Favorit, electrical failure

[cotz60]

Afternoon all you knowledgeable ones! I have a had a problem with the old Blue Flash, Skoda Favorit GX, I think!, The windscreen wipers have ben dodgy for some time now. I have replaced fuses etc. Yesterday the instrument panel went down as well (speedo, Revs, temp, petrol gauge etc. Indicators and windscreen wipers also out. I have checked the fuses which seem to be fine...so what is happening?Is there a separate fuse box for wipers, indicators and dashboard instruments...Very. I any of you can help ut I would be jolly happy!

Thanks DC

[anewman]

The fuses are all in the one fuse box. I suspect you have a bad earth connection somewhere. Check that the wire from the positive terminal on the battery to the fusebox is securely attatched and the connection is clean (the thick one with the bolt top right). Also check the connections on the battery terminals are clean and tight.

As for the earths, there's some bolted on top of the transmission to the right of the engine, and there is one bolted to the inside of the driver's side wing in the engine bay, although I am unsure which one would affect the things that are not working in your case.

The windscreen wiper could be the motor is worn out, or again the earth which is bolted somehow to the wall at the back of the engine bay.

Is there any sign of water ingress into the fusebox?

Does the engine start and run otherwise?

Does tapping firmly underneath the fusebox make anything change or work? (it seems to cure weird electrical problems with my car occasionally, not sure why).

[cotz60]

Thanks anewman, appreciate your time replying. I have been thinking around the earthing question and will check them all tomorrow. The motor for the wipers is in good nick, but will find out how old it is....I think it's been replaced within the last 3 years or so. I checked for water ingress into the fuse box...it's as dry as a bone.There is a problem with water ingress into the engine compartment....it just doesn't seem to be water tight and.....the wipers seem to be at their most random when it's been wet or raining....mmmmmh, plenty to think about..Thank you once again. Will post my results tomorrow morning after I'v had a good look around. It all makes sense!.

DC

[rigsby]

Also check the back of the ignition switch, these have been known to come loose and for ignition feed to be lost

[cotz60]

On the fuse deck what is the large black relay type plug in at the back between the wire connectors?Tanks for your suggestions

[cotz60]

Thanks again for all your suggestions. I have looked at everything. As all the instruments went down at the same time i feel that it has to be a fuse or a connection.Should I attempt looking behind the instrument display panel?

[anewman]

The large relay at the back is the wiper delay relay. It comes in two forms but both are the same size. One is just intermittent wiper relay and the other is a programmable delay.

The programmable one works when the the wiper control is put down then brought up and put down again. The time between the wiper last acting, and the switch being put down is now programmed in and the wipers will work at that interval.

The intermittent one will just work intermittently and is not programmable.

The instrument panel is relatively easy to remove and will allow access to the ignition key switch, like rigsby mentions. At the switch panels undo the screw each side. Remove these panels and unclip the connectors for the switches. Then there is 3 screws with washers along the bottom which secure the hood, two on the left one on the right. Then this simply lifts up and comes off.

If you need to remove the actual instrument panel, it is easiest to go into the engine bay and unscrew and remove the speedo drive cable first, this is the cable that comes from behind the instrument panel and leads to the top of the transmission. I think then it's just the two screws with washers at the top, and the panel sort of unclips at the bottom to remove. It may need a bit of careful pulling to bring the speedo cable through, and there are three connectors to unclip at the back of the panel. Don't worry about remembering how they connect back as they only go one way.

[anewman]

Forgot to mention sliding out the bottom plastic tray in front of the instrument panel after removing the switch panels either side, but should become obvious when removing everything.

[cotz60]

Thanks to all of you for suggestions...have been away for the last week so will have a good go at the instrument panel now.....have a starnge feeling that very little is going to happen tho......where can i get a replacement fuse deck?