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BigAl · P4 Joined: 06 May 2003 Posts: 2990 Location: U.K Surrey

Guys, this is driving me nuts, i cant pin point what is causing it. When the lights are on and i turn on the fan, the lights for the heater console go out and the fan does not come on.
If the lights are off, when i turn on the heater fan, the lights for the heater console come on and the fan does not?

I have removed the wires to the light and every time i wiggle something, it starts to work when moving in different places.
Can anyone point me to the exact place?
Thanks Alan
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x2 33 16v
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eagle3 · Alfa 33 Joined: 11 Nov 2007 Posts: 402 Location: France

Obviously a loose connection somewhere. Seek and yee shall find...

I would start by checking the connectors and spraying some 3in1 contact spray in either side.
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Alfa33 QO 1984
Alfa33 1.3i.e. 1994

BigAl · P4 Joined: 06 May 2003 Posts: 2990 Location: U.K Surrey

i still cant find it, every time it happens i move a single wire and it stops, yeah i think only for it to happen again, tried different wires, its rather annoying.
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Oggie · Posted: Wed Mar 25, 2009 8:36 pm Post subject:

I used to have an issue with a ground wire under the dash just right of the steering wheel tucked quite a way up, it used to stop my rear-demister from working , it has a circular connector which grounds to the fire wall its held on by a small m5 nut.
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BigAl · P4 Joined: 06 May 2003 Posts: 2990 Location: U.K Surrey

thanks lain, is the ser2 loom simular to the ser3?
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Admin · Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2009 6:59 pm Post subject:

Hi

Series 2 and 3 looms are very different.

I have had issues with the fan wiring on both the lhd 1.3 and the rhd P4, but different issues. The 1.3 it was an issue with a broken wire near the fuse box.

Suspect as you have it coming on and off when fiddling with that wire it is a problem with that actual wire. Strip back the insulation and you might find the issue.

All the best

Keith
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BigAl · P4 Joined: 06 May 2003 Posts: 2990 Location: U.K Surrey

hey keith
here's the thing, i cant find the dodgy wire, everytime i think i've got it, it turns out not to be that one Sad

I need to fit a T2 tester and handsfree/radio cut off switch, so i guess i will have a play then.
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x2 33 16v
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BigAl · P4 Joined: 06 May 2003 Posts: 2990 Location: U.K Surrey

Hey guys, i have still not found the problem and been living without a fan. As it's getting close to winter, i need my fan to work.
Could someone please post a picture of the centre console "behind", showing where all the wires connecty, so i can have a go and know where the wires are without having to remove the centre console.
Thank you very much
Alan
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x2 33 16v
pictures http://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=5203

eagle3 · Alfa 33 Joined: 11 Nov 2007 Posts: 402 Location: France

You need to remove the radio to see the wiring to the fan switch etc.

I think I'd be tempted to wire the fan directly to the fuse box(fuse no. 13 which should be 20A) with a simple switch controlling it just for the time being. It's a PITA without a fan of some sort working.
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Alfa33 1.3i.e. 1994

BigAl · P4 Joined: 06 May 2003 Posts: 2990 Location: U.K Surrey

Hey Eagel, taking the radio out is not a problem, id rather not take the console out Laughing

So, does anyone have a picture of the back, showing where all the connections are? I don't have one of those dentists’ mirrors to hand
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x2 33 16v
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eagle3 · Alfa 33 Joined: 11 Nov 2007 Posts: 402 Location: France

There are elecrtical connections for the fan under the bonnet. It might be worth making sure the fan works first if you're not keen on removing the console. It's not too traumatic a job though. At least not in an LHD from my own experience. Maybe it's a pain with the wheel the other side...
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Alfa33 QO 1984
Alfa33 1.3i.e. 1994

BigAl · P4 Joined: 06 May 2003 Posts: 2990 Location: U.K Surrey

hey eagle3
I will have a play tomorrow but the problem has always been the wires under the radio.
I realy dont want to remove the console and would like some helpful person to post a pic of the backside Laughing

of the console, showing where the connections are, so i know what to feel for.
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x2 33 16v
pictures http://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=5203

eagle3 · Alfa 33 Joined: 11 Nov 2007 Posts: 402 Location: France

Plenty of piccies at http://www.alfa-restoration.co.uk/ under Ventilation Restoration.

