Electrical Woes (long)

[Michel]

Help needed from electrical gurus please.

I lost ALL of the ignition activated electrics yesterday...that means:-
no indicators
no dipped beams
no continuous main beam
no windscreen wash and wipe
no windows, roof and mirrors
no fan and no a/c
no horn
no fog lights
no tell tale lights on hazard switch and electric window switches.

But I do have;
Side lights
brake lights
flash main beam
hazards
instrument lights
interior lights
radio etc.

Yesterday morning I drove the car for about 120miles and everything worked fine.
Parked up afterwards and then returned a few hours later and found that nothing really worked.

The car starts, runs and drives as before. Oil pressure is good, temps are low and volts are a marking higher than before at 14volts - 1 marking. Autocheck system tellls me the car is 'OK' Ha what does it know..........

I'm thinking that the problem lies within the ignition switch or barrel because I cannot really see how all these systems would be affected otherwise, unless I've completely blown the fusebox.

I removed the underdash trim panel last night to see what was up and very quickly realised I didn't have aclue or hope of understanding the wiring.
The immo install seems to have disrupted the clarity of the original layout and so I'm a little lost (immo installed years ago).

All the relays seem to be firmly seated and fuses under there were good.


Is there something else I should be looking for that may affect all of these circuits?

Its going to AmD Monday (if not before) and would like to have an idea of what they should be searching for rather than give them a blank cheque to look for electrical faults.

As always any help is very valuable.

Cheers

[Martynf]

Michel,

My money is on the electrical part of the ignition switch. These thing can and do quite often need replacing!! The switch on our S2's is known to be problematic!! I've supplied 100's in my time. It just falls apart internally, literally!!

Funniest one I ever saw (funny for me) was a guy in an 80 came into my old dealership and he couldn't turn off the engine!! when he switched it off, it kept on running!! he had to stall the car in gear every time to stop the engine!

There are probably only two causes of this, the fuse box, or this switch. I put my money on the switch. Two types, up to 94 + 95> the most expensive one is £21+vat.

Especially from the list of things that arn't working! they are all pretty high current drain parts that have failed, it all points to the electrical part of the switch. Nohting sounds un-towards here, should be a simple fix. Let AMD fix it for you. Might be worth you getting the part from your local dealer first so AMD don't have to keep your car if they cannot get one on the day you take it in.

If your car is close to 94/5, take a chassis number to your dealer.

Martyn

[SteveH]

Martyn,

I've had the ignition switch fail on my S2 last year...It was on the day we were going on holiday (in the S2!) and Like the bloke with the 80, I couldn't turn the car's engine off!!

In my case, the spring in the switch popped through the casing and broke the switch and the alloy lug on the back of the ignition barrel. From what I've heard this is a common problem on the switches. I was advised to NEVER remove the switch from the back of the ignition barrel, unless you want to buy a new one

HTH
Steve.

[Michel]

Martyn,

Thanks very much for the info. I certainly hope its that. I'll warn AmD that this is likely to be needed so that they can sort out the part. At the moment it looks as if htey will have the car for a few days.....what with my weird noise as well form the driver's side front wheel.

But knowing my luck and S2s it will be more complex......

Thanks again.

[Martynf]

Michel, you are very welcome, Steve H seems to back up what I thought too. I wish you good luck with the repairs. Let us know please what the outcome / costs were of your visit to the S2 doctor is please :-)

Steve, you had that too!! what a BAD case of timing though!! bet that went down very well!!

Martyn

[SteveH]

Martyn,

You're right m8...it didn't go down well at all

Something along the lines of...."that bloody car of yours, you spend all your time and money on it and it and it still goes wrong when we need it!!"

Ohh dear....I advised her to paint herself red and then I'd probably spend as much time and effort with her too!! That didn't go down well either

Steve.

[Michel]

Us boys and our toys.....

Luckily the little lady has a 66 MGb as her toy so such out bursts are always tempered with the reality that I do the work to that car and if she objects to my cash going S2wards she can make alternative arrangements for the MG.

I'm the one who losses a gasket when the S2 goes wrong..all this cash and is still wants more......
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and more
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and a bit more.
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and lots more.

LOL.

Cheers.

[Martynf]

So all women ARE the same then!! mine just gives me that look... then asks to see my personal credit card statement.. NO WAY!!! Lucky for me, I always have lots of parts abut the house for various reasons, so it's easier for me to distract her :-))

[blu_s2]

think mine's hormones have gone funny recently. when i got home and said that the work on the car at the moment would be well into 4 figures she just gave me a sympathetic look and said "well if it needs to be done".... reckon she's after something

[Martynf]

:eek2: WHAT!!!!! I would be afraid right now... VERY afraid!! have you checked the back of your car? and her car? do you own a rabbit? when was the last time you saw it? is there a big cooking pan in the kitchen drying??

[Michel]

Typical signs include Mothercare catalogues and looking at car seats......

4 figures......oh they were the days...

[Dr H]

Well my other half never liked my car :mad: and now she has (well is in the process of) leaving me so only myself to answer to now.

Where's the autotrader? Now let me see RS2...........

or

Wanted: Female Audi S2 enthusist must be 5 cylinder turbo charged nymphomanic

[blu_s2]

"Wanted: Female Audi S2 enthusist must be 5 cylinder turbo charged nymphomanic"....

now that's the kind of group buy i'd be interested in

[SteveH]

Yeah....it sure is a pity there aren't more female S2 owners

[Dr H]

My experience is that women just don't want any hassle with a car. My ex(!) has only ever bought brand new cars as she says she want's the guarantees etc.

They don't seem to appreciate more 'interesting' vehicles


Leigh

And before anyone bites my head of this is from personal experience and not a general dig a women - although I am feeling a bit miffed with the fairer sex at the moment :mad: