very wierd electrical problem

[coaxial]

Alright so today my dash lights stopped illuminating, which I usually fix by giving the dash a good thunk and they come back on. That's the only electrical issue I've ever had in the past is the dash illumination. Today though that didn't fix it, and also I noticed my tail lights, brake lights, and license plate lights do not work, regardless of headlight switch position or whether the vehicle is running. Quick look at the fuses and they are fine.


And here is where it gets really fun - when the headlights are on, the vehicle does not turn off. You turn it off, remove the key, make sure the turbotimer isn't on, keeps running. You can drive around with no keys in. No radio or anything though. As soon as you turn off the headlights the engine turns off.

I am thinking this is a blown fuse and I will go through them all now, but I thought I'd ping the group for ideas for this very random issue.

Thanks in advance!!

[FalcoColumbarius]

I hope this helps... smiles.

Falco.

[coaxial]

cool that saves me searching for the diagram...

I should also mention the reverse lights DO work, despite everything else back there not working. I'll check all the fuses tomorrow.

[jrman]

Very odd that this would start doing this now - and wishing you luck.
Don't have any assistance to offer - but can say that my Deli is wired up the same way regarding the headlights, but it's been like that since day one and nothing intermittent at all. In other words, mine too will continue run even with the key off and taken out. First few times freaked me out - she just sat there running with the key out - till I turn the headlights off. However - the power to everything is in fact off as the radio and all other accessories turn off. I didn't like it at first, but now at least I'm comfortable knowing I'll never leave my lights on by accident.
Keep us posted on your progress.

[mdrive]

it is possible that your DRL power is hooked with your turbo timer 12 volt feed.

[coaxial]

wow.. so everything i described in my original message:
-no dash lights
-vehicle wont turn off if headlights on!
-no tail lights or "parking" lights, just headlights in either light switch setting
-no brake lights

was due to the horn fuse being blown ...

[Green1]

As the general consensus appears to be that I do not know what I'm talking about, and cause more harm than good, I am removing this post so that others are not tricked in to following my ill-advised instructions.

[TardisDeli]

Hi Coaxial,
This sounds like a fun project ... Campfire discussion and rewiring fix for Round-The-Campfire this weekend. Our fancy $$$$ electrical tester ThingaMajiggy, and with so many delica owners, we can compare which wires are where, and how they go into the DRL etc.

I actually just got wired a completely separate set of extra headlights on the BambiBars, with their own toggle switch , on own wires, just in case one of those wierd lighting issues occured. Illegal yes, but if jiggling jolting dirt roads cause problems I wanna see.

Christine.

[coaxial]

Now that the horn fuse is replaced the van turns off, lights or no lights.. as it should. I get the warning tone if they are on when I shut down.

DRL is probably not properly setup but is working fine when the fuses are all intact. I'm curious what circuit the DRL are wired into though. There is such a terrible nest of wires near my fuse box that I haven't ever bothered though.

Yeah my second set of driving lights is wired in separately with their own switch & fuse.

[torchard]

1. Should be easy enough to locate the drl even with a mess of wires. Likely is fed by ignition and tapped into low beam wire on column switch.

2. Check your charging system - as discussed in a recent threat - a faulty charging system can manifest all kinds of strange behaviour from vehicle (and from frustrated owner).

--T

[mararmeisto]

wow.. so everything i described in my original message:
-no dash lights
-vehicle wont turn off if headlights on!
-no tail lights or "parking" lights, just headlights in either light switch setting
-no brake lights

was due to the horn fuse being blown ...

That is weird. Going to pull the horn fuse when I get home, see if I get the same symptoms. Will report later.

BTW, my DRL works fine and it doesn't keep Moon Machine running if I pull the key with the lights on. I suspect, and have told this to someone, it may be a function of the installed DRL module in order to force one to shut off the lights: "Motor still running? Oh dang, forgot to turn off the lights."

[Green1]

As the general consensus appears to be that I do not know what I'm talking about, and cause more harm than good, I am removing this post so that others are not tricked in to following my ill-advised instructions.

[jessef]

I have blown the horn fuse, and it doesn't affect the ability to turn off the engine while the lights are on.

The fact that yours behaves this way proves that something isn't wired right, most likely the DRL module.

x2

[surferboy]

for those of you who had bad wiring/electrical nightmares, ...perhaps a hint at who did the bad job so future buyers would know whom to steer clear of as far as drl instal.... just an idea..

[torchard]

Yup, wonky indeed. It sounds like the headlight is sending current to the ignition, presumably via the DRL. Perhaps it's something cosmic. Try backing your van in a counter-clockwise circle seven times chanting "I think I can." Worked for me.

--T