Multiple electrical issues! Hopefully 1 common root cause!

[pauljoetarrant]

Hi all!

I am a new Bongo owner and have already racked up a fair few electrical issues! I am hoping that there may be a common root cause, but have no idea where to start.....

Vehicle: Y-reg Ford Freda Auto Free Top 2.5l

The issues are:
- Driver side window lowers very slowly and does not return back up (has to be forced by hand).
- Pop top opens very slowly and does not actually open the whole way.
- Lights on dashboard console (under speedo etc) have stopped working!
- Blinds on driver side of vehicle no longer go up and down.
- Central locking makes beeping sound but does not actually lock or unlock the vehicle.


That’s all I can think of right now, so any advice will be gratefully received!

Happy new year.
Paul

[pauljoetarrant]

One further addition, the main strip light in the rear of the vehicle is very dull most of the time (not light enough to be of any use), however, sometimes it will spontaneously brighten to a normal level. But then goes back to being unusable next time it is turned on!

Thanks!
Paul

[TheLongRoad]

There are more knowledgable folks on here than me, but I’d be checking all the earth connections are secure followed by a battery health check. Hope you get sorted.

[g8dhe]

Unless its battery related they are unlikely to be related. So start by cleaning the battery terminals themselves and then re-bolt them securely back on to the terminals. Next pull each and every fuse (other than the 100 Amp Blue on terminal arm its bolted on!) and give the contacts a clean, a squirt of WD40 does no harm to help prevent subsequent water penetration in the future as well. Make sure the battery is fully charged, in this cooler weather battery capacity decreases and is a common problem to show up a dying battery at this time of year, 2-5 years is the life of a battery depending on quality etc. After that worry about individual circuits, after 20 years most switch contacts need a good clean, with contact cleaner - do not use WD40 for this purpose!!!!

[Bob]

Hi, and welcome.

Roof, do you have the engine running while raising it?

Rear blinds, likely the switch contacts. Geoff has done a video on cleaning the roof switch and they are the same. Easy little job.

Note, you can raise and lower the blinds by hand, no harm will be done.

[jaycey001]

I would definitely be looking at earth contacts on body, advice by g8dhe is a sensible place to start!