12:41 pm

7!!

That really does give me something to aspire to :lol: ;)

Mind you, another 480 is pending - that'll bring the mixed fleet number up to 4...

David
Current: 1994 480 GT, 1996 460 CD & 1997 440 LE with lots of optional extras & 2007 V50 SE Sport
Previous: Celebration 331 (re-homed with Richard S), Celebration 467 (returned to Martin Mc); Celebration 346 (re-homed with Alan480); Celebration 269 (scrapped abandoned project), Celebration 73 (sold on after 6 years), 1992 ES, 1988 ES - and numerous other non-480 Volvos!

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