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[SOLVED] HELP! Major (?) Electrical Issue / Gremlin - I've no idea!!

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HELP! Major (?) Electrical Issue / Gremlin - I've no idea!!

Post by Smartbear » Wed Feb 01, 2023 7:06 pm

matsmith749 wrote: Wed Feb 01, 2023 6:35 pm Check the basics - on a car that's not been used for a while, have you picked up a stowaway?

Mice / squirrels can make camp in the small spaces & apparanetly wiring insulation is very tasty.

Stop laughing, it's worth a check.
A neighbour had similar issues recently with his land rover defender instruments lit up like a Christmas tree, i tried clearing them with a basic code reader with no joy.
Rodents had eaten through the wiring loom! :o
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HELP! Major (?) Electrical Issue / Gremlin - I've no idea!!

Post by enuff_zed » Wed Feb 01, 2023 7:08 pm

Smartbear wrote: Wed Feb 01, 2023 7:06 pm
matsmith749 wrote: Wed Feb 01, 2023 6:35 pm Check the basics - on a car that's not been used for a while, have you picked up a stowaway?

Mice / squirrels can make camp in the small spaces & apparanetly wiring insulation is very tasty.

Stop laughing, it's worth a check.
A neighbour had similar issues recently with his land rover defender instruments lit up like a Christmas tree, i tried clearing them with a basic code reader with no joy.
Rodents had eaten through the wiring loom! :o
Rob
Oh good! An optimist. :roll:
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HELP! Major (?) Electrical Issue / Gremlin - I've no idea!!

Post by IAmOrion » Wed Feb 01, 2023 7:08 pm

Smartbear wrote: Wed Feb 01, 2023 7:06 pm A neighbour had similar issues recently with his land rover defender instruments lit up like a Christmas tree, i tried clearing them with a basic code reader with no joy.
Rodents had eaten through the wiring loom! :o
Rob
Yikes!! now you're both worrying me! Especially since my Dad just informed me there's been rats in the back garden :(

Where would I even begin to check!?
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HELP! Major (?) Electrical Issue / Gremlin - I've no idea!!

Post by enuff_zed » Wed Feb 01, 2023 7:12 pm

Well, to strike a better note, you say it's running ok? What are the chances that mice have eaten specific monitoring/display wiring but allowed the car to still operate ok?
Is it not still more likely to be a comms error somewhere?
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HELP! Major (?) Electrical Issue / Gremlin - I've no idea!!

Post by IAmOrion » Wed Feb 01, 2023 7:14 pm

enuff_zed wrote: Wed Feb 01, 2023 7:12 pm Well, to strike a better note, you say it's running ok? What are the chances that mice have eaten specific monitoring/display wiring but allowed the car to still operate ok?
Is it not still more likely to be a comms error somewhere?
Actually yes, that's a good point. The engine starts and runs perfectly so far as I can tell. The remote also works as expected, so yes still points more to comms somehow
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HELP! Major (?) Electrical Issue / Gremlin - I've no idea!!

Post by enuff_zed » Wed Feb 01, 2023 7:16 pm

IAmOrion wrote: Wed Feb 01, 2023 7:14 pm
enuff_zed wrote: Wed Feb 01, 2023 7:12 pm Well, to strike a better note, you say it's running ok? What are the chances that mice have eaten specific monitoring/display wiring but allowed the car to still operate ok?
Is it not still more likely to be a comms error somewhere?
Actually yes, that's a good point. The engine starts and runs perfectly so far as I can tell. The remote also works as expected, so yes still points more to comms somehow
So it's check each of the modules one at a time then? Or the connectors to them?
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HELP! Major (?) Electrical Issue / Gremlin - I've no idea!!

Post by markplant » Wed Feb 01, 2023 7:21 pm

How about any of the other main earth connections, engine for example, as others have said straw clutching
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HELP! Major (?) Electrical Issue / Gremlin - I've no idea!!

Post by IAmOrion » Wed Feb 01, 2023 7:23 pm

markplant wrote: Wed Feb 01, 2023 7:21 pm How about any of the other main earth connections, engine for example, as others have said straw clutching
The ones I checked were all fine (I checked batter terminal, chassis grounding near terminal under carpet, terminals in engine bay etc), but I'll add it to my check list - never hurts to check again with fresh eyes on a new day as I mentioned earlier -- all these "clutching at straws" things are still good to put on the list and check off :)
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HELP! Major (?) Electrical Issue / Gremlin - I've no idea!!

Post by enuff_zed » Wed Feb 01, 2023 8:08 pm

Ok, well into page two, so time for a pointless humorous remark.
Did the potential mouse issue only occur after the de-cat? :D
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HELP! Major (?) Electrical Issue / Gremlin - I've no idea!!