I don't think you can eliminate the possibility of a faulty fan control switch. On my series1 33 it was not very reliable. The series3 system is certainly better.
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Alfa33 QO 1984
Alfa33 1.3i.e. 1994

BigAl · P4 Joined: 06 May 2003 Posts: 2990 Location: U.K Surrey

thanks eagle3,
i keep forgetting about that site, DOH!
Funny you should mention the fan switch, Paul and i were talking about it the other day lol, it is a weird one as you can wiggle wires "not near the fan" and it stops
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x2 33 16v
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eagle3 · Alfa 33 Joined: 11 Nov 2007 Posts: 402 Location: France

It could be a bad contact on the switch..
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Alfa33 QO 1984
Alfa33 1.3i.e. 1994

BigAl · P4 Joined: 06 May 2003 Posts: 2990 Location: U.K Surrey

yer or a faulty switch, paul was suggesting that the other day Laughing

However when it was intermittent, wiggling the wires at the switch made no difference.
I have to get my finger out and do it soon, I used my car today and had to drive with the heat directed to the screen and rely on the force of the fresh air blowing through.
The rear demister doesn't work now, so i have to direct the 3 round centre console blowers to the ceiling and that clears the rear window. Again the car wouldn’t start, so I had to use a live from the battery to the exciter wire on the starter motor, oh the joys of owning an Alfa Laughing

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x2 33 16v
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eagle3 · Alfa 33 Joined: 11 Nov 2007 Posts: 402 Location: France

These niggling electrical faults can usually be fixed provisionally without spending too much money but expect to spend a day or so sorting them out.

Sounds like a new or at least working ignition key switch is needed, but a simple switch or button and a bit of wiring can fix the problem in the short term.
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Alfa33 QO 1984
Alfa33 1.3i.e. 1994

BigAl · P4 Joined: 06 May 2003 Posts: 2990 Location: U.K Surrey

Thanks again for reminding me about Bobbber and Than’s site, with the aid of their pictures

power supply connector

Heater unit power supply

I managed to find the source of my problem

I removed the earth wire and squished the metal tabs together.

Removal of the radio is not necessary but I took mine out before I knew this and tried to replace the top bulb, for the heater control unit, with an LED. I can not get the blighter back in!! A little tip for you guys, the plastic bulb holders are hard to get to let alone twist off. I used a 10mm 6 sided socket for this, worked a treat. The car is still in bits and I will attack again tomorrow.

Whilst I was there I found these 2 connectors

Are these for the "Alfa control"? Do they have anything to do with the pink wire that goes to the abs light on the console??
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x2 33 16v
pictures http://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=5203

33bits · Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2009 8:30 pm Post subject:

Looks very much like the Alfa control panel plugs yes, but there are 4 plugs on rear of the control panels???
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eagle3 · Alfa 33 Joined: 11 Nov 2007 Posts: 402 Location: France

BigAl · P4 Joined: 06 May 2003 Posts: 2990 Location: U.K Surrey

loose connection causing arching, think its ok now.
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x2 33 16v
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eagle3 · Alfa 33 Joined: 11 Nov 2007 Posts: 402 Location: France

But didn't you get rid of that connector altogether? I think I would have chopped the wires either side and used some new insulated connectors for each wire. Maybe that's what you did.

It looks like somebody's messed with it before anyway. The fan does draw quite a bit of power(20A fuse) so the wires need to be in good condition.
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Alfa33 QO 1984
Alfa33 1.3i.e. 1994

BigAl · P4 Joined: 06 May 2003 Posts: 2990 Location: U.K Surrey

hey eagle3,
what makes you think i got rid of that connector. If i get anymore problems with the fan i may do what you suggested, but i'd rather leave everything standard.
What makes you think that someone messed with it before.

Are you talking about the ignition by any chance Laughing

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eagle3 · Alfa 33 Joined: 11 Nov 2007 Posts: 402 Location: France

It's the black tape around the connector above the burnt one that doesn't look like an original feature to me.

What I was thinking was the burnt connector was not correctly refitted, causing a bad contact; the resulting increase in resistance causing a "hot spot" around the point of contact. Even the wires have melted together.

I just thought whilst you have gone to the trouble of removing the console you may as well make sure you don't have to go through it all again next weekend or whenever.
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Alfa33 QO 1984
Alfa33 1.3i.e. 1994

BigAl · P4 Joined: 06 May 2003 Posts: 2990 Location: U.K Surrey

Ahhh i see.
It is kind of strange how the connector is taped up, i agree, the wire splits after that connector. The wire hasn't melted through the red wire, i tripple checked. I know where to look and didnt have to take the radio out, or the console, however i might have to as i cant get that top bulb back in ffs!! Laughing

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x2 33 16v
pictures http://www.alfa-pages.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=5203