loss of electrics

[plainlazy]

Hi All

I have a 1990 2.5di motorhome. I was on a 400 mile trip in her and all was fine until about 200 miles in, then all of a sudden i pull up to a junction and the engine cut out.
Turned the key but none of the Red lights came on, just completely dead. Hazard lights and interior lights etc all ok.
Called out the RAC who sent out local garage. The man checked the battery and the earth and both were ok.
He said there was power going to the starter motor and to the fuse box ( all fuses ok). However no power was going to the ignition. He could not work out the problem so i was recovered back to my home address.
The camper is now in my drive and when i tried to start it today it was fine apart from the battery light was flickering and would not go out ?
Any idea what could be wrong before i think about getting a auto electrian to come and take a look ?
The motorhome has only done 39000 and regularly serviced.
The breakdown man did say that it looked like someone had been messing with the electrics. The motorhome did have air suspension fitted at some point but that has never worked since i have had it and it has been disconnected.

[Kedishen]

Sounds like a dodgy ignition switch. Cheap from ebay, bout £15-20 compared to fords £85.

eBay listings

Easy to replace, take the cowling away from steering, might need to remove ignition barrel (put in key, turn and press button on top of barrel).

Might wanna get in there first and give the ignition switch a wiggle see what happens. Some people carry a spare one of these with them as its fairly common.

[plainlazy]

Cheers for that Kedishen

I'll give a wiggle tomorrow and see what happens.

[Mr RVM]

Pretty sure that all the transit 86 to 2000 have the same ignition switch so plenty around for pennies at the breakers etc just a grub screw to remove it (no need to remove lock barrel) I got a brand new genuine ford one recently from the bay for a fiver delivered I have at least 4 or 5 used ones that all work fine if you get desperate

[plainlazy]

Thanks for that Mr RVM

Would this switch be ok ?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/271402048807? ... =STRK%3AME

[plainlazy]

I brought the above switch and it is totally different to the one currently fitted ?
The one currently fitted is made of plastic and just pushes on to the ignition barrel. I have looked on Ebay for one like the one fitted but i cannot seem to find anything like it ?

Any ideas ?

[tranny195]

This happened to me, and it was the switch. No idea about if any are different though mate.

[plainlazy]

Here is a couple of photos of the igition switch i have taken out.
Anyone have any ideas if the new metal switch is the correct one and if so how do i fit it ?
The old one just pushed on but i cant seem to figure out how the new switch can be fitted ?

[plainlazy]

Any ideas about the above ?
The kids are pestering me to take them camping now the nice weather is here ?

[Kedishen]

As long as it fits onto the end of barrel and is operated correctly by the barrel then it should be fine. If the way it is held in is different, then use some tape or summit to hold it in place.

I thought mk3/4/5 were same.. my friends mk3 is same as my mk4. Heres a pic of how it fits... Its literally held on with a little screw if i remember right.

[plainlazy]

Thanks for that Kedishen

My ignition barrel is totally different to the above, which is why the new ignition switch does not fit.
Now i being to wonder if someone has fitted another barrel at sometime in it's life. Anyone else have a mk 3 with a plastic ignition switch ?

[Kedishen]

weird

A new one from ebay only costs 20


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRAND-NEW-STE ... 1e6080b574

Cant speak for the quality though.. and to whether it will fit.

Perhaps a photo of the current on will help.

[whatstuffisthething]

Thanks for that Kedishen

My ignition barrel is totally different to the above, which is why the new ignition switch does not fit.
Now i being to wonder if someone has fitted another barrel at sometime in it's life. Anyone else have a mk 3 with a plastic ignition switch ?

THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM here.... Did you figure it out? Where can I get the black plastic switches?

Paul

[whatstuffisthething]

Figured it out this morning. Turns out it was not the actual switch which was the problem, but the plastic 6 pin connector to the switch.

The connection on the thick black wire (not the red) was dodgy, so when all the current was going through the dodgy connection, it had created enough heat to melt away the plastic around it, eventually leading to complete failure.

So, to fix it properly, I would need a new 6 pin connector, cut the wires and reconnect it through the new connector. Not looking forward to that job at all...

Any tips? (where would I find such a connector?)

Currently, it was fixed by cleaning the contacts and bending the contacts so that the connection will be maintained. The melted black plastic is left the way it was.
...my experience tells me that this type of half hearted job eventually will fail again....

[MinorMatt]

Cut the wires and solder?