strange happenings

[SCHWARTZ]

Having a few strange problems and believe its due to the connector of death:mad: Yesterday I cut the starter exciter wire and bypassed the connector of death the strater now fires first time every time. Sometimes while starting a few weird things happen, right indicator on dash lights up (dosnt flash), the heated screen (i think looks like a ball with the stiches coming out) lights up and you can't turn it off and a few times it turned over slowly like the battery was dead (its not) so something is stealing power.
Since bypassing the connector of death I havnt driven the car as it just dies when left to idle but I'm sure all the problems relate to the connector. I have bonnet vents right above it which don't help.
Basicly I want to do away with it so has anyone got any good ideas or links to decent waterproof connectors? I don't really need it to be removable as the loom is seperate now but that seems a bit Pikey just cutting it out so any ideas?

[Dave Reed]

Couple of options really.

1, cut it all out, solder the joints and heat shrink (you can also re-route it to hide it ;)
2, have a troll through ebay for water proof connectors, cut and reterminate

I must admit I done away with mine years ago as you get some strange problems from it. It used to start much better and never had anymore issues with random dash lights illuminating.

[Dave Reed]

these guy's are a pretty good place to start.


http://www.cbsonline.co.uk/

[SCHWARTZ]

I thought cutting it out may be a bit Pikey but you can't really get anything better than a soldered joint so I think il cut it out shrink wrap and loom tape it and be done with it:D

[JP Racing]

This is what I did with mine :)

http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s584/JPRacing1978/2192FF33-54DA-43C2-9DCC-6E5A5954A577-547-000000CCD0E2032B_zps7ba59c71.jpg

This is the loom end I thought it looked pretty good and it works really well.

http://i1307.photobucket.com/albums/s584/JPRacing1978/6EE9045F-21FD-4BB2-96CA-3BC4CA2DAF19-547-000000CCD8D1D693_zpsc169618c.jpg

[SCHWARTZ]

Looks good matey wouldn't mind doing something like that. Is that all there is 6wires?:scratch:

[Dave Reed]

Would of looked better with a boot :D

[gttjames]

that looks well good jp racing, is it just 6 wires, swear mine has more. Where is the connector from, link?

[JP Racing]

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem?sbk=1&nav=SEARCH&itemId=321157034301

Hopefully that works :) I got mine from an English seller but they are most likely the same. I didn't do the wiring os8472 ( Oliver ) did so blame him dave for missing the boot ;) the original might have more than 6 wires you might have to check as I only used the ones I needed :D

[SCHWARTZ]

Cleaned up the block just to try and see if it was it but no better. When I take the hand brake off the hand brake light turns off and the light that looks like a rugby ball loosing its stitches comes on the switch on the right of the steering wheel won't turn it off and it comes on with the lights on. This in turn stalls the engine:scratch: Does this sound Luke a connector of death type problem?

[Jonny5]

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem?sbk=1&nav=SEARCH&itemId=321157034301

Hopefully that works :) I got mine from an English seller but they are most likely the same. I didn't do the wiring os8472 ( Oliver ) did so blame him dave for missing the boot ;) the original might have more than 6 wires you might have to check as I only used the ones I needed :D

:agree:
The link below is for an english seller.
Im going to be using two 6 pin versions both with 2.5mm gauge wire due to the starter solenoid wiring.
Standard engine loom plug has 10 wires, car side plug has 11.

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem?itemId=400471928679

[casper]

:agree:
The link below is for an english seller.
Im going to be using two 6 pin versions both with 2.5mm gauge wire due to the starter solenoid wiring.
Standard engine loom plug has 10 wires, car side plug has 11.

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.co.uk/viewitem?itemId=400471928679

I thought it was 13 jonny?maybe wrong.Just down the road from me that place.:agree:

[SCHWARTZ]

So I have cut out the connector of death and still no joy.:sad2: Its the rear fog light symbol that illuminates when I take the handbrake off and as soon as I do it dies. The light only comes on when the engine is running and as soon as it does it dies:scratch:
The only thing I have touched in ages is the connector of death so I assumed it was something to do with that.
Obviously I have a short somewhere, is there ant point where the rear fog light symbol and handbrake light cross?

