Opel Corsa B 1993–2000 Service and Repair Manual: Electrical system

Note: For problems associated with the starting system, refer to the faults listed under "Engine" earlier in this Section.

Battery will not hold a charge for more than a few days

• Battery defective internally.
• Battery terminal connections loose or corroded.
• Auxiliary drivebelt worn or incorrectly adjusted.
• Alternator not charging at correct output .
• Alternator or voltage regulator faulty.
• Short-circuit causing continual battery drain.

Ignition/no-charge warning light remains illuminated with engine running

• Auxiliary drivebelt broken, worn, or incorrectly adjusted.
• Alternator brushes worn, sticking, or dirty.
• Alternator brush springs weak or broken.
• Internal fault in alternator or voltage regulator.
• Broken, disconnected, or loose wiring in charging circuit.

Ignition/no-charge warning light fails to come on

• Warning light bulb blown.
• Broken, disconnected, or loose wiring in warning light circuit.
• Alternator faulty.

Lights inoperative

• Bulb blown.
• Corrosion of bulb or bulbholder contacts.
• Blown fuse.
• Faulty relay.
• Broken, loose, or disconnected wiring.
• Faulty switch.

Instrument readings inaccurate or erratic

Instrument readings increase with engine speed

• Faulty voltage regulator.

Fuel or temperature gauges give no reading

• Faulty gauge sender unit.
• Wiring open-circuit.
• Faulty gauge.

Fuel or temperature gauges give continuous maximum reading

• Faulty gauge sender unit .
• Wiring short-circuit .
• Faulty gauge.

Horn inoperative, or unsatisfactory in operation

Horn operates all the time

• Horn push either earthed or stuck down.
• Horn cable-to-horn push earthed.

Horn fails to operate

• Blown fuse .
• Cable or cable connections loose, broken or disconnected.
• Faulty horn.

Horn emits intermittent or unsatisfactory sound

• Cable connections loose .
• Horn mountings loose .
• Faulty horn.

Windscreen/tailgate wipers inoperative, or unsatisfactory in operation

Wipers fail to operate, or operate very slowly

• Wiper blades stuck to screen, or linkage seized or binding.
• Blown fuse .
• Cable or cable connections loose, broken or disconnected.
• Faulty relay.
• Faulty wiper motor.

Wiper blades sweep over too large or too small an area of the glass

• Wiper arms incorrectly positioned on spindles .
• Excessive wear of wiper linkage.
• Wiper motor or linkage mountings loose or insecure.

Wiper blades fail to clean the glass effectively

• Wiper blade rubbers worn or perished .
• Wiper arm tension springs broken, or arm pivots seized .
• Insufficient windscreen washer additive to adequately remove road film.

Windscreen/tailgate washers inoperative, or unsatisfactory in operation

One or more washer jets inoperative

• Blocked washer jet.
• Disconnected, kinked or restricted fluid hose .
• Insufficient fluid in washer reservoir.

Washer pump fails to operate

• Broken or disconnected wiring or connections.
• Blown fuse.
• Faulty washer switch.
• Faulty washer pump.

Washer pump runs for some time before fluid is emitted from jets

• Faulty one-way valve in fluid supply hose.

Electric windows inoperative, or unsatisfactory in operation

Window glass will only move in one direction

• Faulty switch.

Window glass slow to move

• Incorrectly-adjusted door glass guide channels.
• Regulator seized or damaged, or in need of lubrication.
• Door internal components or trim fouling regulator.
• Faulty motor.

Window glass fails to move

• Incorrectly-adjusted door glass guide channels.
• Blown fuse.
• Faulty relay.
• Broken or disconnected wiring or connections.
• Faulty motor.

Central locking system inoperative, or unsatisfactory in operation

Complete system failure

• Blown fuse.
• Faulty relay .
• Broken or disconnected wiring or connections.
• Faulty control unit.

Latch locks but will not unlock, or unlocks but will not lock

• Faulty master switch .
• Broken or disconnected latch operating rods or levers.
• Faulty relay.
• Faulty control unit.

One solenoid/motor fails to operate

• Broken or disconnected wiring or connections .
• Faulty solenoid/motor .
• Broken, binding or disconnected latch operating rods or levers .
• Fault in door latch .