Post by BumpyZ4 » Wed Feb 01, 2023 8:11 pm

Try disconnecting the steering angle sensor and see if the scanners can then read the rest of the modules.
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HELP! Major (?) Electrical Issue / Gremlin - I've no idea!!

Post by smorris_12 » Wed Feb 01, 2023 8:12 pm

My money's on the LCM or the instrument cluster. They're surprisingly central to many things.

On a vaguely connected note, my X5 (20 in 6 months) has gained a few gremlins. One rear window randomly winds down unless the child switch is activated and the heater can't remember it's last journeys settings. As an electronics engineer, I can't think what's behind it so presume either failing electrolytics somewhere or senility setting in.
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HELP! Major (?) Electrical Issue / Gremlin - I've no idea!!

Post by bigwinn » Wed Feb 01, 2023 8:46 pm

Goes without saying I’ve got reams of spare stuff in the parts bin feel free to borrow any lcm/modules or clocks matey
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Post by IAmOrion » Wed Feb 01, 2023 9:06 pm

BumpyZ4 wrote: Wed Feb 01, 2023 8:11 pm Try disconnecting the steering angle sensor and see if the scanners can then read the rest of the modules.
Where's the plug? No worries if not sure, I can look it up on newtis but thought might be quicker to ask
smorris_12 wrote: Wed Feb 01, 2023 8:12 pm My money's on the LCM or the instrument cluster. They're surprisingly central to many things.
Another possibility for sure!
bigwinn wrote: Wed Feb 01, 2023 8:46 pm Goes without saying I’ve got reams of spare stuff in the parts bin feel free to borrow any lcm/modules or clocks matey
So far my list of things to swap/try is DME, LCM, GM5 and Instrument Cluster -- do you have all those?
As mentioned in 1st post, mine is a 2003 model, not sure if that matters much with the cluster (Other than the updated cluster has diff lights for bulb out and doors open I think so maybe best to stick to 2003). My LCM is the one has everything apart from headlight adjustment roller as mine are xenon -- so it has the Auto lights, front and rear fogs, I'll get a picture tomorrow afternoon to confirm exactly what it has on it

Also, let me know a pricing for all this stuff please, gotta figure out when I'll have any money spare! It's all happening at once - as I said, moving house this weekend so already spent thousands in rent, deposit, and kitting the place it as it's unfurnished, so gonna be brassic for a good couple of months I reckon.
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HELP! Major (?) Electrical Issue / Gremlin - I've no idea!!

Post by bigwinn » Wed Feb 01, 2023 9:10 pm

IAmOrion wrote: Wed Feb 01, 2023 9:06 pm
BumpyZ4 wrote: Wed Feb 01, 2023 8:11 pm Try disconnecting the steering angle sensor and see if the scanners can then read the rest of the modules.
Where's the plug? No worries if not sure, I can look it up on newtis but thought might be quicker to ask
smorris_12 wrote: Wed Feb 01, 2023 8:12 pm My money's on the LCM or the instrument cluster. They're surprisingly central to many things.
Another possibility for sure!
bigwinn wrote: Wed Feb 01, 2023 8:46 pm Goes without saying I’ve got reams of spare stuff in the parts bin feel free to borrow any lcm/modules or clocks matey
So far my list of things to swap/try is DME, LCM, GM5 and Instrument Cluster -- do you have all those?
As mentioned in 1st post, mine is a 2003 model, not sure if that matters much with the cluster (Other than the updated cluster has diff lights for bulb out and doors open I think so maybe best to stick to 2003). My LCM is the one has everything apart from headlight adjustment roller as mine are xenon -- so it has the Auto lights, front and rear fogs, I'll get a picture tomorrow afternoon to confirm exactly what it has on it

Also, let me know a pricing for all this stuff please, gotta figure out when I'll have any money spare! It's all happening at once - as I said, moving house this weekend so already spent thousands in rent, deposit, and kitting the place it as it's unfurnished, so gonna be brassic for a good couple of months I reckon.
Ive got them all sat on the side from the recent breaker

you are welcome to borrow them to see what's going down- so don't worry about costs

you still cambridge way?
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HELP! Major (?) Electrical Issue / Gremlin - I've no idea!!

Post by IAmOrion » Wed Feb 01, 2023 10:05 pm

bigwinn wrote: Wed Feb 01, 2023 9:10 pm Ive got them all sat on the side from the recent breaker
you are welcome to borrow them to see what's going down- so don't worry about costs
you still cambridge way?
That's very kind of you! I am indeed still Cambridge yes. I'm staying in Cambridge too, so not moving far, literally like a mile from where I was ha
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