Dodgy Earth?

FraserMurray · Post by **FraserMurray** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 8:14 am

Right I seem to have lost my front right indicator and associated side light, doesn't look like it's a bulb or fuse problem so I'm assuming dodgy earth somewhere - is that likely? If it is can someone give me an idiots guide to all the places I should be checking?

Ta

F

PAUL CALDERBANK · Post by **PAUL CALDERBANK** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 12:55 pm

I had a similar problem with my front right indicator. Turned out that all I had to do was gently tweak the sprung metal plate, that sits behind the bulb, forward. Nice easy fix for once!

Gary71 · Post by **Gary71** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 12:56 pm

The earth lead comes straight off the back of the lamp housing which can corrode horribly as it's made of some nasty monkey metal. I'd start by pulling the lamp out and checking this wire. It earths to the body just by the battery box (or a least it does on mine!).

I have spent many a long hour trying to get my lights to come on reliably, the previous owner had even rammed a self tapper down the side of the bulb holder to try and get the indicators to stay on! Soldering direct to the bulbs is the ultimate fix...

Barry · Post by **Barry** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 4:51 pm

If you suspect an earth problem, its sometimes worth running a lead from known good earth (battery, engine etc) round to affected part, turn on the 'appliance' and touch your supplimentary earth onto body of part, if it works (or fault dissappears) its the earth! It often saves lots of stripping down and searching.

Another way is to turn 'appliance' on, and put a voltmeter between good earth and faulty part's body: if you've got a proper voltage (more than 1 volt say) you've got an earth problem.

Barry · Post by **Barry** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 4:58 pm

BTW I am a bit of a sucker for adding extra earths if the original looks merely 'O.K.' rather than brilliant, rather than cutting the loom about, and always seat anything on the earth side down on vasaline: e.g. the terminal thread, the eye, and then over the whole lot, especially if its out in the weather (horns, lights, oil tank sender etc etc).

FraserMurray · Post by **FraserMurray** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 7:31 pm

thanks guys, some good starting points to keep me busy at the weekends. I'll just avoid turning right for the time being!

F

cubist · Post by **cubist** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 10:19 am

A good powerwash then stop off-roading you monkey

FraserMurray · Post by **FraserMurray** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 1:48 pm

Don't you think it looks a little less like an offroader now?!
I couldn't take you picking on me any more!

Derek · Post by **Derek** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 2:43 pm

No, still looks like a 4x4

cubist · Post by **cubist** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 3:10 pm

there's some school kids just out of frame pointing and laughing... just before they skateboard under it

FraserMurray · Post by **FraserMurray** » Wed Feb 09, 2005 4:56 pm

right that's it I'm not playing any more. I'm going to swap it for the knackered Sierra in the background..

FraserMurray · Post by **FraserMurray** » Sun Feb 20, 2005 10:59 am

Right had a look last night and basically it looks like the earth was going nowhere (not really sure where it was ever going but wherever it was it aint there any more!) It revealed a bit of a bigger and more unexpected problem! The bit of the wing that the indicator housing slips into seems to be missing on the right hand side of my car (see crappy picture below) which basically means that anything thrown up from the road goes staright onto the indicator housing - hence manky cruddy connections. I thought this piece was part of the wing - is it a separate piece and if so where is the best place to get a new one? Any help gratefully received.

ok picture hosting is playing up I'll post it later!

F

FraserMurray · Post by **FraserMurray** » Sun Feb 20, 2005 11:06 pm

picture added- horn grille right, weatherstrip along bottom and big missing bit straight ahead!

F

Ian Donkin · Post by **Ian Donkin** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 6:29 pm

Fraser

That's what mine looks like behind the indicator housing.... From within the wheelarch, crud can get blasted staight onto the back of the housing (altough it is / should be protected by a plastic cap where the wires pass into the unit itself).

Unless anyone else chimes in to the contrary, I believe that's how it's supposed to be.

Ian Donkin · Post by **Ian Donkin** » Mon Feb 21, 2005 6:30 pm

p.s. was your car the inspiration behind the Cayenne?