cammmy 1 Posted December 7, 2009 Hi Guys I have got a broken earth in my car. It is quite a thick, braided cable. It is attached to the front right corner of the gear selector housing (under the center console). It has broken at the other end. I now have no indicators or brake lights, the altenator light is always on (when the door is closed) but the battery is not discharging and I am having issues with the fuel and temp gauges (read low but not not the bottom the door is open?). Does anybody know where that earth goes? I have been looking for it under the dash but cannot find it. It is on the corner arrowed below. You cannot see it though as it is under the other plugs in the picture. I have tried plugging all of those cables back in but nothing changed. Ta Cam Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jer309GTi 3 Posted December 7, 2009 Can you see a wiring code printed on the wire at all? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cammmy 1 Posted December 7, 2009 I'll have a look. It's not like any of the others, It's actually more of a cable than a wire. Had black sleeving on it and with that off it's braided instead of twisted and it is also very thick Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cammmy 1 Posted December 20, 2009 Just plain black sleeving, no code's on there. If you look a 7A-3 of the Haynes manual, there is a picture with an arrow pointing to the earth "Gear lever support housing showing gear change rod fork bolt hole (1), console support bracket (2) and earth lead 3)" It just doesn't tell me where the other end is. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
imaS 0 Posted December 21, 2009 I think that it is not original earth wire. All earth wirings that I have seen on a couple of 405s have been coded to form M123... And the cables have been coloured with green and yellow. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cammmy 1 Posted December 21, 2009 It is noted in the haynes manual though, so unless someone modified both the car they worked on and mine... Does anybody know where the following instruments are earthed? Coolant temp gauge Fuel gauge Alternator warning light Windscreen wipers (possibly just the stalk) Indicators (possibly just the stalk) Hazards (still work but very very dim) I just find it a bit of a co-incidence. I find thisbroken earth (which is long enough to reach up into the dash) and all of a sudden these things stop working. If anybody can tell me where the wires go and where the earth is for these things I would really appreciate it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DRTDVL1345402287 0 Posted December 21, 2009 when i come down for new years i'll have a look with you if you like... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cammmy 1 Posted December 21, 2009 That would be EPICALLY awesome! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JeffR 51 Posted December 22, 2009 Cammy, the braided wire from the gear lever goes to the earth of your radio. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cammmy 1 Posted December 22, 2009 Is that it? Nothing else? I'm not even at square one any more then. Any idea where those instruments earth to? Would explain why I couldn't find the other end I guess. Ta Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AlexN 7 Posted December 22, 2009 Is that it? Nothing else? I'm not even at square one any more then. Any idea where those instruments earth to? Would explain why I couldn't find the other end I guess. Ta The main earth for the instrument panel is called 'PM2' on the Haynes Manual wiring diagrams. Unfortunately they don't specify the locations of the earths (really useful!). This earth has a lot of stuff hooked up to it, and all the gauges etc that would explain your symptoms. If you can find it it, it could be the cause of your problems. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
imaS 0 Posted December 22, 2009 If I remember correctly, dashboard wiring harness earth point is in front footwells. Left or right side, under the lowest doorway trimpanel. Or at both sides. I took the whole dash out from the car about a year ago, and I don't remember seeing any other earth points. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AlexN 7 Posted December 22, 2009 If I remember correctly, dashboard wiring harness earth point is in front footwells. Left or right side, under the lowest doorway trimpanel. Or at both sides. I took the whole dash out from the car about a year ago, and I don't remember seeing any other earth points. There is one massive collection of earth plugs bolted on under the dashboard in the middle of it, but I am not sure that the actually 'earth' there. There maybe a connector from this lot to the bodywork, as you say, in the footwells, but I can't remember either! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cammmy 1 Posted December 22, 2009 Thanks. There is an earth in the passenger footwell, Looked like it is connected to the blower motor. Right, think this means it's dash out time. Gonna get my volt-meter, tools and complete collection of swear words and other assorted expletives. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AlexN 7 Posted December 23, 2009 Thanks. There is an earth in the passenger footwell, Looked like it is connected to the blower motor. Right, think this means it's dash out time. Gonna get my volt-meter, tools and complete collection of swear words and other assorted expletives. The most annoying thing about removing the dash is that the whole loom is bolted to the underside of it. It is probably easier to unplug everything and lift the whole thing out with it still bolted on, but this turns a big job in a huge one! I am going to put the basic dash back in my track car, but without most of the original wiring and other assorted junk (like the heater system etc). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cammmy 1 Posted December 23, 2009 Yeah I might do something similar although I need some form of de-misting for the windscreen by law. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AlexN 7 Posted December 24, 2009 Yeah I might do something similar although I need some form of de-misting for the windscreen by law. Get a heated front screen! I am going to try and get one made, apparently they are the one thing you can never again live without in a race car once you have used one! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cammmy 1 Posted December 27, 2009 Sounds awesome but stupendously expensive Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
cammmy 1 Posted December 30, 2009 GOT IT!!!!!!!!!!! Seems like a few of the problems were fuses. Must have blown them when taking everything out (don't think I disconnected the battery this time, normally do). Right hand indicators I think were due to the earth in the boot, about the only notable thing I did was unplug it and plug it in again. Just went for an awesome trip over the hill Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
