Electrical Issues
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Electrical Issues
I have a weird electrical problem I hope someone has seen or heard this. I get a Check Tire Pressure, Reduced Engine Power, Check gauges, ABS, Security Light and all the gauges go to zero. I also noticed my driver side power/mirror/door panel lights go out and none of those features work. If i open the door about a 1/4 way the panel lights up and then I can operate the windows/mirros/locks. I suspect the power windows/mirror/lock switch is bad. Can that cause all those lights? I assume it could if it is shorted. Any ideas?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Its almost certainly a well known problem with the door hinge electrics
Pull back the rubber gaiter in the door hinge area. Disconnect, clean up and reconnect the electrical connector in there. Then take a good look for any damage to the wiring. Chafing is common.
Hopefully that'll fix it.
Pull back the rubber gaiter in the door hinge area. Disconnect, clean up and reconnect the electrical connector in there. Then take a good look for any damage to the wiring. Chafing is common.
Hopefully that'll fix it.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Its almost certainly a well known problem with the door hinge electrics
Pull back the rubber gaiter in the door hinge area. Disconnect, clean up and reconnect the electrical connector in there. Then take a good look for any damage to the wiring. Chafing is common.
Hopefully that'll fix it.
Pull back the rubber gaiter in the door hinge area. Disconnect, clean up and reconnect the electrical connector in there. Then take a good look for any damage to the wiring. Chafing is common.
Hopefully that'll fix it.
DeeGee, Ive hung around EG for years and never herd him use the term gaiter! 
He likes to say Bobs Your uncle and a few other Brit terms but gaiter is a new one on me.
Deegee is 100% on target. Your door wiring harness has a known bare wire that grounds out and causes all sorts of different electrical issue. Yours sounds very very familure.
Remove the rubber accordion tubes ( gaiter/s) between each door and fish out the connectors from the door frame. There inside a pocket in the door frame.
Coat that bare wire with some liquid electrical tape and that should solve your issues.
If not, I have a few more ideas. Let us know how you make out.
Bill Curlee
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
DeeGee, Ive hung around EG for years and never herd him use the term gaiter! He likes to say Bobs Your uncle and a few other Brit terms but gaiter is a new one on me.Deegee is 100% on target. Your door wiring harness has a known bare wire that grounds out and causes all sorts of different electrical issue. Yours sounds very very familure.
Remove the rubber accordion tubes ( gaiter/s) between each door and fish out the connectors from the door frame. There inside a pocket in the door frame.
Coat that bare wire with some liquid electrical tape and that should solve your issues.
If not, I have a few more ideas. Let us know how you make out.
Bill Curlee
Just every now and again I let it slipI need to copy those pics for future reference
Where is EG nowadays? Must be too busy tuning
As you say, a bit of electric tape and Bob's Your Uncle or The Jobs a Good 'Un
Last edited by DeeGee; Mar 15, 2009 at 02:45 PM.
Thread Starter
2nd Gear
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Electrical Issues
Thanks gents,
That was exactly the problem. Bare wire was touching causing the short. I applied some liquid tape and let it set in and I have been driving for five days with no problems. I also noticed that mire tire pressure which always showed low for the left front is actually reading normal now. I asssume the short may have caused that as well. Thanks again.
v/r
Richard
That was exactly the problem. Bare wire was touching causing the short. I applied some liquid tape and let it set in and I have been driving for five days with no problems. I also noticed that mire tire pressure which always showed low for the left front is actually reading normal now. I asssume the short may have caused that as well. Thanks again.
v/r
Richard
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Thanks gents,
That was exactly the problem. Bare wire was touching causing the short. I applied some liquid tape and let it set in and I have been driving for five days with no problems. I also noticed that mire tire pressure which always showed low for the left front is actually reading normal now. I asssume the short may have caused that as well. Thanks again.
v/r
Richard
That was exactly the problem. Bare wire was touching causing the short. I applied some liquid tape and let it set in and I have been driving for five days with no problems. I also noticed that mire tire pressure which always showed low for the left front is actually reading normal now. I asssume the short may have caused that as well. Thanks again.
v/r
Richard
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
This repair should the FIRST thing EVERYTHING C5 owner should do. If its not fixed, it will show up sooner or later.
Glad to help. Glad your back on the road!
BC
Glad to help. Glad your back on the road!
BC
Team Owner
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 21,473
Likes: 356
From: Palmdale, Ca----- 2009 Cyber Gray 4LT A6 F55 452 RWHP 422 RWTQ- RIP 1998 C5 734 RWHP & 585 RWTQ-----
Tagged and Bagged for the How To file!
These issues come up every so often and in the Stick section there is a section on ELECTRICAL problems and I believe this is in there too!
Thanks,Matt
These issues come up every so often and in the Stick section there is a section on ELECTRICAL problems and I believe this is in there too!
Thanks,Matt
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