Got numerous problems - any advice appreciated

[Netti_374307085]

My biggest issue is my road lights. After cleaning up the plug as Damien suggested they were no better, so I thought I'd start with the bulbs. That's when I discovered half of them were missing! I replaced all the bulbs today but I've come across a potentially bigger problem. Before, I had brake lights, road lights front and rear and indicator and side indicator all working on the nearside. I also had an offside front road light working. Now after replacing road lights front and rear and side indicator on the offside, and both front road lights, I now have no road lights at all, no brake lights but still have a nearside indicator but only on the rear lamp, the side marker bulb no longer lights. I now also have the offside indicator side marker lighting up when you put the car road lights on and nothing else, and not indicating when you indicate right. I am going to phone my auto electrician tomorrow to see if he can help but can anyone suggest what the possible fault might be? Things to check?

I also have another electrical problem in that my 12V supply doesn't seem to be working. I bought a brand new, fully charged battery and tried to use the on board water pump and the overhead lights. Neither works. I have replaced the tubes in the overhead lights as all looked blown but it still is not working. I may take the battery back to the shop to see if they can double check if it is charged, but failing that, where do I start looking for faults?

Finally, my fridge is not running on a mains supply. I have not tested it on gas yet. While attempting to check for any loose wiring I noticed a plug in a floor cupboard next to the fridge. This had a red LED strip built into the housing. It appears to be wired for a mains spot lamp located in the kitchen area (retro-fitted?) and possibly the cable for the fridge. Is it possible to wire the cable for the fridge to a normal plug? Or is it standard practice? I can't really tell without pulling the fridge out if it does supply it or not but I am going to change the fuse in the plug and check the wiring. Both looked OK from brief inspection today. Again, any assistance in tracing the fault would be most appreciated.

I ran out of time today as I was racing against fading light resealing the awning rails. They were in a bad way and I got very messy! Still, it's done now, and hopefully will get everything sorted before I go away next week.

Thank you in advance for any assistance.

 

[Damian]

Hi Netti.

First, the fridge, on older vans it was normal to have the fridge mains connected to a mains plug and socket as you describe, so it is quite likely that the wire is doubled up with the spot lamp, not good, but thats DIY for you.

The road lights, did you take the plug apart and check all the connections?

From what you describe, it still seems to point to the plug, and rewiring with a new plug may be the best way forward.

If all the connections are ok, then it is a case of checking the continuity of each wire to their respective lights and finding the fault that way.

With the 12v lighting and pump, did you have the switch set to van? Have you checked every fuse?

Have you checked the pump operates on a direct 12v supply, and the lights individually with a direct supply?

 

[Netti_374307085]

Thanks again Damien. I didn't actually take the plug apart but I will try that. Auto sparky should be able to wire me up a new one hopefully.

I'm not actually sure if I have a switch for the 12V. The only electrical boxes I have found thus far are some sort of wiring board in a front bed box, along with a small fuse box for the mains electric with an on and off switch. I have tried the 12V in both positions and still nothing. Waiting on a reply from Swift regarding a handbook but I do wonder if both these items are retro-fitted, altho the 12V strip lights look factory fit.

And what do you mean by a direct 12V supply?

 

[Damian]

Netti, by direct 12v I mean using a wire direct from a 12v battery to the part which needs testing.

If you do this, make sure you take great care and not touch the pos and neg wires together!!

 

[Percy1]

Netti I had a quite a few problems on an old van I had a few years back.After doing much the same as you,an auto electrician told me to check all my earth connections for corrosion .Straight away I noticed my running lights earthing had corroded( they were just normal screws) I replaced all the earthing screws in all the lights(with standard screws) I then cleaned all the connections in all the lights with sand paper(thats all that I had to hand). My lights worked perfectly after this.

 

[newton_374355356]

Netti I had a quite a few problems on an old van I had a few years back.After doing much the same as you,an auto electrician told me to check all my earth connections for corrosion .Straight away I noticed my running lights earthing had corroded( they were just normal screws) I replaced all the earthing screws in all the lights(with standard screws) I then cleaned all the connections in all the lights with sand paper(thats all that I had to hand). My lights worked perfectly after this.

the best advice i can give is ......for you to get the best advice....i know of a fire that started with DIY electrician playing about with something he thought he knew someting about

 

[Netti_374307085]

Thanks for the tip Percy, and I completely agree Newton. I'm getting my auto electrician round, hopefully tomorrow to put a new plug on and if that doesn't solve it he can check all my lights. Internally, my cousin is a general household sparky so I will leave any testing of the 12V appliances to him. We have pumped cold water, mains electric and the gas cooker is now working so I will make do with what I have for this trip. Just got the road lights to sort out and I will be off!

 

[SirRogerFFS]

Netti

I have just been away and encountered a problem elecrically similar to yours, only had the van about 2 months and just found time this wweekend to look into the problem.

Have a look in the A frame and check where yor black cable is , have good lok at the cable as on inspection I found that the hand brake pull had gone thro the cable ,,,,,, worth a look

Regards Stewart

 

[Netti_374307085]

Thanks for everyone's help. I am now almost sorted. I have all road lights bar a side indicator working. A new plug was required, plus a couple of fuses and a new earth in one of the rear lights.

Currently charging up my leisure battery to double check it's not the battery at fault with the 12V.

Haven't got the fridge working on mains or gas so I've got a little mini fridge that will do for essentials til I have time to get it checked out for the next trip. Cooker is working and I have an electric heater so I just need to pack up and I'll be off!