FTO Drivers Club, Western Australia

[SilentBob]

Well...I knew my run of no car problems would have to come to an end

Electrical problems...
Example, (started the other day), when disabling the alarm, it goes to disable but stops and starts making a continuous alarm noise(one steady note though as opposed to on off noise, and quieter) which i have to open car, get in turn alarm off/on/off for it to go back to normal and when this occurs the clock on my stereo and the odomoter(umm the k's counter you reset etc) both reset
Example 2,(this happened last night and this morning), when driving(with stereo on) turned on the headlights and the electricals essentially reset(ie speedo drops to 0, all the warnings lights come on like when you start the car and the stereo turned off) then comes back on....
Example 3, while driving, watching the voltmeter in the centre console...whenever a bass note hit it dropped then rose again(so i turned off the sub) but it also did it whenever i braked(brake lights), indicated or turned to high beam..


Now.....why the feck is it doin this...
my ideas...
a)car battery is dying/to small...resulting in the charge sometimes being to low to a)disable the alarm and b)when i turned the lights on drew to much power
b)ive got a short somewhere thats occuring occasionally??

i hope it simply is the battery, which is where im leaning towards due to my logic that the battery supplies the quick transient power needed before the cars power can adjust to supply power to whatever is running(ie stereo when sub note kicks in, or the lights)


Im no expert, and need some help(prolly need to seek out an auto electrician this week if i cant find a simple and cheaper solution)


Help...thanks
SilentBob

[tilldefdousparty]

I would say it either your battery or your alternator, most garages should be able to put a volt meter on both and check them very quickly. Hope its your battery.
H

[RichardH]

If it's you're alternator and you have a MIVEC engine, note that it's a "special" alternator unit. There's an additional signal link between the alternator and the engine ECU. If you replace it with a unit that doesn't talk to the ECU, then the computer will raise an alternator error code and won't let you rev over 6500rpm.

If it is the alternator, then get in touch about getting a replacement. There may be alternatives to going for a "mortgage-your-house" price new unit. Whereabouts are ya?

And did you happen to get a warranty with the vehicle, which would make life very easy indeed!

- Rich