Allegro Club International

[kevin]

Hi everyone I really dont know if you can help on this one, when driving and I decide to let somone out I flash my headlights next thing I know my sterio has switched off also the brake check light,hazard flasher and the horn dont work. I have checked the fuses but can't find a problem, has anyone got any ideas thanks Kevin

[Colin T]

These are not all run from the same fuse so maybe the is a fault in the wiring?? Something chaffing and shorting out perhaps? I'm not a wiring expert but check where the wiring goes through the dash rail behind the instrument pack and dashboard, on it's route to the instruments. It can chaff here and one member had a small fire due to that.
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Hell has frozen over...... the car formally known as 'Heap' is back on the road!

[kevin]

Thanks Colin will check and let you know what the out come is I do hope it's not to hard to track down. Thanks again Kevin

[Colin T]

Also check the wiring around the ignition switch, it can get ropey where it exits the switch and bends to fit inside the cowl.

Some of the ciruits of the items you mention are linked, so it could be a fuse problem. Have you checked that you have all the correct ratings in the appropriate positions? The wrong rating can cause problems. Also check that the earth point at the top of the pedal box (again behind/underneath the dashboard, joy!) is secure and making a good earth.

It may be helpful if you run other electrical items and then try to flash the headlamps, to see if it affects more items e.g. wiper motor, heater motor.
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Hell has frozen over...... the car formally known as 'Heap' is back on the road!

[kevin]

Thanks Colin some excellent ideas, I wonder if the indicator stalk shorts out when I flash as it only seems to cause a problem then and not when I am indicating. Looks like I have my work cut out but to be honest that's part of the fun Will keep you informed Kevin

[Paul-V]

When flashing the headlamps, the permanent live feed to the horn circuit (purple wire) is switched through the stalk contacts to power the main beam circuit.

This is on the same circuit as brake test, interior lamps, hazard flashers etc, so the fault is likely to be dirty or loose contacts in the fusebox. (drive fast over a speedbump and the circuit will probably come back to life, but the sound of the sump scraping the road and the rear crosstube mounts + rebound straps giving way will probably drown out the radio's return to normal service! )

With the battery disconnected, remove each fuse in turn and clean the contacts with wire wool or fine wet+ dry paper, then do the same to the contact blades in the fusebox. Before refitting the fuses, use long-nose pliers to squeeze the blades together (but don't sqeeze so hard as to crush/straighten them) then refit the fuse. Smearing contact grease or Vaseline on the fuses should help things along and keep moisture out in the future.

Only if you are really unlucky, will the problem be in the wiring loom.

For those not familiar with the Allegro fusebox, fuse insertion can sometimes be a 2-person job, as the 'box has a tendency to drop back inside the car when you press on it. Unless you have a Belgian-built car, where some sensible Belgian chap who clearly wasn't bothered about time and motion or productivity studies, made the effort to retain the 'box with a couple of pop rivets through the top and bottom holes that may even have been designed for that purpose........
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But you'd better be quick. Because the Allegro Equipe is a Limited Edition that's going to move like its looks! Vroom, Vroom!

[kevin]

Hi Paul thanks for the tips, not to sure about taking the speed hump route but will try the other options. Have got Friday off to investigate so will let you know how I get on. I think my car was made half way between Belgium and the Uk as the car has two screws at the top of the fuse box so I am hoping it will be a one man job!! Thanks again Kevin

[kevin]

Hi Colin and Paul thanks very much for your input I have tracked down the problem with my electrical problem and it's all down to my wiring up of the sterio to the brake failure warning switch Have rectified the problem and now everything seems ok thanks again Kevin