Vehicle electrics advice

[Oldfeller]

oh dear!! 

Electrical & Other Issues:

• Electrical Problems:

  The Relay van is known for electrical problems, potentially stemming from the fact that the body and electrics are manufactured by Fiat. 

  good luck.

[eggsarascal]

11 minutes ago, Oldfeller said:

oh dear!! 

Electrical & Other Issues:

• Electrical Problems:

  The Relay van is known for electrical problems, potentially stemming from the fact that the body and electrics are manufactured by Fiat. 

  good luck.

Said no one who knows what they are talking about. Fully galvanised body, and no other electrical issues.

 

Anyway, its passed. Auto electrician booked for Wednesday to sort. One day's van hire for 12 months MOT, I can live with that.

[Steven P]

Reading this I would have gone with dodgy earth connection, often power to the fittings and a local earth onto the body which is then earthed to the battery later.. not sure if that would still be the case with a galvanised body?

 

Glad it passed, auto electrician should find it pretty quick.. but let us know what the issue is

[Deafhead]

For what it's worth, I had the same problem with my L200, turned out to be dodgy relay, quick swap, problem cured.

[Oldfeller]

1 hour ago, eggsarascal said:

Said no one who knows what they are talking about. Fully galvanised body, and no other electrical issues.

 

Anyway, its passed. Auto electrician booked for Wednesday to sort. One day's van hire for 12 months MOT, I can live with that.

I guess google don't rate them, won't be the first time it's been wrong, or the last.

It passed, that's all that matters.

[Muddy42]

1 hour ago, Steven P said:

Reading this I would have gone with dodgy earth connection, often power to the fittings and a local earth onto the body which is then earthed to the battery later.. not sure if that would still be the case with a galvanised body?

 

Glad it passed, auto electrician should find it pretty quick.. but let us know what the issue is

yup, that's my understanding, even if the body is galvanised, the chassis is used as the negative.  Less wires to go wrong, cheaper and simpler to work on.

Edited Monday at 12:33 by Muddy42

[eggsarascal]

54 minutes ago, Muddy42 said:

yup, that's my understanding, even if the body is galvanised, the chassis is used as the negative.  Less wires to go wrong, cheaper and simpler to work on.

Are you suggesting the chassis of the Relay aren't galvanised?

[Steven P]

No, the chassis can act as an earth whether it is galvanised or not, but if the connection to the chassis is bad that might cause problems - a plain steel bolt rusting or loosening, bad wire connection and so on. If so that should be a quick, simple cheap fix (almost "insert new bolt" level of fix).

[Muddy42]

1 hour ago, eggsarascal said:

Are you suggesting the chassis of the Relay aren't galvanised?

The zinc in galvanisation conducts electricity nearly as well as steel.  I'm not sure how thoroughly they assemble galvanised cars but if the chassis was drilled or a patch ground afterwards you'd be back to conducting via steel anyway. I'm sure you're mechanic will check this.  Glad it passed.

[Treewolf]

On 15/06/2025 at 23:01, Oldfeller said:

... are the reverse lights triggered by a hyd switch in the braking system, or an electrical switch, often located and operated by the brake pedal ...

That would be unusual for reversing lights! 😄

Edited Tuesday at 18:53 by Treewolf