electrical HELP!
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Guest
electrical HELP!
I have a 1996 beretta z26 3.1L and I seem to be having a electical problem when I turn my key half way the electical only comes on sometimes and I cut out every once in a while causing my abs to turn off and my light to come on. Also it causes the car to turn off sometimes right after start up. I just had an after market sound system put in about a month ago (amp cd subs) but this didnt start happening untill yesterday. They told me the there was a lot of corosion around the positive cable so I am going to clean that well and try unhooking the power wire for the amp. Any suggestions??? Thanks
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docrodg
- Registered User
- Posts: 137
- Joined: Mon Aug 28, 2006 10:09 pm
- Location: California and New York
electrical HELP!
There could be a couple of problems beyond the connection on the battery being corroded. I will try to list them here in order of ease to check.
1. Short or problem with the amp. Disconnect the amp and see if it works ok. The way the wires are run may have abraded one and caused a "low" or occasional short.
1.5. Not enough power for the amp in accessory, need the alternator to run. The amp may be drawing too much power and then cuts out due to low power. Check the wiring to the amp. Should be very large (4/0 or larger wire) and about the diameter of the battery cable. This is for power AND ground. Check the ground for good connection, should be a bare metal connection, don't rely on the bolt threads to get a good ground. Unfortunately most installers will not take off the paint at the connection in fear of a customer complaint. Just spritz it with some paint if you are worried about the looks after you have a good connection. . If you have a clamp meter with high rating measure the amps it draws when on. If the amp cuts out and returns a capacitor may help.
2. Battery is gettin weak. Take out the battery and run down to a parts store, they will test it for free.
3. Switch is carbon tracked/corroded/nasty. The ignition switch has long contacts, when in the accessory position the power for accessories is going thru a different part of the contact than in run. Backprobe he connector to determine if the fault is in the switch then replace if needed. Use a cicuit tester, a multimeter may not respond fast enough to see it.
1. Short or problem with the amp. Disconnect the amp and see if it works ok. The way the wires are run may have abraded one and caused a "low" or occasional short.
1.5. Not enough power for the amp in accessory, need the alternator to run. The amp may be drawing too much power and then cuts out due to low power. Check the wiring to the amp. Should be very large (4/0 or larger wire) and about the diameter of the battery cable. This is for power AND ground. Check the ground for good connection, should be a bare metal connection, don't rely on the bolt threads to get a good ground. Unfortunately most installers will not take off the paint at the connection in fear of a customer complaint. Just spritz it with some paint if you are worried about the looks after you have a good connection. . If you have a clamp meter with high rating measure the amps it draws when on. If the amp cuts out and returns a capacitor may help.
2. Battery is gettin weak. Take out the battery and run down to a parts store, they will test it for free.
3. Switch is carbon tracked/corroded/nasty. The ignition switch has long contacts, when in the accessory position the power for accessories is going thru a different part of the contact than in run. Backprobe he connector to determine if the fault is in the switch then replace if needed. Use a cicuit tester, a multimeter may not respond fast enough to see it.