Escort 1.8d Weird Electrical Problem

tomsolomon

I have been having the weirdest problem with the car......
It will run all day happily, then all of a sudden the dash lights go dim, the clock stops, the seat belt warning light comes on, headlights go dim and the battery drains like the juice is being sucked right out of it, car stops and gives the impression that the battery is dead......
Switch off the ignition, leave it for a bit and the power comes back...
Car starts or has to be bumped then all is fine again. seems to happen at night though, if this makes a difference.
Earlier when we bump started her, she wouldn't start until I turned the lights on..........
Its a MK6 BTW

curlyfairy

I would say check the alternator.I had this on a transit,driving along and all the lights slowly came on and she eventually died.The garage replaced the alternator and all was well.

Ben.

hewhoisnotintheknow

check earths and output of altenator / battery

goldspanners

sounds like it could be the alternator. but first of all i would be removing and cleaning up the battery terminals,check to make sure the earth lead is securely fitted to the body/chassis and not corroded.
if this is all fine then get the battery tested with a battery load tester,there may be a broken plate in the battery. if the battery is ok then it could be the alternator or even a bad connection on the alternator. you should be able to get a recon alternator for under £50 and will be easy to fit.

bungle4x4

yep, either alternator issue or a bad earth to the battery.

look at the battery and see if its got a lot of greeny snot kind of build up on there. either way, disconnect the battery, clean the terminals and put them back on with some vaseline to stop the electrolytic reaction.

tomsolomon

Its a new battery 2 days old.......:D

bungle4x4

follow the thick black wire from the battery back to the alternator and check its connected tightly both ends mate.

goldspanners

the negative may be like my focus,it goes onto the inner wing to earth it.

photome

Can you bump start a diesel? I have never tried but assumed it would be very hard.

tomsolomon

photome wrote: »

Can you bump start a diesel? I have never tried but assumed it would be very hard.

I'm ard lol........:rotfl:

tomsolomon

Right I have made sure all earth leads and battery terminals were properly connected and tightened where necessary.

I have also found a broken wire that I have now reconnected.
It was a blue wire from the starter to the the dash instrumentation, that brought on the battery light on the dash.
Not sure if this was the problem. I suppose if it was broken and shorting on the chassis then it would cause a problem like this, but I'm sure someone will enlighten me.......:D (pardon the pun)