Newbee With Electrical Problems. Any Assistance Appreciated!!

[Guest neilkellow]

Hi all.

Im new to the forum and to the car. Only had it a few days and am falling slowly in love with it. Mk 6 escort Cabby. Bright Yellow. Just brilliant!!! Drives great. Roof works. Pretty happy on the whole.

 

However, I am starting to experience some problems which make little sense to me.

 

1. My rear lights are not working and the dash lights have gone dead.

2. Driver side window aint working and needed a pull up to seal properly when parking as it leaked. Ive taken it apart today but cant see anything obviously missing or anything. It just clicks repeatedly but doesnt move. Perhaps motor?? Ive just wedged a bar in there to keep the window tight up for now. Any ideas on this one??

3. My radio just says 'code" when I switch it on. Is there a generic code or is it specific to the radio in question. Can I get this from ford or download a cracker or something??

4. I think one of my wishbones has gone. Slithering about on road. Twitches right when clutching between gears. Assuming this is a wishbone? Gonna get someone to look this week.

5. My back arches are a bit rusty and there are a few patches here and there. Is this just a case of taking it to a body shop or it there something I can do myself?? Can I avoid further rust??

6. The rubbers around the front window seem to have mis-shapen and gaps are appearing around the top corners. Can I just squert in some silicon in there or do i need to replace them.

7. My seatbelt light blinks contantly??? Connection???

8. Has lexus rear lights (which I hate) and I need some originals.

 

sorry for the long list here. I thought I would stick it all in as Im sure there are some very experienced people here. I do intend to keep this car for some time and dont mind throwing a little money at it, particularly on the bodywork. But if there are any things I can do myself it would be nice.

 

also, as ive been looking around the place, ive noticed some cabriolets with a cosworth typed kit on them. Where can I get this kit from and how hard are they to fit. Also, do you have to space out the wheels more to fit the body once on?? I may look at getting one on as the bodywork is done. Depends on cost and difficulty. There seems little point in spending more money than the car is really worth. But then, I can feel this motor becoming a bit of a labour of love!!

 

Many thanks in advance for any advice and help you may be able to give.

 

regards

 

Neil

[RScab]

Welcome to the club m8

 

May be able to help with radio code m8

 

PM me the model number and serial mumber

[badger]

Hi all.

Im new to the forum and to the car. Only had it a few days and am falling slowly in love with it. Mk 6 escort Cabby. Bright Yellow. Just brilliant!!! Drives great. Roof works. Pretty happy on the whole.

 

However, I am starting to experience some problems which make little sense to me.

 

1. My rear lights are not working and the dash lights have gone dead.

2. Driver side window aint working and needed a pull up to seal properly when parking as it leaked. Ive taken it apart today but cant see anything obviously missing or anything. It just clicks repeatedly but doesnt move. Perhaps motor?? Ive just wedged a bar in there to keep the window tight up for now. Any ideas on this one??

3. My radio just says 'code" when I switch it on. Is there a generic code or is it specific to the radio in question. Can I get this from ford or download a cracker or something??

4. I think one of my wishbones has gone. Slithering about on road. Twitches right when clutching between gears. Assuming this is a wishbone? Gonna get someone to look this week.

5. My back arches are a bit rusty and there are a few patches here and there. Is this just a case of taking it to a body shop or it there something I can do myself?? Can I avoid further rust??

6. The rubbers around the front window seem to have mis-shapen and gaps are appearing around the top corners. Can I just squert in some silicon in there or do i need to replace them.

7. My seatbelt light blinks contantly??? Connection???

8. Has lexus rear lights (which I hate) and I need some originals.

 

sorry for the long list here. I thought I would stick it all in as Im sure there are some very experienced people here. I do intend to keep this car for some time and dont mind throwing a little money at it, particularly on the bodywork. But if there are any things I can do myself it would be nice.

