Hello all, I have a 2005 UK x-type 2.0 diesel sport estate with 95k on the clock. It has recently developed random electrical problems, sometimes the central locking wont work when entering the car and then the indicators, hazards and horn won't work aswell. Sometimes this can happen as I'm driving along, you just notice the indicators etc stop working. These can start again on the journey, or they can either work or not work when the vehicle is just left standing. Is there anything electrical that links all of these, or an earth or something? Any help would be greatly appreciated as its fine putting your arm out to signal now and again in the summer, but I don't fancy it winter time. Many thanks, Hammy.

 

Hi Hammy,
What you are describing is most probably a ground issue. I would suggest a thorough check of your ground points in and around the engine bay.

If you do short journeys, it would not hurt to charge the battery whilst you are checking.

There is posts of members changing the cables for the grounds because of the same symptoms.

Hope this helps,

 

hammy, what you are describing sounds like a bad battery cable. Granted, you may want try when you are having issues with the turn signals, to attempt to lower your windows by using the switches. if you have problems then and the motor is running fine, then you may have a GEM module that is going. That module controls most of the electronics inside the car and if it starts developing issues, it will create all sorts of interesting things.

If you are suspecting a bad GEM, I would recommend first swapping out the fuses for the module just to rule out old fuses. If the fuses start dropping some voltage, that will cause the GEM to do some funky things and cause things like what you are seeing.

If I need to go into more detail, let me know and I will assist however I can.

 

Thanks for your input guys, I will check the battery cables tomorrow, and may even run a new ground in while I'm at it just to eliminate that one. The windows work fine when the car is playing up, as I've been putting them up and down to put my arm out. Has the GEM got its own fuse, as I cant see one in the book for it. Many thanks, Hammy.

 

GEM fed by F25 15A in the power distribution fuse box.