Richardq

Member
How it all began:
It started one day when my diesel fuel pump from my 97 P38 packed in. I put in a new one but it wouldn't work. With the help of this site I discovered that the heater plugs 80 amp fuse had blown so I ordered a few. Then I did something stupid - I put a thin wire in its place until a new one would arrive and drove for 3 days with no problems. Then all the dashboard lights came on and I started losing power. I pulled over, popped the bonnet and discovered a puff of smoke under the fuse box. I wire had been pinched by whoever fitted the fuse box and this caused the short. I quickly sheathed it in a piece of hose and drove home. When I got home I switched off and did more investigating and realised I had fried the entire engine loom from the fuse box right down to the heater plugs. It would still start but the heater plugs were not working. So, I ordered a second hand engine loom off ebay and spent a sunny morning changing out the old one. I also replaced the heater plug main relay box as one of the terminals was black. I have put the whole lot back together but when I switch the ignition on I keep blowing fuse f37 (20 amp) and it will not start. The engine will turn over but because the fuse keeps blowing, the heater plugs won't come on and the fuel pump won't either. How do I diagnose where the fault is ocurring?

Thanks
Richard
 
Ok, a bit of good news, - I unplugged as much as I could and realised I might have got a couple a plugs mixed up down by the FIP. Anyway, the fuse no longer blows and I have been able to start and run the beauty. Unfortunately, the battery light doesn't go out and I checked the voltage over the battery while running and only got 11.4 Volts. I presume the alternator is now faulty. Is it something I can fix myself of should I strip it out and get it checked out?
Thanks
Richard
 
Ok, a bit of good news, - I unplugged as much as I could and realised I might have got a couple a plugs mixed up down by the FIP. Anyway, the fuse no longer blows and I have been able to start and run the beauty. Unfortunately, the battery light doesn't go out and I checked the voltage over the battery while running and only got 11.4 Volts. I presume the alternator is now faulty. Is it something I can fix myself of should I strip it out and get it checked out?
Thanks
Richard
Does the battery light come on on the dash?
It could be the alternator or you could have damaged something.
Take the D+ wire off the alternator and ground it with the ignition on, the battery light should come on. If it does you have an alternator fault, if it doesn't it's BECM or connectors.
You can get overhaul kits for the alternator.
 
Does the battery light come on on the dash?
It could be the alternator or you could have damaged something.
Take the D+ wire off the alternator and ground it with the ignition on, the battery light should come on. If it does you have an alternator fault, if it doesn't it's BECM or connectors.
You can get overhaul kits for the alternator.
Yes the battery light comes on on the dash. I will have a try tomorrow to see if it is an alternator fault.
Thanks
Richard
 

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