Car help

[Anderoo]

If you can't stop water getting in, at least let it drain out by hammering a big screwdriver through the floor. Pick a low spot where the hole won't be into a chassis rail.

 

I thought about doing that - won't it turn into a big rusty hole and be dangerous?

[Elton]

I thought about doing that - won't it turn into a big rusty hole and be dangerous?

 

It 100% will if you leave it Put some paint or something on it once you've done it, to stop the hole rusting. Even one of the better half's nail varnishes would probably do it

[Vagabond]

I thought about doing that - won't it turn into a big rusty hole and be dangerous?

 

When I was a kid my uncle's old Flatnose Morris was full of rusty holes in the floor. Sometimes water came in via them, but don't you worry bor, that allus drain out agin.

Edited March 18, 2010 by Vagabond

[gozzer]

Aha! Thanks Gozzer. So, what does one look like and where will I find it?

 

Like Elton said, it's just a wire that's bolted to the bodywork. If you can get hold of a Haines manual it should tell you where they are.

I was lucky I just lifted the carpet in the boot and found one on each side of the floor.

 

Have you checked if the water is coming in through the heater vents? (that's another thing I found with my Rover ).

 

 

Be careful though, if you have holes letting water, and then drill holes to let it out, it might whistle a tune as you drive along.

 

John.

[Chris Goddard]

Sounds to me like a RELAY problem!! And not an Earth problem? Especially if water is getting in the fuse panel? Mine has a dodgy flasher relay, goes on and off at will and it also seems to switch off the dash lights? And a duff Flasher is something you DON'T want!! Just have a look at all the little blue and black box affairs in the fuse panel BUT take one out at a time!! IF you can have a look at the relays while you are getting the problem. You may just be lucky and it will be a clear one and you will see a bit of flashing from the contacts.

[Anderoo]

Hmm...do you lot reckon it would cost a lot for a garage to sort it out?

[rob.imk2]

I thought about doing that - won't it turn into a big rusty hole and be dangerous?

Not as dangerous as water on your fuses

[Chris Goddard]

Hmm...do you lot reckon it would cost a lot for a garage to sort it out?

 

MORE than the car is worth!!! Car sparks (well GOOD ONES!) can and do charge an arm and a leg! Honest it isn't hard if you can take the lid off the fuse panel you can most likely fix it!

[Si...]

If its a clicking noise then its definitely the headlight relay on its way out, (probably has water/damp in it).

 

If its a buzzing/fizzing sound then its a short circuit, as mentioned before, look for frayed wires and/or loose connections.

 

Felicia's are known for leaking around the windscreen rubbers, best thing you can do is to get some silicon sealer and squirt it behind the rubber seal that surrounds the windscreen. Primarily concentrating on the bottom corners as it acts like a water trap.

 

If you're down wingham on the 12-15 apr then I can have a look for ya, if not then maybe at the fish-in

[Anderoo]

Thanks, everyone, for the help - it is appreciated. I will have a go and hope for the best. I'm sure Chris is right, any proper garage work on it is now pointless, according to autotrader it's now worth about £250!

 

Thanks for the offer of help, Si - I think I'll be arriving just when you're leaving though.

 

Oh, one final thing that's probably important that I forgot earlier - when the lights flicker and dim and there's the clicky/fizzy noise, the lights on the dash flicker and dim too. I guess that points towards a short circuit rather than a relay problem, because it's more than just the headlights affected?

Edited March 19, 2010 by Anderoo