Well its settled I am now sure that when it comes to electrics i am useless! kind of get the whole concept and know how it should work but this not seein it workin!!!!

Lights on my wee locost not working and want to get them fixed, anyone got some obvious checks and if thats all ok then can anyone recomend a good auto spark arround cumbernauld, glasgow.

Thanks all

Brian

fuses?!

assuming that the battery is alive, and the fuses intact, you want to check the earths - do no lights work? just some? if several are out it probably isnt the bulbs.

just have a fiddle, its really simple really!

how are your lights switched, are they sierra, escort or what, also what fusebox have you got

Brian,

Electrics seem easier than they always are, in reality it's quite alot to get your head round but don't lose heart and just work your way methodically through things.

I didn't know the first thing about wiring when I started but if you persevere you will get better and in the end you'll know the car inside out.

Here's my wiring diagram, it's not a car engine and I'm sure it's not perfect but at least it may help you to see what connects to what as far as the lights go.

http://www.shortshouse.plus.com/WiringDiagramv10.pdf

I'm not an autoelectrician by any means just a guy like yourself who decided to have a go at building a car but I am happy to help where I can so if you need to know anymore then drop me a U2U and I will help where I can.

Good luck,
Rich.

Just drawn up a quick scketch of how the Sierra works if you take the dim/dip out of the fuse box, if you want to know the terminal numbers, ask & i'll add them,all the fuses are used in case you have a short on one lamp, you wont loose all your lights

[Edited on 14/2/05 by planetester]

hi guys,

its a sierra switches and the old bullet type fuses, will try to get some photos done tomorrow. think i have a plan, just going to follow systematically and check it as i go! trying not to set the bloody thing alight!

Thanks

buy a cheap 12 volt neon tester.

stick the croc clip end on the battery neg terminal, and the live test end on the back of the lights.(confirm 12v at lights or not)

swapp the the croc onto the battery live and the test end onto the light cluster earth. (testing the earths ok)

Work your way back thro the circuit.
The relay if there is one fitted will have its own earth, its own live, the switched live going to the lights, and the switch wire controling it, coming fron the light switch.

check them and posts the results

i agree with trev but ensure for this type of electrics you buy a bulb/type tester not a fancy led type , as they can tell little lies and mislead you up the wrong path. in essence start from the battery to the circuit to the fuse to the consumer on the + side then check your earths. if you have a multi meter give me a u2u and i will explain a great way of using the meter for measuring volt drop on a circuit which will help you find all manner of electric problems in a very easy test