Quirky electrical problem

[raptorman]

Ok,
I've searched the forums high and low for an answer, and I think I've found a few possibilites. Let's jump into it.

A few days ago, I noticed my headlights and dash lights dimming and brightening very rapidly while driving down the road. Later that night, when I turned my high beams on, or press the brakes, my cd player and cigarette lighter reset. They turn back on, sometimes.
I get home and as soon as I turn my key to ACC, I lose all power. I mean everything. I try to start the car again, and I get no power at all. When I jump my car, it starts with no problem.

All the posts I've seen have said alternator, or a ground. I don't have a voltometer to check my alternator, but I'm pretty sure it's not that. I am going to replace the belt tomorrow though, because it needs replacing anyways.

Ok, here's the quirky part.

Today, I pulled my CD Player out to see if maybe that was it. It had caused problems a month ago by somehow shorting the fuse for my dash and tail lights. Now, when my car is in the on, it starts up when the cd player is not plugged in. When I plug the CD Player in, with my battery hooked up to a charger, and try to turn the key, my relay's click like hell. So, I pulled a relay, and all was well. "Eureka!" I proclaimed, "We'll get a new one!" So I drove down to the nearest auto parts (20 minutes, sorry for narrative, but I'm furious), ordered the new one because I live in VT and we have nothing but cows and Maple Syrup. Got home, decided to close up shop, put everything back together, and low and behold, the clicking in the relay's was back. and the weird part was, when I had electric in the vehicle and had my CD player plugged in, I touched the ground to the frame, and lights got brighter, noticeably. So I tried to start the car. And emptied my fully charged battery with the turn of the key. I can't imagine it's a bad ground in my CD Player, because wouldn't the 10 amp fuse in the player blow before I could drain my whole battery?

I've also seen stories of this being the ECU. Just don't be that. I'm poor.

 

[awd6boltsi]

as far as testing your alternator, depending on the auto parts store, but lots of them will test it for free. it sounds like your cd player is installed wrong to say the least. did you use a harness or just whack the factory wires ?

 

[raptorman]

I used a harness. It should be all fine. This is the fourth cd player (my other three were cheap POS') and I've never had this problem before.

 

[Old Mitsu Tech]

Anytime I run into an electrical problem and I start thinking "that's bizarre" I mostly find I have a bad ground somewhere. This can cause a component to not work, to actuate another component that you didn't intend, to work intermiteltly etc. Remember, electricity is like water and will move to the area of least resistance. Find a schematic and link all of your components that are acting "bizarre" and see what they have in common. You might find a bad ground. They do happen and can drive you nuts. Do a "wiggle" test to help isolate and locate your problem child.

Good Luck

 

[raptorman]

That's a great idea with linking everything, but at first thought, everything is linked to the fuse box, and as far as I know the only thing that is linked to the fuse box is the ECU and battery.

 

[brute]

As Rick's excellent advice said, check and recheck everything. Bad grounds, etc. May even check the simplest things (i.e. battery cable connections). Good luck! I know how bad electrical issues can be.

 

[architechnik]

It may even be a relay in the engine bay that sends the power to the cabin. Check EVERYTHING. It's a bit much, I know, but this might be the only way to pinpoint the problem.

You said you used a harness to wire up the stereo, but also that you had three other stereos in there. Could something have been wired incorrectly from a previous install?

 

[Defiant]

A few days ago, I noticed my headlights and dash lights dimming and brightening very rapidly while driving down the road.

Your alternator's dead. But check your grounds and neg terminal as well, and make sure the positive terminal isn't shorting out on the hood or a strut bar.

 

[91talon27]

I agree with Defiant. My car did the exact same thing. I took it to 3 local autoparts stores that said both the alternator and battery were good. I changed the alternator, after arguing with the sales guy that it was unnecessary, and I haven't had any problems since. I also have this problem after my brother borrowed my car and left the headlights on . Then he tried to jump start it and reversed the cables which caused a dead short in the battery. I could start the car and drive it for days as long as I didn't turn on the headlights or radio. Hope this helps and good luck.

 

[boostenon114]

I have had alternators puting out rfi and giving me crazy things. I would look up your common grounds for what is messing up.

 

[raptorman]

well, for the time being it seems that it's fixed. I replaced the alt belt, tightened it and the serpentine belt, also replaced neg terminal, and also cut down the neg cables by 1/2", found my terminal scraper/cleaner and cleaned the shit out of everything. also replaced one of my relay's. Started up no problem four times within two minutes. While running, had no problems turning on lights or any problems with radio. Looks awesome right now. If I don't post, assume it's still fixed

Thanks for your advice everyone.