Electrical Gremlins

[and356b]

I have what I believe is an '89. My directional signals would work OK up to an engine speed of perhaps 3,000 rpm but would then turn off. Hazards work OK. Last night the low beam headlights stopped working (high beams are OK) and the directionals now turn off at 2,000 rpm (but work below that). These are very interesting features! Any ideas? I cycled the hazards, no difference. All the fuses look OK.

Is there a workshop manual available or electrical diagram that might help?

thanks

Bill

[breezy7]

There is an electrical diagram available in the assembly guide here: http://californiacaterhamclub.com/re...emblyGuide.pdf I don't know if it covers your vehicle year but can't believe there were any great changes year to year and is better than nothing. Have you measured alternator output ?

[and356b]

There is an electrical diagram available in the assembly guide here: http://californiacaterhamclub.com/re...emblyGuide.pdf I don't know if it covers your vehicle year but can't believe there were any great changes year to year and is better than nothing. Have you measured alternator output ?

alternator output seemed normal. i have ordered two new relays but if they make things work i would still question why did they both fail and why are the directionals acting weird?

[GWise]

Definitely a strange issue. I'll take a stab in the dark (pun intended -lucas joke)...

I actually wonder if it may be related to your voltage regulator. It's interesting that the when there is more power draw that things work and conversely, when more power is generated from your alternator things stop working... Can you try to see if you can turn multiple things on at the same time (e.g.turn your brights on the same time as the indicators)?

[Doug Liedblad]

Also check your ground connections.

You should have a heavy gauge ground cable from the battery to the engine and usually from the engine to chassis.

There should be several places where the wiring harness connects to ground.

I don't have any specific knowledge that grounds can cause these issues, only that bad grounds can cause strange problems.

[and356b]

more weirdness

Definitely a strange issue. I'll take a stab in the dark (pun intended -lucas joke)...

I actually wonder if it may be related to your voltage regulator. It's interesting that the when there is more power draw that things work and conversely, when more power is generated from your alternator things stop working... Can you try to see if you can turn multiple things on at the same time (e.g.turn your brights on the same time as the indicators)?

i put in the new relays and the horn started to work again but still no low beams. then i put the old relays back in and the results were the same (so the old relays were fine). i pulled the dimmer switch and the wires felt warm. by working it slowly i could get the low beams to come on. i swapped the directional signal switch to the low/high dimmer wires and it worked (with no lights when in the middle position). then i put the original dimmer switch back in and it worked. so i'm back to a working horn and lights but the directionals are still whacked - and even worse than before - they work at idle but any increase in rpm makes them erratic and then they go off (same with hazards).

at least i can drive at night (until the gremlins hit again).

i agree that it the voltage regulator seems like the most likely culprit but voltages looked ok to me.

[FerneyO]

From the descriptions, I bet its a bad ground.