[dj_craig_]

I think they is a earth behind one of the rear lights could be worth a look

[SCHWARTZ]

Il have a look at that tomorow but not sure how that would affect the engine running. I have had the clocks out and removed the plugs for the rear fog and handbrake and still as soon as the hand brake comes off it dies. Looks like il be following the rear fog light wire and looking for shorts:rolleyes:

[Flight666]

I had more or less the same symptoms fog light illuminating when I went to indicate and ghostly dash lights behaving strange turned out the earth on the rear drivers side light cluster was caput maybe worth a look..:)

[SCHWARTZ]

I will give this a look when I get home tonight and report back. Cheers chaps

[Ian S]

with 2.5mm gauge wire due to the starter solenoid wiring.Best to not run the starter solenoid through the key barrel. http://www.rtoc.org/boards/showthread.php?t=4724

[SCHWARTZ]

To be fair my starter starts every time just by bypassing the connector of death, I bought a relay to do the starter relay mod but this seems to work for now.
Also I do get the battery light illuminating when braking so il give that earth a look

[philr5t]

have you got a turbo timer on your car gary ?

[SCHWARTZ]

There was one when I bought it. It was controlled by the old Clifford alarm, I lost the use of it when I did the engine conversion and I have now changed the alarm for a viper. I never found the turbo timer unit its self that I know of unless I have mistaken it for part of the old alarm and removed it with that.

[SCHWARTZ]

Had a quick play tonight, removed the pass rear light and the earth is tight and rust free. I also unplugged and plugged back in the connector for the rear light loom and the car was still playing up then just decided to work properly, no rear fog lihght coming up and no battery light when braking.:scratch: I havnt done anything so I'm sure it will come back but until it does there's not much I can do so its fixed for now:D cheers lads.

[R5MJH]

make sure its there @ the surrey meet mate i love a rat :laugh::laugh:

[SCHWARTZ]

I'm sure it will be there unless this rears its ugly head again:scared:

[SCHWARTZ]

Well it did it again, tried to start it and the light kept coming on and the engine died:mad: was at a pub at the time so after about 20mins of fiddling I just revved the nuts off it and it eventually went away and managed to get us home. Played about with the earth for the rear lights and that made no difference. Anyone got ant other ideas? Otherwise I'm torching it.

[5teve L]

It most prob is an earth problem, either it's split, or corroded somewhere ?
It's odd that you play with the rear light & then it will randomly be ok for a while. Have you sprayed WD40 on the connectors ?

[SCHWARTZ]

I sprayed wd-40 on the connector of death and that didn't make any difference, I then cut out the connector of death and it was fine until taped the wires back together to neaten it up then after a 30min drive we stopped for an hour then it didn't want to go again:scratch:

[SCHWARTZ]

What should be earthed behind the pass headlight?:scratch:

[cook1981]

Im having the exact same problems just now !!!!!!

[Dave Reed]

Your running aftermarket management ain't u?

[R5MJH]

hes on mega squirt dave

[SCHWARTZ]

Yes Dave on megasquirt, have the gtt loom in place though for the starter and alt etc... Then taking from the key switch for switched lives and Bart for perm live.

[cook1981]

Im having the exact same problems just now !!!!!!

Its now fixed it, the problem was the earth fixed infront of the drivers side going to the engine block so might be worth a look

[Dave Reed]

Yes Dave on megasquirt, have the gtt loom in place though for the starter and alt etc... Then taking from the key switch for switched lives and Bart for perm live.

So y's it cutting out? Surely your engine loom is separate now.. So the mega squirt should run the engine.. If that's cutting out them your charge/batt might be going flat..

I'd start by adding some temp earths from engine to chassis to batt.. See of that helps.. It could just be a broken earth in which case adding some extra wont matter

[SCHWARTZ]

Will do dave. I have one for alt gearbox and block but il add some more to try. If it sits there idling as the light comes on the revvs slowly drop and it will die. If you revv the nuts off it for a while the light will go and it will then be ok.
Fingers crossed its ok as it hasn't come back after cleaning the earth behind pass side headlamp and rear lights

[cook1981]

Will do dave. I have one for alt gearbox and block but il add some more to try. If it sits there idling as the light comes on the revvs slowly drop and it will die. If you revv the nuts off it for a while the light will go and it will then be ok.
Fingers crossed its ok as it hasn't come back after cleaning the earth behind pass side headlamp and rear lights

Trouble free five ownership would be great

[SCHWARTZ]

For anyone who wanted to know, it turned out to be a problem with the fuel pump earth I have now run a new earth to the pump and all seems fine now.

[SCHWARTZ]

ok this still isnt sorted:mad: the new earth for the pump keeps the engine running but the rear fog light comes on when indicating and braking. I know this is some kind of earthing problem but is there a place where the rear fog light, fuel pump, indicators, brake light are all earthed?

[Dave Reed]

I'm pretty sure its either the one under the rear light Or by the pass footwell.

Have you not got a Haynes? I'm sure there all listed in there

[SCHWARTZ]

im looking through haynes now, its just not very clear to me. I will check both those points tho. cheers matey.

[SCHWARTZ]

all sorted now i hope. took him for a 20min drive with no probs so fingers crossed:D