spoiler mechanism on suicide mission
06-11-2015, 08:28 AM
#1
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spoiler mechanism on suicide mission
While my car was stored for a few months, the rear spoiler spontaneously fully extended - very odd. In doing so it pressed hard against the car cover which caused one of the arms of the spoiler mechanism to actually pop off one of the sleeved-bolt things that provide a pivoting point. Helpfully the bolt was sitting loose nearby, and I was able to screw it back in and it seems fine, very well held; strange that it would be forced out.
To make matters worse, after removing the gear linkage and reinstalling it, on reconnecting the motor, it started spinning, but it seems in the wrong direction, as the motor just mangled the cable of the gear mechanism. Doh-I-Y moment. £ 250 later, I have a new gear mechanism ready to go in. The spoiler moves up-and-down freely, but the motor is still spinning continuously, even with the microswitches disconnected. And, even with the control unit in the passenger footwell disconnected, it still keeps spinning.
I'm thinking that, given that the motor is getting power regardless of the microswitches or control unit, the fault is likely to be some kind of short circuit in the spoiler wiring loom?
To make matters worse, after removing the gear linkage and reinstalling it, on reconnecting the motor, it started spinning, but it seems in the wrong direction, as the motor just mangled the cable of the gear mechanism. Doh-I-Y moment. £ 250 later, I have a new gear mechanism ready to go in. The spoiler moves up-and-down freely, but the motor is still spinning continuously, even with the microswitches disconnected. And, even with the control unit in the passenger footwell disconnected, it still keeps spinning.
I'm thinking that, given that the motor is getting power regardless of the microswitches or control unit, the fault is likely to be some kind of short circuit in the spoiler wiring loom?
Last edited by Blue Haze; 06-11-2015 at 08:52 AM.
06-11-2015, 10:14 AM
#2
Yeah, you got to thru that harness and see what's going on. Sounds like you got two wires spliced together some home.
You could always systematically go thru the fuses and see which one stops the motor from turning on. May give you an idea of what's going on.
You could always systematically go thru the fuses and see which one stops the motor from turning on. May give you an idea of what's going on.
06-12-2015, 03:38 AM
#3
There is a spoiler control unit under the passenger seat on 89-90 models or in the the passenger footwell on later models. You could disconnect it and see what happens and if you can borrow a functioning one see if the problem is there.
06-12-2015, 05:04 AM
#4
While my car was stored for a few months, the rear spoiler spontaneously fully extended - very odd. In doing so it pressed hard against the car cover which caused one of the arms of the spoiler mechanism to actually pop off one of the sleeved-bolt things that provide a pivoting point. Helpfully the bolt was sitting loose nearby, and I was able to screw it back in and it seems fine, very well held; strange that it would be forced out.
To make matters worse, after removing the gear linkage and reinstalling it, on reconnecting the motor, it started spinning, but it seems in the wrong direction, as the motor just mangled the cable of the gear mechanism. Doh-I-Y moment. £ 250 later, I have a new gear mechanism ready to go in. The spoiler moves up-and-down freely, but the motor is still spinning continuously, even with the microswitches disconnected. And, even with the control unit in the passenger footwell disconnected, it still keeps spinning.
I'm thinking that, given that the motor is getting power regardless of the microswitches or control unit, the fault is likely to be some kind of short circuit in the spoiler wiring loom?
To make matters worse, after removing the gear linkage and reinstalling it, on reconnecting the motor, it started spinning, but it seems in the wrong direction, as the motor just mangled the cable of the gear mechanism. Doh-I-Y moment. £ 250 later, I have a new gear mechanism ready to go in. The spoiler moves up-and-down freely, but the motor is still spinning continuously, even with the microswitches disconnected. And, even with the control unit in the passenger footwell disconnected, it still keeps spinning.
I'm thinking that, given that the motor is getting power regardless of the microswitches or control unit, the fault is likely to be some kind of short circuit in the spoiler wiring loom?
06-12-2015, 10:51 AM
#6
06-13-2015, 04:34 PM
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Thank you gents; upon further inspection I realized I had the wrong control unit in the passenger footwell; looked similar (any idea what it is for?), but the one in charge of the spoiler is under the OSF/Driver's seat. I opened it up and found one of the relays welded shut; I managed to get it working again with some contact cleaner and gentle persuasion, but I am keen to replace it as I suspect it could easily weld itself again. Has anyone done this? The relay is marked A1059-A203 - I can only see it mentioned (no pics) on some US component sites.
