lost electrics while driving?????

The place to "speak geek"
Post Reply
User avatar
andysc
Posts: 64
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:03 pm
Location: Edzell

lost electrics while driving?????

Post by andysc » Tue Apr 11, 2006 9:37 am

Just wondering if anyone has had this happen before?
Was driving home the sunday night(in dark) and had been hiking on a bit.
Had just overtaken some cars and then suddenly all the electrics went out, lights& stack, but the engine was still running, luckily it only lasted about 3~4 seconds, but was enough to scare the heck out me, what with a roundabout coming up & no street lights or moon at 80odd..... :shock:
when everything kicked back in i was happy to see i was doing 120mph @ 3k :lol: :shock: the stack was all over the place.
Got to the house as didn't want to risk stopping, got the stack to reset itself after a couple of ign on/off's.

any thoughts?
Top
User avatar
Shug
Posts: 13835
Joined: Wed Mar 09, 2005 8:28 pm
Location: Deepest, Darkest Ayrshire

Post by Shug » Tue Apr 11, 2006 9:43 am

Was it raining?

I can only imagine a duff multiplug in the loom somewhere, unless anybody else has a better idea....

You wouldn't notice if the rear lights stayed on or not?
2010 Honda VFR1200F
1990 Honda VFR400 NC30
2000 Honda VTR1000 SP1
2000 Kawasaki ZX-7R
Top
User avatar
andysc
Posts: 64
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:03 pm
Location: Edzell

Post by andysc » Tue Apr 11, 2006 10:44 am

unusually it was dry, just very cold!
Can only assume all lights were off, cos it went blacker than a black thing.
Was thinking possibly an earthing lead from the battery might be cracked, due to the difficulty in getting the battery out and in :?:
Top
User avatar
Andy G
Posts: 11390
Joined: Thu Mar 10, 2005 10:27 am
Location: Dirleton/Gullane
Contact:
Contact Andy G

Post by Andy G » Tue Apr 11, 2006 10:51 am

A brown trouser moment for sure!

My horn wasn't working on Saturday...but guess what....its back to fully functional again today! The quality and craftmanship! :wink:
Top
User avatar
Rich H
Posts: 9314
Joined: Sun Jul 31, 2005 10:11 pm
Location: Preston

Post by Rich H » Tue Apr 11, 2006 11:03 am

Lotarse engineering quality control at its best! :thumbsup

Are all the earth straps the same on all the Elise variants? I'll try and remember to have a chat with our Lekkies, they have the hydraulic crimps required to make new leads, if they are the same then I'll see if I can get a batch made up.

2 straps IIRC, one battery to chassis and one to engine block, any more?
1994 Lotus Esprit S4 - Work in progress
1980 Porsche 924 Turbo - Funky Interior Spec
2004 Smart Roadster Coupe - Hers
Top
User avatar
andysc
Posts: 64
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:03 pm
Location: Edzell

Post by andysc » Tue Apr 11, 2006 11:07 am

yup, sphincter still switchin......
I hate electrics. I really wonder about the wiring in british cars, had a
gti metro a long time back and electrical stuff was always up with it.

good to hear you've got your horn back :wink:
Top
User avatar
Rich H
Posts: 9314
Joined: Sun Jul 31, 2005 10:11 pm
Location: Preston

Post by Rich H » Tue Apr 11, 2006 11:10 am

My 406 coupe used to do something similar now and again. Everything would just die on the motorway, engine running, then just fix itself. Not really reassuring, especially when your facing an airbag! :shock:

Also had a few time where it wouldn't let me switch off the radio, or the immobiliser wouldn't let it start. Just used to leave it for a bit swear alot and try again. Great car though.... :)
1994 Lotus Esprit S4 - Work in progress
1980 Porsche 924 Turbo - Funky Interior Spec
2004 Smart Roadster Coupe - Hers
Top
User avatar
andysc
Posts: 64
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:03 pm
Location: Edzell

Post by andysc » Tue Apr 11, 2006 11:11 am

I'll pop out and have a look once this rain cloud passes over to see how many leads there are.
Top
User avatar
Victor Meldrew
Posts: 5725
Joined: Wed Jun 29, 2005 1:01 pm
Location: Unable to use location services. Please turn on your wifi....

Re: lost electrics while driving?????

Post by Victor Meldrew » Tue Apr 11, 2006 11:12 am

andysc wrote:Just wondering if anyone has had this happen before?
Was driving home the sunday night(in dark) and had been hiking on a bit.
Had just overtaken some cars and then suddenly all the electrics went out, lights& stack, but the engine was still running, luckily it only lasted about 3~4 seconds, but was enough to scare the heck out me, what with a roundabout coming up & no street lights or moon at 80odd..... :shock:
when everything kicked back in i was happy to see i was doing 120mph @ 3k :lol: :shock: the stack was all over the place.
Got to the house as didn't want to risk stopping, got the stack to reset itself after a couple of ign on/off's.

any thoughts?
Wierd, that happened to me as well about a month ago. it was dry but very cold, I put it down to condensation or dampness somewhere in the electrics. It only lasted a split second, dont know if the lights went out or not, cant remember, but the stack went wild.
Well it moves... might as well make the most of it....
Top
User avatar
andysc
Posts: 64
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:03 pm
Location: Edzell

Post by andysc » Tue Apr 11, 2006 11:18 am

I've heard a few stories about french cars having crazy electric gremlins.

I've found that too, swear/leave for 5 mins/try again usually works well!
Top
User avatar
Rich H
Posts: 9314
Joined: Sun Jul 31, 2005 10:11 pm
Location: Preston

Post by Rich H » Tue Apr 11, 2006 11:21 am

Apparently the fix was to find all the crappy cheapo plugs and remove them completely, soldering the wires up instead. I couldn't be bothered with that so I waited until everything was working alright and choped it in for the Liz! :lol:

Even then the airbag light came on while I was driving to the stealers! Fixed it by wiggling the plugs under the seat!

Part exed it quick, but they never even started it up! Trusting fools!
1994 Lotus Esprit S4 - Work in progress
1980 Porsche 924 Turbo - Funky Interior Spec
2004 Smart Roadster Coupe - Hers
Top
User avatar
andysc
Posts: 64
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:03 pm
Location: Edzell

Post by andysc » Tue Apr 11, 2006 11:24 am

the car has been sitting around not moving for a couple of weeks, could have just been damp etc. When I had filled up juat a half hour before, all the electrics were dead when i got back in. But then it suddenly all came back.
time to bring out the multimeter methinks and check the wires.
Top
User avatar
andysc
Posts: 64
Joined: Wed Mar 29, 2006 8:03 pm
Location: Edzell

Post by andysc » Tue Apr 11, 2006 11:32 am

talking of cheapo crappy connectors & fixings..... STEEL clamp fixings for the undertrays...sheesh :evil:
Top
User avatar
Rich H
Posts: 9314
Joined: Sun Jul 31, 2005 10:11 pm
Location: Preston

Post by Rich H » Tue Apr 11, 2006 12:22 pm

Don't forget the mild steel rivnuts in the chassis that are used for earth points!

Apparently the fix is a big penny washer and a big shake proof washer, should improve the connection until it all goes manky....
1994 Lotus Esprit S4 - Work in progress
1980 Porsche 924 Turbo - Funky Interior Spec
2004 Smart Roadster Coupe - Hers
Top
Post Reply

Return to “Technical”