Loom

[Deanno]

I' am going to use my Escort mk5 XR3i Engine and thought it would be better to use the escort loom is there any problems with this?

Cheers
Dean

[mr henderson]

No problems if you know what you are doing. The main trouble area, if you don't know what you are doing, is going to be coupling the escort loom to the Sierra column switches (is that what you are using, you didn't say?).

Another problem will be to ensure that the rear fog light only comes on when the headlamps (either dip or hi beam) are on, and that the switch lights up when this happens, and not at any other time.

Premier looms (probably the main supplier) use a relay to achieve this.

[twinturbo]

build a customloom, and mate it to the engine mgmt loom.

TT

[Deanno]

Cheers for that,
I'm planning on (If possible) to mate up my escort steering switches to the sierra steering column.
ant the lights will be the same as the Escort's regarding the fog light.

[HandyAndy]

ant the lights will be the same as the Escort's regarding the fog light.

If your donor loom is setup so that the rear fog light can be activated when only on "side lights" ( as older cars may have done ) then it will fail the IVA requirement,
As Mr H has said, the rear fog light must only be operable when using "Dip or Main " headlights, its a new requirement on the new IVA ( older SVA test would have allowed it ).

cheers
andy

[mr henderson]

(If possible)


Well, that's the problem. Almost anything is possible, including what you want to do. Whether it will be possible for you to do it we can only guess at, as you haven't siad anything about you abilities with car electrics. The mere factt hat you are asking the questions makes me a little bit concerned on your behalf. Do you have a fallback plan if it doesn't work out?

Sometimes with projects like kit car building it can be better to just buy the right thing to start with, and spend the hours you have availble for your build in areas where you can make more progress. (The right thing, by the way, is a Premier loom)

[les g]

if you are going to use the escort loom
why not use the escort column and switch gear
if you can build a haynes roadster mating and mounting the escort column
will be within your capabilities
then just sort the fog light out
cheers les g

[Deanno]

Mr H i would be using the escort column switches sorry forgot to say.

I would of prefered to use the escort steering column but was not sure as ideally i want to stick to there book.

with regards to the fog light is'nt that the same for road cars so would that already be done on the escort when it was made?

Me and electrics are like electric and water were not the best match:D

Thank you for all your help.

[mr henderson]

with regards to the fog light is'nt that the same for road cars so would that already be done on the escort when it was made?



I can't tell you what the Escort set up is, and I guess it's not possible to test it on your donor, all I can tell you is what the IVA requirements are, and thise are as stated above.

One way of proceeding would be to go ahead and see what happens when it is all working, and deal with it then if the fog light comes on with the side lights as well, or maybe find out from another Escort owner

I just checked with my M reg Volvo, and that would be ok, rear fog only with headlights

[Deanno]

i'll check next time i'm down my dad's house as the car is there should be able to check it as the only reason it's off the road is its needs an MOT.

Thanks for your help

Dean

[davidimurray]

Dean

While you can use the donor loom there will be lots of redundant wires you don't need and the remaining ones are likely to be too short/long requiring you modify them anyway.

Personally, I would go for a new loom as a much neater solution. There is no real 'electrics' as such involved - more like just connecting wires up, by yourself a good set of crimping tools and some crimps and away you go.

Are you planning on using a sierra column? If so the sierra switch gear will be part of the column? Not sure if you can graft escort switches onto the sierra column?

Did you get over to Llandow on sat?

[Deanno]

Hi david,

where would i start with the loom?
i thought about using the escort column?? but not sure my mate does electrics and he advised me to go with the escort loom as i will know exactly where each wire goes etc.

but your the guys that know best as you have done it before.

Dean

[davidimurray]

You should be able to re-use the engine loom from the car - just strip out everything engine related, ecu and its wiring. Normally the engine side of the car is pretty self contained with a connection into the cars ignition system for power and starting.

If you have a look at my wiring diagram thread you should see a basic circuit diagram I have created. It covers all the lights, horn, rad fan etc and also hasa circuit for the megajolt I am using. You could use this diagram and just change the megajolt circuit to feed you ECU from the relay. The diagram includes a changeover relay to only the fog lights to only work with dip or main beam.

I am working through my wiring at the moment circuit by circuit - just start connecting the wires up one by one, leaving the main power feeds, hook the battery up to that independent circuit and test, then when all complete add the main power feeds. I must admit I'm finding the wiring surprisingly relaxing and enjoyable - I was like a big kid last night turning the lights on, then off, on, off, on , off for 10 minutes :p

[Deanno]

cheers David hopefully i will be able to pop up and see your car soon before you finish it:D .

Thank you everyone for your help and advice.