Broken down. Lots of lights on, no power to the throttle body

[shaun442k]

Hi, currently sat waiting for the rac(they reckon 2 hours).

The stop,service, immob, traction, battery and handbrake lights are all on.
There's no power to the throttle body as it's not buzzing.

Any ideas where to start?
I've tried swapping the relays about, battery connections look good.

Anything else I can check/try?

 

[JamesBryan]

That sounds fun

What happened, did it just cut out as you were driving?

 

[shaun442k]

That sounds fun

What happened, did it just cut out as you were driving?

Yep. Filled up, pulled out of the petrol station and it cut out.

 

[JamesBryan]

I'd say it could be a few things.

Battery really low as the alternator isn't charging
Alternator wire has broken off
Earth strap from the gearbox to chassis has snapped.

 

[shaun442k]

I'd say it could be a few things.

Battery really low as the alternator isn't charging
Alternator wire has broken off
Earth strap from the gearbox to chassis has snapped.

Earth strap would be my best guess at the moment. Battery was new a couple of weeks ago.

 

[shaun442k]

Earth strap would be my best guess at the moment. Battery was new a couple of weeks ago.

Earth strap feels ok. Just gave it a wiggle.
Alternator/battery wouldn't stop the throttle body coming on?

 

[JamesBryan]

Earth strap feels ok. Just gave it a wiggle.
Alternator/battery wouldn't stop the throttle body coming on?

Not sure tbh.

Will the car turn over?

 

[shaun442k]

Not sure tbh.

Will the car turn over?

No. Relay clicks but nothing happens.

 

[JamesBryan]

No. Relay clicks but nothing happens.

Got to be an earth/wiring problem then.

 

[Daz.]

I'd be checking the connections to the battery if you've recently changed it.

 

[shaun442k]

I'd be checking the connections to the battery if you've recently changed it.

Yep checked those.
Rac are now saying 1.30pm. 5 1/2 hours after I phoned them. Grrrrrrr.

 

[JamesBryan]

Yep checked those.
Rac are now saying 1.30pm. 5 1/2 hours after I phoned them. Grrrrrrr.

Piss take!

 

[shaun442k]

Right, car has been recovered back to my garage. But it's still broken;
I know what the issue is- the relay is not getting an earth to it from the ecu. So either a break in the wiring loom or the ecu itself.

 

[Daz.]

I guess the easiest thing would be to swap the ecu and test rather than go hunting for a dodgy wire. I was doing that for 2 days!

 

[shaun442k]

I guess the easiest thing would be to swap the ecu and test rather than go hunting for a dodgy wire. I was doing that for 2 days!

Well I know exactly the wire that is not carrying the earth. So I'll try that first. ECUs aren't plug n play are they? You need the keys and UCH etc?

 

[bloke]

you can have the ecu cleared so it will work with your uch.

 

[shaun442k]

I've traced the wire back to the ECU that the RAC man said should have a switched earth. Continuity test on it is good, so it's not a wiring issue(for that wire at least).
I'm guessing i'll have to try and get hold of an ecu that has been cleared.

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

You've checked one small wire, so it's not a wiring issue ??

Have you checked the big earth strap that always goes, from the gearbox to the chassis ?

 

[Oggy997]

Easiest way to check that is jump lead from -ve t terminal to engine block.
I had very similar issues & it was the earth strap.

 

[STEVE.M]

Easiest way to check that is jump lead from -ve t terminal to engine block.
I had very similar issues & it was the earth strap.

Well said that man.

 

[JamesBryan]

I mentioned the earth strap earlier in the thread and he said it's intact.

 

[shaun442k]

Earth leads all intact. I've put a jump lead from the battery to the block and the gearbox, still the same issue.

 

[shaun442k]

You've checked one small wire, so it's not a wiring issue ??

Its not the one wire that I checked(that should be carrying an earth from the ecu). It could of course be any other wire.

 

[bloke]

what are the electrical fault light and management light doing?

 

[shaun442k]

what are the electrical fault light and management light doing?

All the other lights come on and go off properly. The above lights are on solid and don't flash or anything. The relay for the starter under the dash clicks once when you try and start the car.

 

[Mr Plums]

What about the earth behind the drivers headlight?

 

[shaun442k]

What about the earth behind the drivers headlight?

Connected and looks good. I've connected the battery directly to the engine and to that mounting point and no change. Also done the same with the gearbox.

 

[Mr Plums]

Can a faulty uch cause this?

 

[shaun442k]

Not sure, but whilst I waiting at the side of the road, I tried locking the car- I had a solid continuous beep until I unlocked it again. This might be relevant.

 

[Mr Plums]

Not sure, but whilst I waiting at the side of the road, I tried locking the car- I had a solid continuous beep until I unlocked it again. This might be relevant.

If it is, theres a guy on ebay that fixes them, a few days turn around for around £30

 

[shaun442k]

I've taken the uch out, visually it appears fine. No dry joints or burnt bits etc.

I'm not convinced it is the problem.

 

[Mr Plums]

What else could it be then?

 

[shaun442k]

Wiring somewhere. ECU. Relay. Earth.
I have no idea.

 

[Dr HMS Derv Destroyer]

I had similar to this on my old Dci, just randomly did this when I parked up for 5mins. Had all the engine bay fuse box apart , cleaned all the relay pins and fuses, cleaned the big white connector in the bottom of the box and it seemed to fix it.

Ideally you need it plugging into Renault Clip and see what it brings up

 

[Oggy997]

Just noticed you're in Cambs, if you ever head over to Huntingdon way, you can borrow my Clip?

 

[shaun442k]

Just noticed you're in Cambs, if you ever head over to Huntingdon way, you can borrow my Clip?

I'm 5 mins from Huntingdon. Borrowing a code reader would be great, thanks.

 

[Oggy997]

Ok, I'm not there until Thursday, or my wife is there tomorrow/Wednesday (Latham road)

 

[shaun442k]

I had similar to this on my old Dci, just randomly did this when I parked up for 5mins. Had all the engine bay fuse box apart , cleaned all the relay pins and fuses, cleaned the big white connector in the bottom of the box and it seemed to fix it.

Ideally you need it plugging into Renault Clip and see what it brings up

Yep I've tried every connection I can find, including that white block. I've also tried swapping relays around to try and rule these out with no luck.

Ok, I'm not there until Thursday, or my wife is there tomorrow/Wednesday (Latham road)

I'll direct message you.

 

[shaun442k]

right, I've made some progress- it looks like an earthing issue to a wire in the loom.
If I earth this, the car runs:

Does anyone know where this is meant to plug in(it comes out of the loom near the starter motor, just above the gearbox)?

 

[bloke]

main loom earth, above n/s shaft on the box.