Help please electrical fault

[zena]

Hmmm, took VERY reluctant husband away for 2 nights which was cut short by electrical issues. If anyone can help or suggest please shout. For some time, my ignition key has needed the special touch, as you could turn the key to the off position and engine would still run. I bought the one on eBay and held as a spare, I mention this incase it's connected. On the way to the site Friday, the van drove as if brakes gelding on which wasn't a surprise as shoes just adjusted from mot,which came off in end but indicator started to go really really slow and sluggish. Didn't think any more of it until woke next am and set off, to find indicator stopped working and flasher unit not working, fuel gauge and battery charge gauge stopped working. I cannot post pictures but on checking the fuse, the top fuse has blown and when replaced, blew again. Any thoughts??? We are going to try and change the ignition barrel tomorrow and go from there. Any guidance would be good, thanks

Zena -commer fan for life

 

[Panky]

The supply to the indicators and the gauges goes through the ignition switch, it could be that it has an internal fault and is shorting out. It wont be the barrel that's faulty but the switch it's connected to behind it - do me a favour and dis-connect the battery tonight and get it checked out.

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[Panky]

Hi Zena, did you manage to find out what was wrong?

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[zena]

Hey panky,thanks so much for your messages. We have progress, the dash has been completely taken out, which has resolved a few non workings re some instrument panels, but we think it's actually the fuse box which is faulty, as keeps shorting out and blowing fuses and as it has no cover, water appears to have got in also and worsened the issue. We also have a rather worrying spark in the rear of the an, over the gas bottle cylinder which seems to be arcing at the battery terminal. All in all, dad and husband have been amazing and my horn and interior light now work. Progress but not there yet....

Zena -commer fan for life

 

[Lulu]

Zena please do me a favour and remove the gas cylinder from the van until you have located and repaired whatever is causing the spark. I don't suppose you've ever seen a gas cylinder explode, if it does the van and probably the garage will be demolished.

 

[zena]

As stupid as it sounds, I hadn't thought of that. Good advise thank you, will remove it in the morning.

Zena -commer fan for life

 

[Panky]

Arcing at the battery doesn't sound good, if there isn't a grommet where the live wire passes through the bodywork the insulation on the wire may have worn through. It could also be a bad connection on the battery terminals.
Just a though, is this the leisure battery or the main battery?

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[PaulJL]

in a modern vehicle we would remove the circuits from the equation by disconnecting them at the live side one at a time. The one with the short, when disconnected will stop the fuse popping. Then its only one circuit to follow..

I sorted my garage into 4 piles of stuff.
1. Stuff I`m keeping
2. Stuff I`m not getting rid of.
3. Stuff I might use..one day.
4. Stuff that might come in handy.

 

[zena]

Both of your last posts sound good, if I knew what it meant!! we have a replacement fuse box on route as dad thinks this is failing on the ignition side ad he has replaced the whole ignition switch also, and for the first time my dash lights up and my interior light works, so good news. The battery wiring is different, I only have a vehicle battery, I don't have an auxilery battery on chrissie? It looks as though the wires from the battery terminals have broken and connectors used, which over time has been pulled as the gas cylinder has been replaced which sits next to the battery. Dad is going to trace the wires back and re connect and terminal this to the chassy???? But at present, all disconnected until fuse box arrives....

Zena -commer fan for life

 

[Panky]

Sounds like your Dad is very handy[^]

 

[PaulJL]

I would be tempted to replumb the gas bottle as far away from the battery as possible if it was my van.

I sorted my garage into 4 piles of stuff.
1. Stuff I`m keeping
2. Stuff I`m not getting rid of.
3. Stuff I might use..one day.
4. Stuff that might come in handy.

 

[renaultvation]

I would agree with Paul and in addition ensure that wherever the gas bottle is sited, it is vented from below, so that any gas leakage (LPG is heavier that air) is dispersed.

'I intend to live forever - so far, so good'

 

[Panky]

Auto-sleepers would normally have the battery in a well under the passenger floor in the cab and gas bottle similarly housed under the floor within the nearside bench.

 

[zena]

Well, we have some progress!! Yes, dad is handy bless him but takes his time, and I'm impatient and want.things fixed now. I have a pull out bed in the front so I don't have a passenger recess for the battery and in the rear behind the passenger I have a ventilated gas bottle cupboard. The battery is next to this. Dad and hubby have replaced the fuse box and have safely wired all of the battery terminal connections etc and stopped arcing. Then,,,, we have a pool of oil and petrol under the van now and a strong smell of fuel.... Going to check fuel tank. Do they rot maybe? Fuel consumption is up in past months and mot advise stated fuel float open and dripping on exhaust?? Another problem to sort and tatton park so close...going to bike bulldog bash with hubby on weekend and all so close now....

Zena -commer fan for life

 

[martin maltas]

Check the rubber fuel tank elbow as it goes into the tank, they become porous [V]

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[Panky]

The 'fuel float open' comment might relate to the inlet manifold drain. It's a little pipe that sometimes drips fuel for a while when the engine is turned off as fuel dribbles down from the carb, wonderful design as it drips straight onto the exhaust manifold[V] Personally I'd blank it off if that is what is happening after first making sure the float in the carburettor isn't stuck.
As Martin says though check the fuel filler pipework for leaks they do tend to weaken with age.