electrics

[gooner1]

Does anyone know a good auto electrician in N,pton.Thanks all.

[Brianmoooore]

Does anyone know a good auto electrician in N,pton.Thanks all.

No, but the best way to get a good job is DIY. What's the problem?

[gooner1]

Hi Brian, i know what your sayin and i will tackle most things on a car but electrics and me really dont get on. there is more than one issue with cars electrics.When i first start her the rear brake lights dont work,but come on after a short while.Have checked bulbs fuses and connectors and all look ok.Also i have no reverse light,though i have since learnt that the
connection is somewhere under the gear gaiter and will check this tomorrow.Batterey also seems to be draining overnight,dont even get a click,could this be something to do with the fact that i can hear a relay constantly clicking when i lock car?Managed to get a haynes manual today
so will have a good read,but im not hopeful .Sorry its such a long reply.Thanks.

[Brianmoooore]

Hi Brian, i know what your sayin and i will tackle most things on a car but electrics and me really dont get on. there is more than one issue with cars electrics.When i first start her the rear brake lights dont work,but come on after a short while.Have checked bulbs fuses and connectors and all look ok.Also i have no reverse light,though i have since learnt that the
connection is somewhere under the gear gaiter and will check this tomorrow.Batterey also seems to be draining overnight,dont even get a click,could this be something to do with the fact that i can hear a relay constantly clicking when i lock car?Managed to get a haynes manual today
so will have a good read,but im not hopeful .Sorry its such a long reply.Thanks.

It's just that I quite ofren have to deal with the aftermath of "auto electrician's" work!
Right - your problems:
Brake lights - most probably the switch, which is clipped to a bracket near the top of the brake pedal. Creep up on your car slowly, unplug the connector from the brake light switch, turn the ignition on, and short the two pins in the connector together with a short piece of wire. If the lamps light, then it's a fair bet the switch is dud. Not unusual.
Or just change it anyway.

Reverse lights - If the fuse is OK, (10, 7.5A), then the culprit is usually the switch. As a check, pull up the gear lever surround inside the car from the console, find a two pin plug and socket near the right hand side of the bottom of the lever, pull it up and pull the plug from the socket. Take the half in which the wires don't dissapear down through the gearlever grommet, and with the ignition on again, short together the two pins in that socket with the piece of wire. If the reverse lamps light, then you need a new switch.
This switch lives high up on the right hand side of the gearbox, and is quite difficult to get at. Sort of tips of the fingers to unscrew it and to get the two spade terminals on and off.
If the fuse is blown, then the wiring under the car from the gearlever to the switch is the most likely culprit.
Battery drain: - must be quite a high drain to kill the battery overnight.
Try dissconnecting the battery negative lead overnight to check that it's not just a dud battery. Open the bonnet, close and lock the doors, but don't deadlock, then disconnect the battery lead and close the bonnet. Before you do this for the first time, leave a window open, and check that the drivers lock mechanism will unlock without assistance from the central locking.
Check the boot lamp is going out when the boot is closed, and also the glove box light, if its a pre mid 88 car, although neither of these should kill a good battery overnight.
You could also try dissconnecting the central locking. Remove the single screw that holds the trim piece over the drivers footwell loudspeaker, remove the trim and then the loudspeaker ( 3 screws) and two short self tapping screws on the inner cill directly below the loudspeaker.
Remove a piece of black plastic blocking the hole directly below the speaker, and then pull out the central locking ECU and it's bracket from its hiding place. Unplug this unit, and try the car like that for a while to see if things improve. You won't have any central locking of course.

[gooner1]

Cheers Brian, had allready ordered brake light switch.Will try the rest tomorrow. Thanks for your help.