What did I do wrong ?

[Figaro]

I removed my front bumper for painting which is now ready to refit.
I had disconnected two snap block electrical connections going to indicator and fog light on each side. Upon reconnecting all lights on front end were all over the place, some working and some not !
Having thought it would be simple, it seems not.
I've done everything I can think of, checked connections, all wiring looks good and appears identical to each side but I swopped over sides in case it's side specific. Sprayed wd40 on connections, nothing helps.
Looks like I'll need an electrician after holidays.
Anyone have a suggestion as to what might have happened ?
It's 2003 ducato so simple 12 volt electrics, no canbus nonsense.
TIA

 

[pappajohn]

Separate earth wires or are the connectors all multiwire..... Live and earth.

 

[mike mcglynn]

Might be bad earth and you have disturbed it

 

[Ivory55]

Is it worth changing the fuse even if it looks ok ?

 

[Silver-Fox]

Firstly wd isn’t the stuff for electrical connections.

Stating the obvious have you plugged the correct connections together?
Did you pull any of the wires out when disconnecting the plugs.
Have you plugged them back together correctly.

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[Figaro]

Separate earth wires or are the connectors all multiwire..... Live and earth

I think all wiring is in the snap block.

Might be bad earth and you have disturbed it

Is that the big one that goes from gearbox to chassis?

Stating the obvious have you plugged the correct connections together?
Did you pull any of the wires out when disconnecting the plugs.
Have you plugged them back together correctly.

They really only go in one way around, I'll check for loose wires but I don't think so. It was a struggle getting the block apart when first removing.
If blocks look dodgy what should I replace with. I've some Waco connectors are they ok ?
Thanks all

 

[Richard n Ann]

Disconnect everything and go round the plugs with a multimeter to check power is there when it should be, and not there when it shouldn't.

 

[rosalan]

Testing with a meter, checking wiring diagram with Fiat workshop manual, checking that when separating connectors your super strength did not exceed that of the wires in each block.
Check that for some reason disconnecting the blocks did not cause a fuse to blow.
Last resort visit an auto electrician who will check all of the above and find the one you missed.... Good Luck!

 

[TerryL]

I'm with the dodgy/missing earth opinion. A damaged connector in one of the blocks would surely only affect that particular circuit.

 

[Silver-Fox]

I've some Waco connectors are they ok ?

No reason not to use them, depends if your multi blocks are water proof, I’m guessing not.

Check opposing wires for matching colours and if your going to cut only do one at a time.

I would check each multi plug is clean and the connections are secure inside first.
Try and dry out the wd as well.
You can use brake cleaner to force out the wd.

Might be worth checking for breaks further up the cables as well.

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[ymfb]

Are the light fittings metal, if so try adding an earth cable from the housing to somewhere on the vehicle ? Your new paint might be preventing the earth from conducting.

 

[Figaro]

I've not refitted bumper yet due to this problem. I figured it would be easier to fix with it off. So I have a fog light and indicator on wiring to block connection on each side.
I'll check earth and all cables again after the holiday, doing it tomorrow would result in divorce proceedings. I'm already getting looks of total disgust !
I think live and earth wires are in the connection block.

 

[Lofty1]

2002, you need to light the candles. Sorry lol

 

[Figaro]

2003 and it has all the lovely simple technology of that era.
None of this canbus technology that nobody understands and will cost an arm and a leg when it goes wrong.
The lights are excellent, not that I do much night driving in it but I`d better get the indicators working !

 

[Xabia]

I would use Wago connectors and then wrap self amalgamating tape around the wires to prevent water ingress.

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[Allanm]

sounds like a bad earth to me. Is there an earth connection that connects up with the bumper bolts?

 

[Figaro]

sounds like a bad earth to me. Is there an earth connection that connects up with the bumper bolts?

No, pos and neg are on the wiring loom through the snap connection blocks.
I've identified which wires are which and I'll check with mulitmeter after holidays.

 

[jockaneezer]

Sometimes, on problems of this type, a digital multimeter may indicate that there is 12 volts present but there may be very little current available, especially if a bad earth is involved. I always check with a 12 volt bulb and a couple of wires too.

 

[Podney]

I’m sorry I have no solution to offer.
But I do like to fiddle with things and try to mend stuff.... nine times out of ten I end up reminding myself of that olde piecce of wisdome.......If it ain’t bust,don’t fix it.

 

[gus-lopez]

Is that the big one that goes from gearbox to chassis?

No Fiats usually have a seperate earth, for each connection, going back to earthing terminal blocks strategically placed around the vehicle. Main one is usually on right hand side when you open bonnet .Another is under dash on drivers side A post.

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[Figaro]

Well, my efforts to find the fault proved ineffective.
So I called an autoelectrician I'd used before and it turned out to be the next connection block up the wiring loom which, despite being supposedly waterproof, had leaked water and corroded the terminals.
Just disturbing the wiring whilst disconnecting the indicators had been enough to cause it to fail.
Anyway he cleaned up the terminals applied lots of vasaline and all good now. The alternative would have been to hard wire it, but seems not necessary now.
Worth remembering for others who disturb wiring, check all connections nearby
Looking forward to getting my freshly painted bumper back on and planning a new year trip.

 

[JeanLuc]

My B630 is the same age and has the same bumper and connectors. I have removed and refitted it two or three times without any problems. The last time I seem to remember agonising a bit over which connector went where. I think they can only be fitted one way round but perhaps you have mixed up something. Did you mark them before removal?

 

[JeanLuc]

Whoops - just read that you have it sorted. Glad to hear that.

 

[Figaro]

Both connection blocks would only fit one way round so not possible to get that wrong.
Just the crud in the one in photo causing current to track across terminals.
You may notice I took the opportunity to paint up the front cross member as well as a few other bit whilst bumper was off.
Keep the tin rot at bay.