Technical Electric gremlins

[Hharbers]

My 19874x4 has some electric gremlins i cant sort.

Everything was working fine but at some moment when driving suddenly my wiper stopped working.

After more investigation multiple things stopped working
Head lights low and high beam dont work
Wiper not workin
screen wash pomp not working
4x4 light not working
High beam indicator on dash not working

Horn works
Hazard light work
Left/right indicors work
small headlights bulbs ( running lights?) are burning
Thermostat works

Im not experienced electrical , who points me where to look?

 

[Johnbee]

Your issues could be due to dirty hedgehogs under the bonnet.

They earth all the electrical stuff and can cause various electrical gremlins if dirty or corroded. They may just need a clean up or a WD40 bath. If you search using the search bar at the top for ‘hedgehogs’ there are some threads on these. Others have had the same problems as you.

Hopefully this helps. If not, I’m sure one of our resident experts will be along shortly to provide a more technical and better worded answer than mine

Let us know how you get on ….

 

[jackwhoo]

The main -ve wire from battery goes to a connector on mmm the body before going on to engine/gearbox . The body connector crimp can work lose . Fit an extra wire between battery -ve and body.

 

[Dragon Man]

first place to check is the earths but if your car is more modern with fuel injection it wont have spade crimp earthing points (hedgehogs)
i suspect a failed crimp connection on a wire under the steering column cowling. maybe even on the back of the ignition switch.
had it in one of mine causing the same issues

 

[Hharbers]

I have the Hedgehog and was my first suspicion. Cleaned and checked the connection but no result.

I read that there is a connector below the heater airbox only accessible by removing the box. Is it true?

 

[Dragon Man]

I have the Hedgehog and was my first suspicion. Cleaned and checked the connection but no result.

I read that there is a connector below the heater airbox only accessible by removing the box. Is it true?

yes, though nothing that i know of uses it as a ground, only the battery and engine to the body of the car. this failing would cause strange things to happen with electronics though!

if you follow the battery earth wire down you will find it. you can fix this earth point fault fault by adding another earthing cable between the engine and the body. i did it using the 13mm bolt on the intake manifold (used for holding the throttle cable bracket on, on some models) and connected it to the 13mm bolt that holds the hedgehog earthing point below the battery on the side.

you can temporary see if this would fix it by connecting a jumper cable from the battery negative to the body of the car somewhere. (like the 13mm bolt that holds the hedgehog on)

hope this fixes it!