Electrical help/pointers please.

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Flossie

Well-Known Member
Posts
11,001
Location
Shropshire
When my headlamps are on the front and rear off side indicators glow constantly and stay like that even if I indicate right, the dash tell tale also glows constantly. Near side indicators work normally. With headlamps on the offside sidelight also goes dim.
If I switch the headlights off the off side front side light goes bright again and the off side indicators will work correctly.
I suspect it may be the earth to the off side front headlamp but before I delve in (lots of stuff to remove to get at) would appreciate confirmation as to my thinking.
1986 110 with 200tdi.
Even though I completely rebuilt her it was 17 yrs ago and I forget where the headlamp earth's are:oops:
 
As I thought, cheers.
Still haven't had a chance to look at her yet except for a quick look and I couldn't see any earth points looking down at the light bowl.
Would it be easier to remove the headlamp and bowl to get better Access I wonder..?
 
bad earth on headlights causing the electrical pixies to back-feed through the indicator earth, path of least resistance.

Wouldn't happen with LED,
 
couldn't it backfeed into the dash lights through the relay etc ?
Or did i just spraff a load of sh** lol
 
As I thought, cheers.
Still haven't had a chance to look at her yet except for a quick look and I couldn't see any earth points looking down at the light bowl.
Would it be easier to remove the headlamp and bowl to get better Access I wonder..?

The earths for all the front lights are on the steel inner arch, around the top corner, right at the front.

if you have a length of wire, connect it direct to the battery neg, turn the lights on so the fault is present, then touch the wire onto each earth point. You should see that one, or more, earth points cause the fault to get better, or disappear completely.

When I done my rebuild, I ran separate earth wires from the bulkhead earth point to each of the front earths, to make sure this problem never happened again.
 
The earths for all the front lights are on the steel inner arch, around the top corner, right at the front.

if you have a length of wire, connect it direct to the battery neg, turn the lights on so the fault is present, then touch the wire onto each earth point. You should see that one, or more, earth points cause the fault to get better, or disappear completely.

When I done my rebuild, I ran separate earth wires from the bulkhead earth point to each of the front earths, to make sure this problem never happened again.

You can never have too many erfs on a Landy ...
 
What happens with just the side lights on?
Same, rear indicator glows all the time even without moving the stalk, moving the stalk to indicate right and nothing happens, just glows. Front off side side light also glows when sidelights or headlamps are on. Indicators act normally when no lights are on.
Rear and front pics. Rear indicator glowing.
IMG_20200121_194122.jpg
and dull front sidelight and glowy indicator.
IMG_20200121_194139.jpg
IMG_20200121_194139.jpg
 
The earths for all the front lights are on the steel inner arch, around the top corner, right at the front.

if you have a length of wire, connect it direct to the battery neg, turn the lights on so the fault is present, then touch the wire onto each earth point. You should see that one, or more, earth points cause the fault to get better, or disappear completely.

When I done my rebuild, I ran separate earth wires from the bulkhead earth point to each of the front earths, to make sure this problem never happened again.
Had a quick look today and I can't see them using a torch but I've got lots of stuff blocking a clear view, block heater, leccy fan gubbins etc. I should get a better chance to look at the weekend hopefully. Probably gonna take the headlamps out and maybe upgrade the headlamp bulbs while I'm at it.
 
Had a quick look today and I can't see them using a torch but I've got lots of stuff blocking a clear view, block heater, leccy fan gubbins etc. I should get a better chance to look at the weekend hopefully. Probably gonna take the headlamps out and maybe upgrade the headlamp bulbs while I'm at it.

If your gonna do it proper like upgrade the wiring ...

@The Mad Hat Man has a great fred - help file for this ...
 
Had a quick look today and I can't see them using a torch but I've got lots of stuff blocking a clear view, block heater, leccy fan gubbins etc. I should get a better chance to look at the weekend hopefully. Probably gonna take the headlamps out and maybe upgrade the headlamp bulbs while I'm at it.

One of the holes in this photo is the original location of the earth screw. I can’t remember exactly which one it is though.
upload_2020-1-22_9-18-30.jpeg


This photo shows the concept of how I made the new earths. Two repair washers, one ring terminal, and a nyloc nut. The earths on the loom just go over the threaded portion, and are clamped on with a couple of washers and another nut. Simples.
upload_2020-1-22_9-30-15.jpeg

(if you zoom in on this photo, you may be able to make out the marks from the original earth location, directly above the new earth bolt).
 
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