electrical problem

[illusionalvr]

was driving home from Victoria yesterday, turned off at strathalbyn exit, stopped for a piss. back in the car and continued down the road.

using high beams and what not, another car was coming so i flicked down to lows, car passes and back to highs, and the dash, cd player, cruise, etc died. car was still running and it dimmed down to parkers, and back to highs and CD player again.

flick it a few more times, does the same thing. now im still a fair distance from home, and im starting to think its the alternator/battery.

so i pull over, leave the car running, and play with the relays. seems to have fixed the problem. but im not too sure. id been driving all day, though the rain.

my main concern is, the high beam relay wouldn't stuff with the intertior stuff. anyone had the same problem?

or would the cheapest way be to buy a fire extinguisher?

[hako]

Check the big fat lead that goes from the back of the alt to the battery - it fails just where it connects to the alt and can cause intermittent power problems till it fails completely. Also check the fusible links near the relays. Good Luck.

[RX25SE]

+1

Also, check the charge rate with as many electrical items switched on as possible.
As you say, may be an alternator problem.

[illusionalvr]

another strange thing happened. unlocked my car in the car park, car wont start. no power. its central locking. now i have a habit of skipping the little things, and i thought, it must be the battery in key. searched for somewhere that sells the right size. finally find one that sells the right size. put new battery in key. still no go. key propels itself from my hand at a rapid rate out the window. regain composure, and ask the missus to ring her dad because i was certain the car is staying. lift the bonnet, play with relays, fuses. TOUCH THE EARTH, and theres a click. push the button. it was the earth at the battery. it looks like the cable had burnt. now i drove from victor harbor, to Adelaide, back across the boarder into country vic, finished doing some shit, then drove the 5 hours back again. so i dont know if the lead just got hot from driving all day, or weather its worse than that.