3rd Time lucky - I guess it is a fuse but which one?

[Ian H]

Hi
After re alloying wheels, fixing rear wheel arch rust and two new Tubi rear bixes (yikes they are expensive!) I thought I might finally get a drive but oh no battery gone and not taking charge.
Ok so new battery and now some fun - oh no - windows won't fully shut.
Ok so windows reset, finally, surely - oh no - after 100 yards I tried Windscreen wipers and heater - won't work
Back home turned on and off igntion few times - nothing - so left electrics on while went to office - came back and they were busy wiping away and heater blowing!
Headed out again, 200 yards later wouldn't work again arrhhhhh. Threw the **** thing back in the garage and resisted kicking it, only because of shiny new paint.

Anyone got any ideas? Pulled the maintenance manual for fuse ID's for boot and passenger compartment but no reference to heater or wipers.
Many thanks
Ian

 

[Oneball]

I’m not sure about the fuse but they all run off the aux power relay in the foot well might be worth a check.

 

[CatmanV2]

Turn the battery off for 30 minutes?

C

 

[Scaf]

Back to basics - check the battery terminals

 

[jasst]

Might be the ignition switch, they have been known to stick in the start position and then things like fan, wipers indicators wont work, check it returns to ignition position after starting.

 

[Ian H]

Ok thanks
Battery terminals all tight
Pulled lid in passenger footwell and found images next to fuses looking like wipers and an ice icon which I guess may be heating - both fuses were ok
Strange that both heating and wipers go off simultaneously but everything else seems to continue ok.
Turned off isolator for short while with no difference but have left turned off over night
Not sure which power relay it is or have to check have attached a pic of passenger footwell electrics
Many thanks
Ian

 

[Ian H]

Thanks for the thought but have also tried ignition switch in several positions but no joy

 

[Oneball]

Aux power relay circled. Turns power on with ignition, off with stater motor and then back on once started. They can be temperamental

 

[Ian H]

Great many thanks
Any idea what else this powers - presumably if they come on / stay on then relay is ok?

 

[Oneball]

Runs most auxiliary stuff so heater wipers dash illumination. Think the radio is on a separate circuit but not 100% sure. Engine etc is a different circuit. So it’ll run but you’ll loose wipers etc. If the contacts in the relay are dirty it can be intermittent

 

[Ian H]

Ok so pulled relay and cleaned contacts but no joy
Everything apart from heater / windscreen wipers seem to still work including windows and electric seats
Given recent paint job with rear bumper off maybe an earth got disturbed?

 

[Ian H]

That is external contacts cleaned off course not internal ones

 

[davy83]

I would replace the relay. After about 18 months of seemingly endless irritating electrical gremlins, I replaced all the relays in my car, fuse panel and under the bonnet and also replaced most of the fuses, and its amazing how much that settled it down. These cars are all 20 years plus old now so its not really surprising that some of the electrical bits are getting corroded and oxidised.

 

[Ian H]

Wise words thanks
I just checked Euros spares and of course they don’t have them in stock
Are these Standard relays you can source from a decent motor factor or do they have magic Maserati features with the associated price tag

 

[Oneball]

Wise words thanks
I just checked Euros spares and of course they don’t have them in stock
Are these Standard relays you can source from a decent motor factor or do they have magic Maserati features with the associated price tag

When I changed mine I found that no one had them in and had to wait. The Alfa/Maser ones were the only ones I could find of the same spec. They’re £5 I think.