jonnwhite Posted March 13, 2017 Share Posted March 13, 2017 Hi Everyone, So yesterday i went out and picked up a 1997® 1.8 Ghia Escort Cab in the really nice dark blue. Photo's attached. It has a couple of bodywork bit's that need doing and needs a new back box but that's another forum. So i have a couple of electrical issues that i would like some help with and it would be appreciated! Rear screen heater: I've seen that this is very common, so I press the button, the light to tell me it's on doesnt come on, but you hear the relay click it sounds like it clicks twice once on once off (Relay was replaced by previous owner). As if it wasnt staying on for say 10 minutes more like 1 second. The Button has been changed before, so im going to check the fuse tonight and see if i can get a 12v feed across terminals. one of the terminals looks a little frayed, if you are facing the window from inside the car its the left one which i have heard is earth? Does anyone have any advise, what concerns me is that the light to tell me that the screen is on doesn't show signs of life. The Fuel gauge is a bit odd, it will sometimes show half a tank and then drop down to empty and then sorts out after about 20 mins if i park up/restart the car after a couple of stops. Is this because of frequent starting and stopping the engine and it gets confused? The window washers - when i press the button to wash i just get fluid and no wiper action. i have to flick it up one to get wipers on and then wash. Is this right? Or should it work like any other car, my R reg fiesta auto wipes when i wash. If i was to change the radio from the Ford CD unit, to my JVC unit with Bluetooth would the Ariel still go up and down? I like the feature so don't want to loose it, and also there is 0 bass to this radio and im hoping it's the radio as all 4 speakers have no base. Radio or Speakers? Last one i promise! I have to tap the clock to make the left hand light work, is that just a loose bulb/fault bulb? Sorry for the long post, but i'd love to get this car in tip top condition and we will be going to Simply for this year! Thanks in advance Jon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allblue Posted March 13, 2017 Share Posted March 13, 2017 Hello and welcome:-) Imperial blue suits these cars well. The wipers do not auto wipe following the washers. For the clock you will need to remove the dash binnacle and remove the clock, but it does sound like a loose bulb. Be careful removing the binnacle as some of the retainers have a habit of flying off, never to be seen again. Most radios should have an output to the power aerial. This is usually a blue wire, but probably best to check your radio handbook. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian71 Posted March 13, 2017 Share Posted March 13, 2017 Welcome to the cab club Jon. The most important thing about owning a cab is storing it,if you don't have a garage get yourself a decent outside cover from Halfords ( approx £80) cabriolets especially older ones don't like being left outside Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonnwhite Posted March 13, 2017 Author Share Posted March 13, 2017 Hello and welcome:-) Imperial blue suits these cars well. The wipers do not auto wipe following the washers. For the clock you will need to remove the dash binnacle and remove the clock, but it does sound like a loose bulb. Be careful removing the binnacle as some of the retainers have a habit of flying off, never to be seen again. Most radios should have an output to the power aerial. This is usually a blue wire, but probably best to check your radio handbook. The car looks so good in this colour! Okay good sometime to take off my list of potential broken bits. Noted, i'll take it apart slowly and carefuly going to get some spare bulbs for it. This is what i was thinking, i have the manual somewhere. Do we know what wire it is on the plugs in the car? Welcome to the cab club Jon. The most important thing about owning a cab is storing it,if you don't have a garage get yourself a decent outside cover from Halfords ( approx £80) cabriolets especially older ones don't like being left outside It will be garaged whilst it's off the road, however where i live there are allot of trees, where every night it will be parked. Fine when the sap isn't coming out! I was thinking of getting one for that reason, i don't want the crap from the trees/ bird poo to ruin the roof and the paint. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Springy2112 Posted March 14, 2017 Share Posted March 14, 2017 Just did a video in speaker rot !!! It kills bass...youtube springy2112 you can see the speaker outer soft ring rots away this is where the bass response comes from ie only the middle treble cone working...mines a mk3 1984 but even at 20 years old I wouldn't be surprised if your speakers are shagged...and yes your head unit will have a electric aerial output.. Wipers don't wash and wipe auto..sorry this has been said above.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonnwhite Posted March 14, 2017 Author Share Posted March 14, 2017 Just did a video in speaker rot !!! It kills bass...youtube springy2112 you can see the speaker outer soft ring rots away this is where the bass response comes from ie only the middle treble cone working...mines a mk3 1984 but even at 20 years old I wouldn't be surprised if your speakers are shagged...and yes your head unit will have a electric aerial output.. Wipers don't wash and wipe auto..sorry this has been said above.... Okay Cool, thanks for that! The Speakers have sound and voice but no base. But it would seem like it's minimum of the front 2 not sure on the backs. I've got some speakers from a fiesta if they are the same connection ill plug one in and see if i get base! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Grainger Posted March 18, 2017 Share Posted March 18, 2017 Hi John. Well done, excellent choice in car. The fuel gauge fault could be caused by the sender unit in the tank. It's worth pulling the back seat base up an take the grommet out to get access to the plug. It's a bit of a fiddle but you can just about get the plug off with the aid of some long screwdrivers. Mine had corrosion in the sender unit plug due to water sat in it. Didn't have a clue until I hit a bump and the wire to the fuel pump broke causing a breakdown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonnwhite Posted March 19, 2017 Author Share Posted March 19, 2017 So fitted the speakers and it seems it's the radio. Not a problem i have another to fit! Went to put the new exhaust on and they gave me the wrong one so waiting till tomorrow to get the right one. Fuel sender isn't bothering me too much but i will take a look and if it's not too hard i'll give it a go. It's the EFI engine and i've heard the senders are different? My dials are on the right hand side so would this matter? I'll get someone photo's up when it's next out of the garage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Grainger Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 Should be the same fuel sender. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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