albotek

Hi Paul, The engine doesn't shake when switching off, but the thought did cross my mind. I am out of fuses now so I'll get more today and do some more testing. The car did go in for some diagnostics yesterday, because the engine light keeps coming on and I lose power. I asked them to look into the fuse problem too. Unfortunately they were not able to come up with anything with the diagnostics apart from it reported "YES THERE IS A FAULT" but no clear pointers as to where. They did find that the additive tank is completely empty so that may explain the engine light and power loss problem but they say they cant refill it so that is my next course of action. They have no clue, other than we have been discussing, as to what could be causing the fuse issue. I'll keep you posted. Regards and thanks again, Dave

UPDATE: OK this is getting weird! :unsure: Because I cant let it go I have been battling to find out what is going on with my C8 and its blowing 10 amp fuse problem. I have discovered, after blowing a shed load of fuses, the this particular fuse blows only when the lights are on and then I turn the engine off. It's at engine switch off and the lights on that the fuse blows. I can restart the engine with the lights on (after replacing the fuse) and all is well. I can turn the lights on and off with engine off or on and all is well. But the second I turn the engine off, with the side-lights on, the fuse blows. OK I'm repeating myself now. So the work around is to remember to switch the lights off before switching the engine off. I cant imagine what could be causing this as no other circuit seems to be affected. (I know the water pump fuse has gone too BUT I'm assuming this to be a separate issue. Very odd :huh: Dave

What I'm going to try is to try to connect my meter "permanently" for a few days and monitor what happens when out on a "normal" drive. Intermittent faults hey you gotten luv 'em ...NOT!!!! :rolleyes: The car is going in to the garage on Thursday for a dreaded INTERMITTENT engine management light (and loss of power of course) so I may ask them to take a loom at the lights too. Thanks Paul.

UPDATE: I turned on the lights manually yesterday while running the car. I dint stop to check at that point but by the time I got home to look, the 10 amp fuse had blown but all bulbs ok. I have just stuck an ammeter across the blown fuse and, with the engine running, I am getting a reading of about 1.97 amps, with the lights on, even when revving. Not any further forward. Dave

Thanks a lot Paul. I'll get back to the forum when I have further info. Regards, Dave

Thanks for your thoughts Paul. Having forgotten to turn the lights off after my testing I have a flat battery :). Luckily my drive slopes out on to a sloping track so nice and easy to bump. I didn't want to jump it just in case. I took her for a bit of a ride and switch side lights on and off with engine running and on reaching home they were still on. Funny you should mention bulb wattage. The bulb I originally replaced was from a universal kit. It fitted and worked so I assumed all ok until this fuse blowing episode. I'll check that out to be sure that I have the right bulb. The fuse that is blowing is for the right rear side-lights, number plate, front side-lights and aircon panel light (according to the hand-book). I now assume, and hope, that the screen washer problem is a separate issue. I need to find out where the pumps are. Thanks again for your thoughts Paul. Kind regards, Dave

Hi again, I have rechecked my initial findings and it seems I may have been led up the garden path by a poor earthing point. If I earth to the aircon pipes I get a higher voltage reading to the fuses but earthing to car chassis the voltages seem to measure within safe parameters. I have now confirmed that the voltage across the battery varies between 14.39 and when revved 14.41 so I would imagine one would consider this normal. I let her tick over for about 10 minutes with the lights on and no fuse blew even when revved. I have, however, now disabled the auto lights feature as on the last two fuse blowing occasions it was this that activated the lights. I have left the screen wash fuse out for now until I can investigate this issue. So, hopefully, the alternator and regulator are ok. Dave

Thanks for your reply Paul, As soon as it stops raining I'll check the voltage when revving. Tick over is just under 1000 rpm. It does seem that the right side-light fuse blows when the engine is running although it is not immediate. However regarding the screen washer fuse this blew immediately without the engine running so it may be that there is some fault with a screen wash pump. Whether this is due to an over voltage situation is yet to be ascertained. I'll get back to after a voltage at revs check. As of yet (I'll probably wish I hadn't said this) there are no signs of any malfunction with any of the entertainment or computer functions. Dave

Hi, I have a c8 2.2 HDI. I first noticed that the clock was about 20 minutes fast (may be nothing to do with anything). Then I noticed a right hand rear sidelight bulb had blown and its fuse. Replace fuse and bulb and all was well for a day. Fuse went again. I noticed that the screen wash not working. Replace fuse and it blows when screen wash is activated. The rearside light fuse blown again (bulb ok) I notice that the voltage on the fuse is 14.55 volts on tick over. This seems to have started when I helped a friend out with a jump start. (or may coincidental) OR have I damaged the regulator or alternator? Any ideas please before any more serious problems arise? Thanks in anticipation, Dave

Thanks for taking the time to answer my query Paul. *places lump hammer & crow-bar back in tool box* ;) Dave

Hi All, Anyone have any experience of removing the radio/phone/sat-nav unit from the dash. I have the "U" shaped tools that release the side catches but the unit only slides out about an inch or so. I dont want to yank it just in case I damage anything. Cheers Dave

Thanks Paul. I have ordered an aerial, if it's not that then I have found a chap that will repair the gps unit itself. If all else fails I'll not bother with the gps. I Love the car any way. Dave

OK, sorry just realised I said SAT NAT!! and the "T" is no where near the "V". Just received a message saying that it is most likely either the antenna or the GPS unit faulty. Could anyone tell me where the the antenna is and how can it be changed or tested. Thanks

Hi, I am the new (bought it today) proud owner of a C8 Exclusive. Every thing seems to work fine EXCEPT the sat nav. It may be a lack of understanding on my behalf. The display is there and the disc in place and the map displays but the system doesn't seem to be finding any satellites. It reports "Bad Location" Any ideas please, Regards Dave