Ford Maverick Electrical Problem

Joined: 03 Nov 2003 Location: Melbourne

ok, my cars electrical components somewhere are F@cked.

i noticed it yesterday at the top of rocky track i think it was.

the 4bys tacho kept dropping for a millisecond or so to 0rpm i think

eventuyally it became more frequent (before going through mud or anything) and the car sounded like it was missing.

it was losing power when the tacho dropped and looking like it was going to stall.

eventually the problem became worse and the car was now stalling from it.

then eventually ( ) the car wouldnt start at all, not even a spark, just completely dead.

the interior lights were flickering too (dash, diff lock , gas gauge, just every light inside the car when the revs were dropping (and no i didnt take my foot off the gas)

i sometimes could get it started by bashing the alternator and wiggling the positive wires connected to the batter and it started sometimes but not all.

even if i got the car started it would only last a short time before stalling again.

i have a 70amp alternator and a battery 4 months old. though only 530ca

anyone have any suggestions.

i have checked the dizzy and it seems like everything is allright there (thought it may have been the reason for the revs dropping)

i have no idea, but need help to fix the problem.

i remember about 2 weeks after i bought the car it did it outside autobarn (wouldnt start, no spark at all, completely dead) and i needed to replace the batter, maybe this is the same problem.

i dont know but anyway, ideas would be very helpful.

ps. first the pan hard breaks so i can really drive the car, then second the electrics so i cant even start it. A DEAD SUBMARINE THAT HAS TO BE PUSHED.

What a C |_| N T

Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Location: Hellbourne again

The fact that the taco is doing funky things does it run off the dizzy?? (Dont know nissan electrics)

Have you opened up the dizzy and checked it.

NOTE This is the sort of pain in the arse shite that comes from mud pluggin.

Joined: 06 Jul 2003 Location: All Mav'ed up!!! (Melbourne)

what is wierd is that that we were bashing the alternator with a stick, and it would eventually get power and start, but then we found that a simple wiggle of the + battery terminal would give it life and start, but then on revving/engaging clutch it would lose power (about to die), kick the clutch in and it picked up again... but then it would die on its own at random intervals, tried taking off winch wire, no difference, so my next suggestion to pete was to get rid of all the extra wires attached to the battery, and just be left with the basic loom attached, see what happens... if good, then start connecting them back 1 at a time, if still no good, then we get a bundy and have a think

p.s. the reason a reckon the tacko was doing "funky things" was cauz the whole car was losing power, cauz all the other light in the dash and in other gauges were flashing momentarily as well

Joined: 20 Oct 2002 Location: Melbourne

sounds like mud infestation of the electrics...

Joined: 12 Nov 2002 Location: Central Coast NSW

had a similar problem with mine a couple of weeks back, where car would run fine then it would start missing then run fine. Went on for a week or so until one day I went down the shops and when I go to start the car no power amp needle barely moved, tried everything I could think of, checked fusable links, wiring, battery. Turned out to be the earthwire where it bolted onto the block, the connector had fatigued and then eventually broke.

John

Joined: 25 May 2003 Location: Redbank Plains, QLD

Use a circuit tester to confirm that power is being fed to certain ancilleries. and Check your fuse box with the circuit tester to see if you're gettin the required voltage thru each fuse.

And make sure your cars properly earthed. No harm in gettin an auto lekky look at it after your cars been repaired at lockys???

Tom

Joined: 10 Nov 2002 Location: Melbourne

I reckon it might of been the Battery terminal, but it does help looking at the car.

Joined: 20 Oct 2002 Location: Greenbank

The taco gets its signal on a patrol from the alternator. So it sounds to me that you may have a lot of mud in your alternator and this is causing bad contacts. Try flushing the alternator with a water from a hose and see if this makes a difference. If so you realy need to remove the Alternator and dis-assemble it and clean it out.

All of your symptoms would make me check this first.

Joined: 03 Nov 2003 Location: Melbourne

the problem is fixed now

Joined: 26 Jun 2003 Location: traralgon victoria

so what was causing the problems, alternator filled with mud???

Joined: 03 Nov 2003 Location: Melbourne

i was told the the positive battery terminal was the problem and all the wires were cleaned and just put back together and all is fine. just a simple fix it seems.

Joined: 24 Aug 2003 Location: Launceston

hottiemonster wrote:

wiggling the positive wires connected to the batter and it started

Joined: 03 Nov 2003 Location: Melbourne

but it didnt work all the time when i did that when the car stuffed up on downies spur tk.

Joined: 18 Aug 2003 Location: Perth

Isnt it funny how something so simple is the cause of all your problems Smile

I was once told that dirty terminals/wires and bad earths were the cause of most electrical faults.

Marc