electrical-due to steam washing

[glastry]

after washing- no lights,wipers,fan,speedometer,etc
fuses are ok,
possibly an earthing problem,but where to look (from an electrical dunce!!!!)
where are the earthing points?

1999 80 swb 2.5 diesel (banana exhaust)

any help appreciated

[Nighthawk]

This is going to sound daft........but where and how did you wash it to get this fault?

The underbonnet earths are simple, a thick lead from the starter motor mounting flange goes upto the battery neg, and a smaller earth also goes off from the neg post to just behind the indicator.

Does anything else not work?

The fuse box on your vehicle is above the throttle pedal, but depending on spec there is a couple of possibles under the bonnet. right next to the battery positive is a small fuse box with some high capacity fuses in.

[glastry]

had van washed for psv by same commercial washing crew for the last few years with no problems.this time when i came off the ramp these were the problems,so it seems obviously steam related.the firm got a car electrician to come and look,-just as he announced thatthere was no power to some of the fuse box---everything stated to work again,
until yesterday,after a 150 mile run to wicklow,the same faults returned.
have just checked the earths and the fuses beside the battery,(i could not
get the fuses out but they have a clear top and seem intact.

[Nighthawk]

You can't get those fuses out without removing the battery, they are fastened in with a nut. As long as they look ok, thats fine.

I'm wondering if your main ignition relay is ok.....it's a black relay about an " square, you'll find it in the fuse box by the throttle pedal. it's over towards the left side of the box and the map on the lid will show either a key or a lightning flash.

do your dash lights work?

[glastry]

yes the dash lights work as do the tail lights,one nearside side light works,

sorry i do not know how to check the relay

thanks

[Nighthawk]

Sorry m8, by dash lights i was meaning the icons, i.e battery and oil, main beam etc.

Is this exactly the same problem as when they fixed it?
If so take it back to them and get them to pull their fingers out!

[glastry]

i probably should have said that the van starts and runs ok.
the other thing i now remember is that a few months ago i had a new starter motor fitted (£186 thank you),the next day the starter kept running
after the engine started--bloody awful racket.the installer did not fit another new starter- instead he muttered about a poor ignition connection
and fitted a "relay",which was tie wrapped to the new starter motor!!!
---probably irrelevant but at the time i did wonder if the starter should not have been replaced.

[Nighthawk]

All sounds rather fishy to my

I can't think of a reason why they'd need to add an additional relay, as the starter solenoid was already controled by a relay.

I'd have a proper autospark look at it tbh, without being there and seeing the bits and bobs it's hard to establish a diagnosis.

[glastry]

the dash lights up,but no lights on battery,oil,or fuel filter warning light.
does no power to some of the fuse box not suggest an earthing problem?

[glastry]

decided to take advice given and go to qualified auto-spark,got about 15 miles up the road (without wipers indicators lights etc)-----and everything
started to work again.
-----anyway since i was within 3 miles from autospark,decided to call in anyway!
got the impression that he thought he was being visited by the village idiot,----with a van with no electrical faults!!!
left feeling like the f*** village idiot.

ah-well -til the next time then

thanks all replys appreciated

[rover]

decided to take advice given and go to qualified auto-spark,got about 15 miles up the road (without wipers indicators lights etc)-----and everything
started to work again.
-----anyway since i was within 3 miles from autospark,decided to call in anyway!
got the impression that he thought he was being visited by the village idiot,----with a van with no electrical faults!!!
left feeling like the f*****g village idiot.

ah-well -til the next time then

thanks all replys appreciated

Dont worry about it glastry... You would not believe how many times it happens......wether it be electrical or mechanical........."I had such and such a problem until half an hour ago" happens to most garages etc at least once a month....he will be well used to it!

At least its fixed itself, hope its permanent

[glastry]

it bloody isnot---just went to drive home ,no lights no indicaters,as before

help -----------------------------!!!!!!!!

[Nighthawk]

Next time you get in the van, say to your self

" Oh well, off to the autospark again"

In a loud voice.......the van will fix it's self again

[glastry]

paul daniels has nothing to fear then.
do not give up your day job

[glastry]

and its all gone quiet over there ,
its all gone quiet over there,
yes its all gone quiet

looks like a visit to mr ford with cheque book in hand

well f*** that