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Earth problem?
Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 3:32 pm
by bill
Went to start the car today and about 2secs after turning key the power cut. If I leave it 10 min I got power again but the same thing happens.
Had a new radiator fitted last week if that can effect it at all. It looks like the earth cable has been moved and is now attached to the radiator frame, I'm guessing it was earthed to a screw near the bumper before but I'm not 100 per cent sure how it was before they fitted the radiator.
Anyone had this before or ideas what it could be? Working out in the middle of nowhere tomorrow and can't get anyone to look at it today.
Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 4:11 pm
by wurlycorner
When you say power cut, what do you mean?
Do you mean the engine dies or do you mean all the lights on the dash go blank?
Pics of how the earth is now connected?
Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 4:12 pm
by Pushki
One of the main Earths from the battery should be connected to the slam panel just in front of the radiator reservoir bottle. I think the other Earth is attached to the starter motor.
These symptoms could also be a main relay issue.
Re: Earth problem?
Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 4:27 pm
by Silver
Well when i got that problem it was a key switch issue. My car started to turn selve off. Changed that and no issues till then.
Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 5:29 pm
by Scott560
if the thick wires have been disturbed, check that they are not cracked inside. They are quite stiff and seldom move, so get brittle over age.
One heavy handed mechanic could easily snap it at the bends. I've seen this happen before on a rover 400 (which has very similar main earth mounting point)
Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 5:35 pm
by mercutio
Silver wrote:Well when i got that problem it was a key switch issue. My car started to turn selve off. Changed that and no issues till then.
this is 5g specific buddy the 4g didn't suffer from this
Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 7:33 pm
by bill
OK thanks for the help people. I been doing some investigating and it looks like they put my battery in back to front as all pics I've seen the battery is the other way. This also makes sense as the way it sits just now the earth cable doesn't reach the point where it was earthed before. It looks like when they have been reconnecting the battery they have had to pull more cable through so it would reach and burst the -tive cable open as looking right in you can see shitloads of exposed cabling but again whether these cable are usually like this or not I can't confirm.
Its pissing down now where I am and I won't be able to take pics till it dies down or tomorrow
Scott when you say thick wire I think that's the one that's burst open and has other cables inside?
Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 8:57 pm
by mercutio
on a 4g the earth is closest to the slam panel as in the pic above and the poles are inboard your problem does sound like an earth issue
Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 9:35 pm
by Vtecmec
Does this help?
Of the two on the right, one goes to the gearbox, I think the other one is an extra one I added myself (can't remember
).
Posted: Sat May 10, 2014 9:42 pm
by Vtecmec