Weird problems - simple solution???

[ap0gee1978]

Having sorted my intermittent CEL light (coolant temp sensor), I've been getting momentary visits from the PAS, ABS and ASR lights (plus temporary loss of those features :eek: ), particularly when accelerating or braking hard, or when going from forwards to backwards. :confused:

Then, last week, got into the car to go home from work, turned the key the lights on the dash came on as normal for a moment, then there was a fizz / squelch from the engine bay followed by NOTHING. No power to anything! Even the fuel guage had stopped mid-rise! :(

(Was rather surreal to hear the key turning in the ignition barrel without any of the accompanying noises... )

Much to SWMBO's amusement / annoyance, I still carry a basic toolkit in the car for moments such as these (25 miles is a long way to walk home from work for want of a spanner!), however because I'd only opened the driver's door, I couldn't get into the boot to get it ! Eventually, I figured out a solution, got my tools, and set to work finding out what was what. I had the code reader in the car but as there was no power, that was as much use as a chocolate teapot - although I couldn't find a fault code for f%^&ed in the manual anyway!

Battery condition was supposedly OK, and none of the fuses on the battery cover had blown. I was going to start looking at the fuses in the dash, however I though as I was there I'd check the battery terminals. I whipped off the negative (seemed a bit loose) and the positive (OK) and then put them back on carefully, taking care with the connectors for the Dragon box. Tried the ignition and 'Voilà!' everything back to normal, bar the clock and the trip meter! :woohoo:

My only guess is that I didn't tighten the negative terminal clamp enough when I checked the Dragon box connections back when I first tried to diagnose the rogue CEL! :ne_nau: Assuming all this rain hasn't messed it up again, it seems that a dodgy connection was all it was!

Edited 22 September, 2008 by ap0gee
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