Wiring headache - weird lighting mod

[dibs]

Set out today to try to get to the bottom of couple of small but annoying faults on my van. My clock would only run with the headlights on, Interior lights only worked with headlights on and the stereo wouldn't store stations. Only small problems but had enough of retuning the radio each time

Obviously started with the fuse (F11), blown. Replaced fuse and had buzzer on constantly and left headlamp!! Until it blew

So had a look:



Yuk

2 hours and about 6 fuses later (and the haynes wiring diagrams), got to the bottom of it. Turned out a very strange mod had been done (I think anyway) The orange/yellow wire which is the main feed to the radio from fuse 11 was twisted together with the orange/black wire which is a live feed from the interior lighting - fuse 20 - left headlamp and buzzer!! This was kind of reverse feeding F10 and all the things connected to it No wonder the fuse kept blowing!

Don't know if someone kept leaving the lights or what, why would you do that?

Anyway disconnected and wired the right wire back to the radio. Hey presto, lights, clock and sounds.

Just thought I would post this in case this has been done to anyone else's van.

Next is putting the Mondeo speedo in, looks like someone has been in there before as quite a few wires have been spliced into the speedo loom Probably something to do with taxi meter, but can't imagine why they would need a feed from the indicators, the stop switch, the airbag module and the alternator though?

[darkbluevanman]

The stereo should've give it away.....

[dibs]

Suppose you're right. Was a bit of a mess though, has obviously had loads of different things wired in through it's life - bare wires everywhere. Well, with experience comes knowledge

[dirtydog]

OMG that is probably my worst nightmare! I hate doing wiring/electrics.

I found a blue plug hanging out the bottom of my dash yesterday by the cigarette lighter, looks like it would fit straight onto one of the fog light type switches have no idea what it's for though?

[dibs]

Anything like this? I found tons of plugs as well as the extras that were wired into the ciggy lighter etc..





Think they are mostly for optional extras like electric windows & vibrating seats

[dirtydog]

Exactly the same as the blue one in the first pic, wonder what extra that is for?
Might make it easier to fit the fog lights and driving lights I've got sitting here waiting to be fitted



Vibrating seats eh? the wife might like them

[dibs]

Maybe someone in the know could identify them all?

[AlanN]

The red, blue & grey one are for the dash buttons, what they do.... is a MK5 owners guess
I can see you have the blanks in the dash

[GBBiker]

IIRC, for the centre console, there was a heated seat option so that would account for two switches. I think maybe there would have been a third for Air Con?

Best ask a Tourneo owner, they always seem to be fully loaded with the goodies

[dibs]

Air con already fitted, so wrong on that one. Imagine a couple are for electric windows. Don't know what else was available. All safely back out of sight now

Blue and white ones on centre console, red goes into the clock loom and the other four behind the speedo leading to the right hand blanks.

[dirtydog]

Right according to my Transit owners manual the switches by the cigar lighter are for (from the left)

Rear screen washer system
Rear screen wiper
Heated windcreen

and the 2 switches by the PATS light are for the heated seats

[dibs]

Could you imagine the rust with a rear screen wiper? Mines bad enough as it is