Woeful electrics

[Joss]

I'm going to be taking my 156 off the road to sort out some upgrades I have bought so the 155 is coming out of hibernation after nearly 18 months. She'll be off to her MOT in the next couple of weeks so she can be my run around for the next couple of months before I get stuck into the V6 engine transplant that I have been promising her for more than a year now. She still fires up on the key first time.

So to my problem. There is something really wierd going on with the electrics on her. The lights that come on when you put the key in are all on on the dash all the time. (bat,injector,code,seatbelt,oil and parking brake.)I have to disconnect the battery or it runs it flat. Next problem. When you put the key in. Code light goes out and it starts but you can't stop it. I can take the key out, get out and lock the car. Still running..... All the correct dashboard lights go out while its rnning by the way. Sometimes the rear demist comes on and the wipers wipe on thier own too. So whats happened. have I got a short or a knackered relay somewhere. Its been doing this for a couple of months( keep starting her to keep her ticking over) It def worse when its rained so is water getting in somewhere?????

[ronb_65]

Sounds like water in the fusebox.

Check the drain holes in the plenum are clear if they are blocked will lead to water getting in.

Definitely get the fusebox out and check it is all dry!

[celadon]

yep def sounds like fusebox probs to me

mine was doing silly things when the screen leaked

[Joss]

Thought as much. Just so I'm not doing anything stupid. Plenum?? I thought the plenum chamber was the basically the inlet manufold? Where is this fusebox? Not the one by the drivers pedals obviously but is it the one with the big boy fuses? 50 amp + etc on the right hand side of the engine bay?

[celadon]

It'll be the one by the drivers pedals.
Remove your scuttle panel, and check there's not a lake in there!!

I had a leak in the windscreen on the drivers side lower corner,

Water was gathering around the corner because the dumbass who fitted the windscreen blocked the gutter ...

It was dropping straight on to the fusebox.
When I took the fusebox out, I emptied a tall glass full of water out of it !!!
Had the wifes haridryer on it for ages to get it dry.

[Ralf S.]

Aye! Stick your hand up under the dash and feel for anything wet. Mine also does weird stuff when it gets a bit wet...


Ralf S.

[Joss]

Yeah you mentioned that before didn't you when you picked those bits up off me. The car does live on my drive and it has mould on the dash which I've got to clean off as well. Inside screen has looked very wet a few times but i looked at the fuses and they seem dry. Ah well. Job for the weekend. I'll check in the scuttle Alec and see what i can see.

Now the spider is finished and off the drive it gives me time to prep the 155 properly before MOT time. Can't wait to drive her again actually. I love my 156 sw but the 155 just has that certain something that makes it better!

[celadon]

You'll find the fuses tend to be dry.
The fusebox is basically 5 or 6 layers of plastic with copper strips on them,
The water gets in between the sheets, and shorts out all kinds of stuff.

I had to take the box apart to dry it properly.

And when put back, it had a nice carrier bag on top of it to stop it getting wet again.

[Ralf S.]

Or leave a fan heater in the footwell for a while...

Be careful not to melt anything mind..


Ralf S.

[Joss]

Cool. Now I know!

[sog]

as i dont have the master key,is it safe to remove all of the fuses and relaes(the one´s where my knee´s at) and more importent i have also a pack of relaes over the previos men.are they safe to remove white out the master key.p.s.reading this is like reading my diary:-)155 16vt.s.sport .club alfa romeo sweden.

[Joss]

Hi Sog. All of the keys have the key code in them so if you remove the relays I'm pretty sure you can put them back after and the car will restart. I don't understand the second part of your question though? Pack of relays over the previous men. are they safe to remove......?????

[sog]

there are a aux relay holder who you acc. throug un screwing the plastic cover over your knee.

[Joss]

I would have thought they will all be ok to take out then. The keys you haev for the 155 all have t key code in them.

[celadon]

I know the ones he means.
Tucked up inside the lower dash cover are more relays, including the one for the boot release.

It should be ok to remove those relays.







PS previos men. = Previously mentioned I think...

[Joss]

quick update. yes you were all right. Full of water. Fuse box is currently sat open, drying on my radiator.