Member Since: 28 Aug 2021
Location: Swindon
Posts: 56
Dont laugh-my electrics have gone crazy!!
Hi All
The faults on this vehicle are getting very tedious now!
Driving home this evening in the torrential rain and ran through a few very large puddles that came over the front of the car. Parked it up and about an hour later the other half said your money pit is going crazy outside!
So the hazards are flashing and front light flickering, the radios on and the heater and the door locks are locking and unlocking them selves..
Nothing I could do to get them to stop, so eventually the battery gave out and I disconnected the battery terminals and put the battery on charge.
Has anybody else had any problems like this ?? I have never experienced anything like it. I am hoping a full battery will maybe fix it especially if something got wet and had dried out by the morning.
I did recently fit D4 headlights which do flicker slightly when first turned on as I havent updated with the scanner yet.
Just before I disconnected the battery just before it died they was a lot of relay chatter coming from the fuse area.
Anyone got any idea what the problem might be.
I have had a really strong burnt oil or burnt fluid on exhaust smell from the engine bay but no leaks are evident so I turned on the recirculate so the fumes where not entering the cabin and was going to pop into my freindly local service garage and get them to put it up on the ramp to investigate further.
Hopefully some one on the forum can point me in the right direction.
24th Oct 2022 7:30 pm
L319
Member Since: 14 Dec 2013
Location: Herefordshire
Posts: 2080
The symptoms , flashing light, relay chatter remind me of very low voltage to me , 7 volt in my case a few years ago.
Alternator fault or main cable to ground somewhere ?
24th Oct 2022 10:53 pm
Nasher
Member Since: 07 Mar 2009
Location: Clanfield, North of Pompey - UK
Posts: 2741
I had exactly the same years ago with my D3, on Xmas day of all days after it had been pouring with rain.
There is an ECU on the bulkhead down behind the battery, I think the transfer box, that has it's connector blocks facing upwards and despite a plastic cover the blocks fill with water and play hell with the CANBUS.
I'll see if I can find my thread.Heaven doesn't want me, and hell is afraid I'll take over.
Last edited by Nasher on 25th Oct 2022 7:51 am. Edited 1 time in total
24th Oct 2022 11:01 pm
Nasher
Member Since: 07 Mar 2009
Location: Clanfield, North of Pompey - UK
Posts: 2741
Sorry, can't find my old thread, but it's quite a common problem.Heaven doesn't want me, and hell is afraid I'll take over.
24th Oct 2022 11:08 pm
Nasher
Member Since: 07 Mar 2009
Location: Clanfield, North of Pompey - UK
Posts: 2741
Sounds very similar.Heaven doesn't want me, and hell is afraid I'll take over.
24th Oct 2022 11:17 pm
wanborough one
Member Since: 28 Aug 2021
Location: Swindon
Posts: 56
Hi All
Thanks for the great advice.
Just got in and removed the battery and found the ecu has no cover over it!! No wonder it filled with water.
I cleaned the middle connection block with a small copper wire brush after drying it out then sprayed with contact spray and reassembled.
Also found a rogue wire on the left of the ecu that maybe I dislodged or is some sort of spare not used perhaps you guys know where it goes or what its for I cant see anything like a connection. Perhaps you can advise.
It started fine and drove well then I parked it up and locked it and after a couple of minutes it started all four flashers and siren and a few door lock actions. I unlocked it and left it then after another couple of minutes it started flashing again and would not let me open the door with the remote for a while then it opened with the remote so I quickly got the bonnet up and disconnected the battery.
I dryed the middle connection out with a heat gun before i cleaned it so should of been ok.
Any thoughts.... I will use it for work tomorrow then disconnect the battery whilst I am at work if its still doing it.
Hope you have some thoughts on the ongoing problem.
25th Oct 2022 5:21 pm
Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10483
The 2 wires should be disconnected. For Transport from the factory.
Maybe get the modules in the house to dry out for a few days. No where too hot though.
Are you sure the fusebox inside isn't wet ?
25th Oct 2022 5:42 pm
wanborough one
Member Since: 28 Aug 2021
Location: Swindon
Posts: 56
Oh good shout will go and have a look now, could do with some luck so you never know!
Just checked and its as dry as a bone!
Taking the ecu out and leaving it to dry in house do you think that might work, would the water seep into the actual ecu itself through the connector block?
Seems a bit weird because it starts and drives well its just the turning off and locking sets it off or not locking it still goes off in a couple of minutes.
Strangely yesterday the siren was not going off and today it is!
25th Oct 2022 5:49 pm
Pete K
Member Since: 15 Jan 2016
Location: GL
Posts: 10483
yeah I would turn the ecu upside down for a bit to see if any water will drain out. for a few hours.
then upright to see if any water wants to evaporate
Don't put it anywhere too hot as it may kill it
25th Oct 2022 6:07 pm
wanborough one
Member Since: 28 Aug 2021
Location: Swindon
Posts: 56
Thanks Pete
I think I will have to wait until the week end for that and just drive it to work then disconnect the battery when I leave it parked up until then.
Could it be a low battery fault maybe, it seems to spin over ok.
Remember I also have a strong burning smell from the engine bay I cant detect which has been there since I did all the brake and handbrake upgrades etc Nothing binding or obvious.
25th Oct 2022 6:15 pm
Nasher
Member Since: 07 Mar 2009
Location: Clanfield, North of Pompey - UK
Posts: 2741
I'm sure you've already checked, but are the connectors on the ends of the cables now dry as well?Heaven doesn't want me, and hell is afraid I'll take over.
25th Oct 2022 6:18 pm
wanborough one
Member Since: 28 Aug 2021
Location: Swindon
Posts: 56
Yes I did blast them with the heat gun and sprayed them so should have been ok. I will check everything again on the weekend when I remove the ecu.
25th Oct 2022 6:59 pm
wanborough one
Member Since: 28 Aug 2021
Location: Swindon
Posts: 56
Closure
Hi
Thanks for all the advice, dried the connection out and sprayed with contact cleaner and the problem was solved and a new replacement cover fitted to prevent any further problems.
Thanks again for the advice
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