Earth Points

[JonCooper]

anyone know where I should look for the earth points in the wiring for a Montego Tdi estate ?

some very wierd lighting effects occuring on my dash, in fact all the instrument lights are a bit odd.

[MGTurbo]

Earth point in the engine bay near the expansion tank part of a bumper bolt) and one behind the dash, above the glovebox. One also in the boot. Most likely the engine bay one though.

Gareth

[JonCooper]

thanks, excellent help, I have to find the problem today, it took out my low beam lights last night (still have high beam, wierd)

[Liam]

Had a simila problem once, if its only dip beam that isn't working its unlikely to be a bad earth. Possibly a bad connection on the back of the switch as mine was. Worth a check anyway.

[JonCooper]

that was it

the car's electrics have had a major clean up etc today. I checked all the fuses, relays, bulbs, whatever - found the earth points, one each side in the engine bay, one under the battery tray, one jammed under a waterpipe both rusty and horrible, one with a wire off (the harder one to get at), that cleared up a different problem :)

while I was testing something else I noticed the control stalk
wasnt working properly, a quick trip to the breakers and I had 2 'new' ones to try, wired up, clicked into place, everything works fine now :D

side effect is I've managed to fix some minor niggles that wern't bad enough to bother with before now.:thumbup:

[Beaker]

Noticed you are from cornwall. Wherabouts? I used to live in Falmouth

Lindz

[JonCooper]

Camborne

Newquay originally, but we moved before it turned into the UK Ibiza

[Beaker]

lol yes newquay isn't the best place if you dont want to mix with emmets. I keep meaning to get a flag for my car at somepoint, just to show i am cornish and proud of it :)

Spent ages in a scrappy out near chacewater the other month when I was down visiting the relatives. Just wish we had one like it up here :(

[JonCooper]

Orchard's or Drew's ?

Orchard's is the cheaper one just a bit further up the hill, it's where I went today, bought 2 light control stalks, the plastic shroud from the steering wheel cos mine was cracked, a nearside indicator lens and a gear knob for the princly sum of £2 :toothy:

[JonCooper]

in fact, I can uasually get spares very cheaply, if anyone needs something they can't find and is willing to pay P&P.

[Beaker]

Yeah thats the one Orchard Jon's, its an excellent place! Even had a lada niva in at the time (the 4X4) so we raided it for doors and hatch for my dad. That place is so drepressing tho, you walk in and see all these lovely maestros ready to be crushed that are better than the one you own.

Saw some excellent examples of monty's in the car park whilst I was there! Got a bit worried at somepoint as there was an immaculate one in the scrap metal part of the yard looking like it was waiting to go in with the cars to be stripped, was already to buy it there an then on the spot for my dad if it was to be scrapped. Turns out it was owned by someone who worked in the yard.

Lindz

[JonCooper]

that's John Orchards actually, John was the old man, he died 10ish years ago, it's run by his 3 sons and 1 daughter now.

off the top of my head there are 2 Montegos in there at the moment, one's a diesel, and 3 or 4 Maestros.

[Beaker]

Well i think i will be definitley shoving my nose in there when i go home to visit the relatives and paying a trip to trago mills.

Thats another thing i miss, trago mills. No where else up here quite like it. :rage:

Lindz

[JonCooper]

the offer above is open to anyone

I live fairly near a great scrapyard which I visit most weeks

if there is anything you need, and you're willing to pay postage etc

[Gary Seven]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by JonCooper
thanks, excellent help, I have to find the problem today, it took out my low beam lights last night (still have high beam, wierd) [I have similar problems with my diesel estate, dim oil light and non lighting batt charge light, last night my dip beam failed, which of the earth points do you think is responsible, as this would be my cheapest first line of attack, before looking at replacing relays or control stalks. How is the one above the glove box reached, rip out the carpet and dash or what./QUOTE]

[JonCooper]

my problem was resolved by replacing the indicator/lights control stalk.

I did clean up and properly re-attach all the earth wires at both earth points in the engine bay (both sides, near the front of the inner wing), and while that did sort out another minor niggle it didn't fix the lighting problem.

[Gary Seven]

Originally posted by JonCooper
my problem was resolved by replacing the indicator/lights control stalk.

I did clean up and properly re-attach all the earth wires at both earth points in the engine bay (both sides, near the front of the inner wing), and while that did sort out another minor niggle it didn't fix the lighting problem.

[Gary Seven]

[QUOTE][i]Originally posted by Gary Seven. I found the fault with my failed dip beam could be cured by moving the dip beam relay from side to side in it's socket it is the lucas one, the rest are german (siemens), when removed cleaned and replaced the problem went for about four days only to return again. I am now looking to replace the relay. If this does not cure the problem I will have to remove the fuse panel on which the relays are mounted and look at the condition of the wiring behind it.