Electric Problem & a Squeak???

[jonny116]

Took the old jap tape player out and put a brand new Kenwood headunit in but was acting up faulty e.g. switching on and off / jumping.
 
Then last night I notice all my rear lights are out (brake lights etc work just when pedal is pushed), but the dash lighting is really dim but front lights and headlights are fine.
 
Disconnected the headunit to see if that had caused a problem but still the same, tried a few buttons and noticed when I put my fog light on everything works fine??!! Connected the headunit back in to see what happened and now that works fine (whether fog light on or not).
 
Have I partly blown a fuse anywhere here or do I have some dodgy wiring??? I think it was all fine until I took the jap tape player out (bearing in mind only had car for a day).
 
Also I have a suspension like squeak coming from the front left of the car somewhere, any ideas?
 
Is going back on Saturday no problems to get sorted but thought may be able to remedy it myself if its just simple.
 
Cheers
Jonny

[Nik da Greek]

Does it have aftermarket suspension? My coilovers used to squeak cos the top nut was too wide for the aperture in the turret, and used to rub slightly. Drove me bloody insane! Some metal top mounts can rattle and squeak a bit when they get old and not too clever. Failing that, bushes, I guess?

Sorry, no idea about the electrics, ithey work on black magic as far as I\'m concerned

[jonny116]

Black magic sounds bout right!!!  
 
Yeah it has Blistein adjustbles on it.  How did you stop the squeek? is sending me daft!

[ENVYD]

for the head unit, you have to make your own ground with the black wire out the back of a aftermarket head unit! as the stock harness dose not have a supporting ground (i think).

[jonny116]

Ahh there was a black earth connector that i didnt bother with, didnt think it would need it.  
 
Could i have blown a fuse on the rear lights by not doing this?  Just wierd how everything lights up fine when the fog light is turned on...
 
Where is best behind the headunit to attach it to?  Tape it against the strut that the unit attached to?

[ENVYD]

well mine is just connected to one of the four lil screws that are used to hold that rubber gaitor thing down around the gear stick , if you get what i mean?
 
and as for the fuse i think it might of went pop! dose your interior light still come on?

[logicalChimp]

Hmmm - that earthing point shouldn\'t work, Envy - those gaitor screws only go plastic-to-plastic?

I\'ve got several earthing wires bolted down under the gear surround to - but they use the bigger bolts slightly further back, that hold the transmission tunnel cover down onto the trans tunnel... there\'s a pair of screws, approx where the ashtray sits...

That said, the wireing in my car is in an absolute state - as soon as my new head-unit turns up, i\'ll be making a start on ripping a lot out and replacing it... i\'ve got so many wires running under the gear surround that it doesn\'t actually clip into place any more :o

[FEED Addict]

The Gaitor screws worked o.k for earthing on mine too!!

[jonny116]

Yeah interior light comes on.  
 
There must either be a fuse gone or some dodgey wiring??
 
I just cant imagine a headunit would cause bother, is just a swap for another unit at end of day!!

[ENVYD]

Hmmm - that earthing point shouldn\'t work, Envy - those gaitor screws only go plastic-to-plastic?

 
i dont mean to the plastic! i mean the ones that are in the chassis that bolt the rubber gaitor think down that is under the leather gaitor!
 
like in this pick.. (not my car)
 

[jonny116]

Any ideas on a quick fix for the squeek coming from the front end?
 
Sound like something to do with the adjustable suspension??

[logicalChimp]

Ahhh - D\'oh.  I figured you was talkin about the leather gaiter, that just bolts into the plastic gear surround

I\'ve got so many cables / wires etc under there that I hadn\'t even seen a rubber gaiter...:o (no joke - you can\'t even see the metal of the chassis in most areas )

[jonny116]

Have bolted the earth to the gaitor screws n thats sorted.  Still no rear lights without the fog being on though??

[ENVYD]

there must be a fuse gone some where :S as that is just odd!
 
can not help with the shocks either as i have never run coilovers on my car yet, so i have not had that problem!

[SavageUK]

i am having the EXACT same problems with my lights, bulbs i know work cause it all lights up when i press the brakes.

ive been through all the fuses to and none of them are blown :S

no stereo either with the shocking mess of wiring left for me on buy of the car i havent been able to face it yet

if i manage to find out the problem ill let you know.