R32 Gtst Electrical Problems

[carlightsup]

Hey guys

i decided to go for a drive in my 32 last night, i hadn't driven it for a week and it has developed some strange issues; the HIDs were flickering on and off, and the power steering was cutting out and there was a high pitch buzz coming through the speakers.

the only thing i have done to the car recently was put new coil packs in and re gapped the spark plugs, but that was 3 weeks ago and it was running fine until now...

I know its hard with electrical fault but i was just wondering if any of you have come across this before or you have any suggestions for me?

[Anfanee]

try checking an earth near where you did the work. you could have bumped it and when you drive the earth is breaking itself lol. thats all that jumps to my mind.

[carlightsup]

Yea unless there is one under the valley cover i forgot about the only earth i would have touched would be the one on the ignition pack, which seems fine... but i just went and double checked it and the car has lost all power now, the battery is still nice and tight and reasonabley new, so i guess ill have to pull the multi meter out tomorrow.

[Anfanee]

sounds like an earth problem then. sorry to break it further lol

[carlightsup]

All good man, thanks for your help!

[carlightsup]

So yesterday i tested the battery and found that when its disconnected it has approx 12.04v then when i hook it up it drops right down to 2.01v... i tried disconnecting the HIDs, audio system and coil packs one at a time with no change in voltage (they are the only aftermarket electrics in the car) so my thoughts are there may be a short somewhere?

[zebra]

Tried a new battery?

[carlightsup]

I put a new battery in about 3 month ago.. but this one may be rooted because i know my amp was killing the battery (i took that out a few weeks back) i just thought if the battery was gone it would have had more trouble starting when i first noticed the issues with the headlights and power steering... And there seem to be something drawing way to much current anyway coz it drops 10v when i hook it up... but ill see if i can borrow a healthy battery from one of my mates and see what happens

[D.I.Y. Mik]

Try pulling out all fuses and relays first, then put em back one by one.

At least it might narrow it down a bit.

[carlightsup]

Yea i tried that and had no notable change.. I went and got a battery print out this afternoon and it said "charge system failure" so looks like an alternator.. im told that they can collapse and the internals can touch together which could be causing the drop in voltage..

[Sinista32]

sounds more than plausible.

I think Zebdrew had a recent experience with a failed altenator in his MKIII supra. Strange things happend to it too!

[zebra]

Was a starter.

Nearly melted the multimeter when trying to start it was drawing so much current lol

[carlightsup]

lol... Well after charging the battery the car starts fine.. so tomorrow ill hook the multimeter up while the cars running and see if the volts are going up or down.

[RS4-S]

If you put a volt meter over ya battery with the engine running you should see 13.6 - 14.4v, if you only see 12ish volts then alternator/wiring is the issue

[D.I.Y. Mik]

So if the alternator is no good..Usually the diodes fry in the alternator, its easy to check them and cheap to fix, like $4.

[carlightsup]

My battery ran flat again so its on charge now and ill test to see if the atlernnator is charging the battery this arvo.

Mik, is it easy to explain how to test the diodes?

[carlightsup]

So i fully charged the battery and started up the car with a multi meter hooked up to the battery; started out at about 12.8 volts and dropped down to 12.2 as the car reached operating temperature.. when i reved the engine the reading went up to 13.2, so the alternator seems to be charging the battery. i turned on the headlights ac and radio and the volts dropped to 11.65.. i took the car for a drive and re tested the battery and nothing changed.

[carlightsup]

I changed the alternator and fully recharged the battery yesterday and everything seems to be working as it should now... thanks everyone for your help with this i really appreciate it!

[carlightsup]

DOUBLE POST

Edited April 2, 2012 by carlightsup