#1: Random Electrical Issues Author: stevesey, Location: BristolPosted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 12:27 pm ---- Daughters car - last week she reported that the speed and rev counter dropped to 0 for a couple of minutes. This morning the airbag light came on turning car on and off didn't reset it straight away, but it did when she got to work and restated it there. Later on the stop light started flashing, with no other warnings. After a restart all was fine and has been since.
Thoughts please. Battery is untouched since we got the car 12 months ago - but was reading corrects voltages when she got home - will check again in a few hours.
#2: Re: Random Electrical Issues Author: Seabook, Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 12:28 pm ---- what do you mean by correct voltages?
#3: Re: Random Electrical Issues Author: stevesey, Location: BristolPosted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 12:42 pm ---- 14.5 @ idle (not going sky high when rev'd) & 12.5 with engine off.
#4: Re: Random Electrical Issues Author: Lee, Location: EnglandPosted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 12:45 pm ---- Check battery after it has been stood over night and not started then you will get a true reading.
Check earth straps
#5: Re: Random Electrical Issues Author: stevesey, Location: BristolPosted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 1:30 pm ---- Earth strap tightened @ body end (1/4 turn to so - difficult to tell with a 1/4 ratchet in a confined space). Was getting .1 ohm from battery or engine block to body, but 0.0 from battery to block - after tightening that has gone now, but I did have to change the battery in the meter as well so can't be 100% certain of the readings - but pretty sure I was getting a bit of extra resistance to the body before.
Tried checking the battery voltage under load (engine off) and compared it to the wife's corsa. It dropped in much the same way the corsa 12.1 with side lights on 11.8 with headlights on - not conclusive either way, but suggests battery is not in bad nick (but then again corsa is approx the same age and we've had it a similar time and don't know the history of the battery).
Anyway we'll see what tomorrow brings.
#6: Re: Random Electrical Issues Author: Rob2859, Location: HalifaxPosted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 6:24 pm ---- Could be a faulty instrument cluster; ether the unit or a bad connection, or the battery earth. Its hard to tell with the battery earth though, I had problems with mine but it looked fine visually.
#7: Re: Random Electrical Issues Author: Seabook, Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 7:21 pm ---- you can always add an extra earthing cable to see if it improve the situation?
#8: Re: Random Electrical Issues Author: stevesey, Location: BristolPosted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 12:07 pm ---- Battery Voltage fell to 12.15 lights off and 11.65 with the lights on (engine off) overnight - so only slightly down (12.2 & 11.8 last night) - but down never the less - might do a comparative check on the other cars tonight.
Daughter working late tonight - so no news from her yet.
#9: Re: Random Electrical Issues Author: Seabook, Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 12:36 pm ---- the battery is in bad shape i would say; or there is a power leak.
anything lower than 12.2v is unacceptable (75% discharged).
better to get the battery tested.
#10: Re: Random Electrical Issues Author: stevesey, Location: BristolPosted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 2:28 pm ---- Car has behaved itself today, possibly tightening the earth strap has removed a small voltage drop and improved the situation, or today was just a good day.
But yes 12.2 is on the low side, will keep an eye on it this week and probably pick a battery up at the weekend.
#11: Re: Random Electrical Issues Author: stevesey, Location: BristolPosted: Wed Dec 07, 2011 12:18 pm ---- Car behaving today as well - maybe the earth strap tightening has just done enough.
Voltage still low though, so picked up new battery from ECP on the way home though (£35 with discount code) - will fit and give the earths a proper clean at the weekend.
For anyone with similar issues reading this thread in the future - if I don't report back assume all is well.
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