Electrical problem

by **thumpa** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 10:30 am

Hi all, long time reader, first time poster!

I have a bizzare problem going on with the electricals in my car at the moment (97 RX Liberty), this has been happening for the past few days or so. I went to use the mirror in the sunvisor and when opening the flap i noticed the light wouldnt turn on but then it very dimly came on (never did this before) - both sunvisor mirrors do the same thing. Another thing i noticed was when opening the flap to turn on the light, the climate control computer turns off. It comes back on when i close the flap. A bit odd you think? also, i went to use the ciggie lighter and it also turns the climate control computer off when i push it in - never used to do that before! If i turn the air con on, after a couple of seconds the climate control computer turns off then on again.

Its almost as if the circuit is at its load peak and any other accessory that turns on will trip it and shut the computer off but that still doesnt explain why the sunvisor lights dimly come on or why this continues to happen even if i turn the climate control computer off.

Ive had the car for a few weeks and this problem only started happening (as far as i know) last week.

Any ideas?

by **Ric** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 11:11 am

It certainly sounds like a bad connection.
Can you check your owners manual to see if all these devices hang off the same fuse?
If not, then it may be a grounding problem instead.

by **thumpa** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 11:22 am

i thought a grounding problem too.

the manual doesnt state what accessory runs off what fuse etc. maybe the workshop manual (if i can find it).

by **Ric** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 2:17 pm

The fusebox cover should say which fuse does the cigarette lighter.
If you pull that one out, do the other things die?

by **rxliberty2000** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 2:19 pm

Does it have an aftermarket radio installed?

I had a similar issue when I changed my radio, found that I had done a dodgy job on the wiring, and it was shorting out, on a high load.

Fixed the wiring, and everything as run sweet.

by **thumpa** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 2:58 pm

nope, havent changed anything yet. still has the standard clarion cd player (with no backlight). I will be fitting a new system shortly but not till i fix this problem.

by **rxliberty2000** » Mon Apr 23, 2007 3:58 pm

Hmm, its a little strange.

Have you check all the fuses?

by **thumpa** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 11:17 am

yeah, checked the fuses, but not the relays. do you think they could be a problem?

ive narrowed it down to the following accessories this problem is linked to - sunvisor mirror lights, ciggie lighter, air con/climate control.

All other devices dont affect the climate control operation.

by **LIBER8ED** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 11:36 am

its a wonderful day for an exorcism..

:butcher:

ha ha sorry ill leave now...

by **XRC15T** » Tue Apr 24, 2007 8:17 pm

LIBER8ED wrote:its a wonderful day for an exorcism..

ha ha sorry ill leave now...

Someone say my name???

yeah gut it!!!!
but also check your alarm. They have been known to do funny things to cars after a period of time.

by **thumpa** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 9:09 am

you up for a challange XRC15T? :wink:

by **thumpa** » Mon May 07, 2007 10:57 am

well, found the problem - blown fuse :evil:

Electrical problem

Electrical problem

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