Stagea Losing Ignition Circuit With Indicators

[DaveB]

Hi all,

This is really a last-ditch effort but I hope that someone might just fluke the cause here...

I recently installed an alarm/immobiliser in my S2 stagea and I have this weird problem now that sometimes while I'm driving, I go to indicate by just moving the indicator stalk half-way (to manually hold indicators on) and everything on the ignition circuit suddenly cuts out, except the engine keeps running (!) and the transmission goes into limp mode (locks in 3rd gear - !!!).

This has got me completely baffled. The radio and accessories keep working. I lose everything non-battery and non-accessories though; power windows, guages, indicators (but not hazards). The only way to bring these things back is to park the car with the ignition off for about 10 minutes and it "resets".

I think it must be a thermal fuse in the engine bay, and I suspect the connections I made from the immobiliser to the indicators (although they work fine with and without hazards), but I just don't know why it doesn't happen when I indicate normally?

Perhaps I need to add diodes to my indicator wire connections? I made these at the back of the hazard switch by the way; I found one wire worked all the indicators on one side and another wire that worked all the indicators on the other, and used them to connect to the two indicator outputs on the alarm.

Thanks if you can help!!! Please ask for more info' if needed...

DaveB

[DaveB]

Bugger, I guess this doesn't sound familiar to anyone.

Small update: disconnecting the indicator wire connections didn't help. Also now it appears not to be indicator related, as it happens when I'm not indicating.

Could it be a bad alternator? If so how does that explain the battery circuit staying on?

When it happened last night I kept driving for about 10-15K's without ignition circuit and as I was pulling into the driveway it started running rough and threatening to cut out. This morning it was hard to start; but on the third attempt idle went right back to normal.

[Chris Rogers]

got a meter?

running voltage on battery?

alarm - baypassed? fault there still?

pickup point for indicators - where?

[DaveB]

Running voltage is ~14.1V (radiator fan off) to ~13.8 (radiator fan on) measured @ battery. Fault existed without the alarm... indicator pickup point is basically on the back of the hazard switch; green/yellow stripe (L/H side) & green/black stripe (R/H side).

Think I have ruled indicators out when I tried disconnecting them and it still happened.

I bumped the fuse panel tonight in desperation and it cut in and out a few times... maybe I didn't plug something in properly (although I checked and DOUBLE CHECKED)??? That would be damn nice. Something that runs all ignition circuit though...

[Chris Rogers]

triple check that. if you were prodding the plugs from the terminal end that will be the culprit.

[Chris Rogers]

also give all the relays on the rear of that panel a tap with a screw driver- there are two back there that may screw up when jarred

[DaveB]

Cheers - will do that now

[DaveB]

triple check that. if you were prodding the plugs from the terminal end that will be the culprit.

Sorry terminal end which is that? The one I prodded which brought ignition back instantly was in upper-left-hand corner when looking at fuse block from the front (it's at the back). Pretty sure its two wires are main battery, and main ignition. White with black stripe I think and white with red strip or something?

Since reconnecting it fully I haven't seen the problem again YET but I haven't done much driving. If I get a week of longish trips I'll start to consider that maybe it is fixed... fingers crossed

...oh and HAPPY CHRISTMAS everyone Thanks for the helpful replies all

Edited December 24, 2008 by DaveB

[DaveB]

Well it appears that my problem was the main battery/ignition connector, located in the upper-left-hand corner (when viewed from the front) of the driver's side fuse block (in-car, under the dash). I believe I had left it half-plugged in when I was testing. Have done quite a few k's now without the problem re-appearing. Very glad