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Rear End Electrical Gremlins V70-XC70 2001

posted by  will rehsper on  Mon Sep 26 18:42 CST 2011
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last visit: Tue Jul 3 14:55 CST 2012
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My V70 has developed some electrical gremlins. It *seems* to have started with the fuel gauge crapping out. This propped up after taking a hit to the underbody when driving it, loaded down, over a lump in a grassy field. The gauge itself appears to work, it moves when the car is first started - clearly the problem lies further aft...

Some time later I noticed that the rear wiper and washer weren't working. In fact there seems to be no power flowing to the hatch. No license plate lights, no defroster, no power locks. At the same time I noticed that the rear power door locks aren't working, along with fuel filler flap solenoid. Rear windows work like champs.

The Haynes manual isn't much help at all. The wiring diagrams are "typical" and incomplete. It did at least lead me to the fuseboxes and helped locate ground points. Every single fuse and ground looks pristine. Most likely culprits share a ground or fuse with some other working device anyway.

Sooo.... here I am. Any ideas as to what ails this car or what I should check next?

Thanks much,
Will
--
854 / 244 / Mini








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    Rear End Electrical Gremlins V70-XC70 2001

    posted by  james_a_sousa on  Fri Sep 30 14:02 CST 2011
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    last visit: Thu Oct 23 18:51 CST 2014
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    I think that you are barking up the wrong tree.

    If the issues started when you hit the bump, the problem is probably under your car.

    Is your battery in the rear? If so, check it.

    I like Klaus' idea, How about running a temporary ground to the tailgate or to the ground terminal strip that is probably under your rear floor. Using a temporary ground is a troubleshooting trick that few people use. You could even add a temporary ground to each load to see if it gets sufficient power to work.

    When you have many electrical problems, it is either a ground or you tore a LOT of wires apart!

    I would take a good look under the car and inside the car under the rear floor. A small dent on the underside could cause lots of issues if it were in the wrong place.

    I had a Chevy Caprice cruiser that had an odd fuel gauge problem appear after I pulled a large boat and trailer out of a river. Turned out that I had a HUGE dent in its plastic gas tank!
    --
    '96 855R,'64 PV544 driver, '67 P1800 basket case, '95 855, '95 854, the first three are mine, heh, heh, 485,000 miles put on 9 bricks








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    Rear End Electrical Gremlins V70-XC70 2001

    posted by  KlausC on  Mon Sep 26 18:51 CST 2011
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    last visit: Fri Oct 24 10:15 CST 2014
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    Too big for me to download, MVS has wiring diagrams for all models, all years. Go on over and take a look, if you can find it among all of the ads. It might be on the first page of the 'repair database'.

    You must have knocked off a ground for the tailgate.

    Klaus
    --
    Did you do your Random Act of Kindness today?








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      Rear End Electrical Gremlins V70-XC70 2001

      posted by  will rehsper on  Wed Sep 28 20:37 CST 2011
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      last visit: Tue Jul 3 14:55 CST 2012
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      SOLVED.

      In the diagrams I found yet another fuse panel to investigate - a electrical distribution/fuse block right off of the battery (which is under the floor in the cargo area). I found nothing obviously wrong. Found continuity across all the fuses etc. Only thing at all out of the ordinary was a little bit of grease or maybe corrosion on the ring terminal connection from the fuse block to the pos. battery terminal. I cleaned that and bolted everything back together and Voila! everything is back to normal.

      Thanks,
      Will
      --
      V70 / Mini / Mini








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      Rear End Electrical Gremlins V70-XC70 2001

      posted by  will rehsper on  Mon Sep 26 19:21 CST 2011
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      last visit: Tue Jul 3 14:55 CST 2012
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      Got it. Boy-howdy thats a lot of information! I have some studying to do.

      I've already stumbled upon some leads to check. Thanks.

      -Will
      --
      V70 / Mini / Mini







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