 

also, as ive been looking around the place, ive noticed some cabriolets with a cosworth typed kit on them. Where can I get this kit from and how hard are they to fit. Also, do you have to space out the wheels more to fit the body once on?? I may look at getting one on as the bodywork is done. Depends on cost and difficulty. There seems little point in spending more money than the car is really worth. But then, I can feel this motor becoming a bit of a labour of love!!

 

Many thanks in advance for any advice and help you may be able to give.

 

regards

 

Neil

 

 

 

hi mate

your window problem is a common fault and you'll find some teeth missing from the runner you can ever replace unit or repair your one i have done this to 2 cabs and both work well.

check your fuses for your lights.

front wishbones are a common fault and at £20 each there a cheap fix.

[Guest markeyboy]

seatbelt light flashing could be caused by the plug from the pre-tentioners on the front seatbelt sockets comming loose

 

 

have a look under both front seats to make sure they are connected to the pre tensioners

 

check for any damage to the cables (there yellow)

 

 

 

 

the best way to get rid of the rust is to get the rot cut out and have new metal welded in, simply rubbing down, filling and repainting will work for a little while but it will come back (speeking from experience)

[Guest Cabbytech]

Hi and welcome to the forum, a bright yellow cab you say lmao,

 

no 1...covered by badger, also if fuses are ok, check the earth connections and the connectors on the back of the lamp units.

no 2...also covered by badger

no 3...covered by RScab

no 4...covered by badger, mine is a terror for wishbones, and this causes the slithering you mention, also tracking being out gives a similar feeling on these cabs.

no 5...covered by markeyboy, mine are the same, i will cut out the rot, and weld in new metal, keep the rear of the arches muck and dirt free, this is what causes them to rot, the earth sits on the lip and basically keeps the arch wet and makes it a perfect breeding ground for rust.

no 6...I just put black silicone in mine when they lifted, and so far its working fine.

no 7...when my airbag lamp was blinking continually, i could only get rid of it by changing the airbag control unit behind the dash.

no 8...on here in the parts for sale section or ebay might be a good place to look .

[Guest neilkellow]

Thank you all very much for your replies. Ive been to a body shop and they are going to cut out and reweld in the back arches as suggested here. Should be going in next week. Also found an amazing set of wheels for a great price there so will be having them fitted too. Sexy!!!

 

In relation to the radio code. If I buy some keys and pull the thing out will the serial number be on the back or something??

 

Re. lights. Ive checked the fuses with a multimeter (ones under the dash on drivers side) are there any more?? cant seem to find any reference to where the back lights and dash fuses would be?! Someone suggested it was the stalks. I went to a scrapper yesterday and they told me there are three different types on this year and there is no wa of knowing which one it is without the originals? is this true?

 

Finally, and sorry for waffling. Ive had an idea. The lexus back lights (which I may have mentioned that I dont like) I may try to take them off, crack them open and see if there is any way of painting the silver portions yellow. This should give the look of having just the round lights at the back. Which ay look interesting. And if it looks crap, Im no worse off!!!

 

One final thing. Is it good to let snow lie on the roof? or should i try to cover it up??

 

thanks again for your replies.

 

Neil

[RScab]

In relation to the radio code. If I buy some keys and pull the thing out will the serial number be on the back or something??

 

 

 

Dependant on the model of the radio the numbers may be in different places, but can be seen when radio is removed from dash

[Guest shaun]

Hi Neil before you buy a light stalk for your car try disconnecting front side lights as these use to give problem and blow the fuse...most fuses are inside for the lights..

[Guest neilkellow]

Ok, so!! Took the light stalks off today, went to scrappers and got a replacement. In actual fact it wasnt exact because the normal escort ones have an extra pin on the connection for rear wipers but it worked and did sort the problem with internal and back exterior lights. So thats done.

 

Next steps. Sorting window and going in for back arches and new wheels on monday.

 

I love this car. Its been brilliant in the snow and so far no leaks!! (which has really surprized me.)

 

Thanks again for all your help.

 

Neil