ZX Volcane electricals

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Chris_L
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ZX Volcane electricals

Post by Chris_L »

Hi,
I've developed quite a simple fault with my ZX Volcane (TD), but before I start pulling things to bits, I wondered if anybody has seen this before. The symptoms are:
1 When i open either front door, the cabin lights don't come on.
2 If I leave the headlights on and open a door, the warning tone does not operate.
I don't think its a door switch otherwise it would work if I opened the other one. Any ideas?
Also, I have a problem with the air horn. Well, its not really a 'problem', more a minor annoyance (to the amusement of friends!). The Volcane comes equipped with a twin tone air horn, the problem is that one of the tones (the lower one) doesn't work, so I'm left with this high pitched and very loud horn! Obviously it still passes the MOT, but I'm wondering if there's anything (eg a fuse somewhere) that I can quickly check to get it sounding sweet again. By the way, its been like that since I bought it - imagine my surprise when I first used it! If it's going to mean a new unit, I'll just put up with it, but I think its probably something minor. Any ideas?
Thanks in advance,
Chris
Jon

Post by Jon »

The 1st problem that you mention is normally caused by the failure of the door switch on the driver's side, that ot the connection to it is corroded (quite common).
As regards the horn problem, what happens is that the trumpets become blocked up with road dirt etc. The only solution is to either fit new trumpets and piping to the existing compressor; or, if you have access to a garage compressor and some earmuffs (!) blow compressed air through the plastic tube attached to the horn to clear it out. It starts quiet and gets louder and louder as the high pressure air forces the muck out of the trumpet!!!!!
Bizzare, but it works.
Jon Wood
IT Supervisor
GSF t/as Andyspares
Chris_L
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Post by Chris_L »

Thanks for the quick response Jon.
I'll try pulling the door contact out and shorting it to see if that switches on the cabin lights. Still can't quite work out why, if the driver's side switch had failed, the lights wouldn't operate if you opened the passenger side though, but i'm sure there's a simple explanation!
I'll have a chat with the garage to see if I can get access to their compressed air supply to fix the horn, otherwise it might take me a bit of time with a foot pump!! Sounds like one of the more amusing problems to fix anyway! <img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle>
I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks again,
Chris
ceesar
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Post by ceesar »

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Couldn't you just use one of the those cans of airspray (no, not hairspray!) that are often used for cleaning computer keyboards?
Or just blow really hard...?! Or maybe use a Dyson Root12 Cyclone to clean it?
Ceesar.
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Edited by - ceesar on 27 Aug 2002 13:16:04
NiSk
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x 1

Post by NiSk »

Actually, Ceasar has come quite close to a smart solution - buy one of those cans of compressed air that hooligans use to interrupt football matches with (in fact i think there is a sensible use for these devices - as fog horns on sailing boats) and blow out the much with that.
I also think you have a grounding problem with your door switch or with the light unit.
//NiSk
Chris_L
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Post by Chris_L »

Thanks Ceesar / NiSk,
Unfortunately, I think you'd probably get a much higher pressure in the volume of air required to do the job from the air compressor built into the horn than you would from an aerosol cannister, so it probably wouldn't have any effect. What I might try though is just sitting there with the horn on for ages to see if it eventually blasts the muck out. The trouble is that the working trumpet of the horn's so damn loud that it'd annoy all the neighbours! I might have to find a field somewhere.... I suspect that the air-flow from the compressor simply splits evenly so that equal flow is directed to each trumpet (thus explaining why its so loud now with only one remaining). In which case, it might be possible to restrict the flow to the working one thus forcing all the air to blast through the non working one. This will either blow all the muck out or blow up the compressor (probably pop the fuse 1st), but it might be worth a try if I can't find a suitable compressed air supply.
I'll investigate the door contact later.
Thanks again,
Chris
MiX
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Post by MiX »

Just a thought. How about ripping out the whole horn and compressor and replacing it with a standart 12V electric horn?<img src=icon_smile.gif border=0 align=middle> A much cheaper solution I would think. Btw, anyone tried it?
-Jarle
russellfowden
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Post by russellfowden »

Wow. no dirty Ford Capri-esque twin tone rubbish at a stroke. This has to be the way forward?
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