2003 Vauxhall Astra loss of electrics and power steering
Year: 2003
Variant: 1.8 Bertone Coupe
Categories:
Running Rough, Starting & Power Loss
Have an intermittent fault with electrical items on the car. Can be running fine and then radio display dims, dials on the dash all drop to zero and back up. Various lights flash on the dash including ABS, Traction Control, seabelt. Turn blower up and more warning lights light up and power steering cuts out.
Engine runs fine while all this is going on but if engine is turned off it wont restart for half an hour.
Battery replaced 3 times now.
Any ideas greatfully appreciated, Vauxhall claim there is nothing wrong with car!
Engine runs fine while all this is going on but if engine is turned off it wont restart for half an hour.
Battery replaced 3 times now.
Any ideas greatfully appreciated, Vauxhall claim there is nothing wrong with car!
Posted: Nov 19, 2009 (14 years ago)
If battery has been replaced 3 times there must be either a drain on system or alternator faulty.Simple test to check alternator output .Has car had a diagnostic check ? any codes showing ? Does sound like alternator .
Posted Nov 19, 2009 (14 years ago)
Other thing to check is all earths and wiring at alternator socket for corrosion / connectios etc .
Posted Nov 19, 2009 (14 years ago)
Thanks for your reply. No codes showing up and have checked all the wiring and earth leads. Replaced a dodgy looking one from the engine and trimed back the battery earth too and fault still happening. Alternator has been checked a few times but as the fault is intermittent it could be that it wasnt there at the time. Could a faulty alternator be frying my new batteries?
Posted Nov 19, 2009 (14 years ago)
If it is overcharging it will cook battery ,usually can smell acrid fumes from gases. The fact that when you load electrics i.e put on fan etc, it affects steering would suggest opposite , that it can't cope with demand .
Posted Nov 19, 2009 (14 years ago)
when they overcharge they sometimes blow the battery warning light in the car does yours still work? and yes it will cook the battery
Posted Nov 20, 2009 (14 years ago)
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