Electrical anomalies

[anonymousmoose]

I've been having a few electrical faults last few weeks.

I posted about a week or two ago that my car did not start due to battery drain. Well I think I now know what caused this. When I turn off the ignition and pull out the key, the car stereo is meant to turn off when I open the door. I noticed a few times now that this, for some reason, does not happen. The only way for me to turn it off (except for pressing the power button) is to start the car again and repeat the process. I think what is happening is the electrics are not shutting down as they are meant to (even when I double-lock the car) unless I restart the car and repeat the 'shut-down' process.

Last 3 days the car door (driver) will not lock via the button on the key. I need to put the key in and lock it the old fashioned way before pressing the button on the key to double-lock the car. Same sometimes happens when I try to open the car. All doors are fine except the drivers.

Any thoughts of what I can do myself before taking it to someone who will start charging me?

[gherb]

I had the same prob except my stereo would turn off but then I would go out to the car later to find it had turned back on, I just turn it off before I get out now
but i hade a few suggestions In a post i started...

.the contact on the drivers door switch is most commonly the culprit, sometimes just rotating it back and forth will sometimes be enough to clean the contact.

Another problem can be if the 7.5 amp stereo accessory fuse is blown in the fusebox under the dash. If this is blown, the stereo just keeps on going, and has to be turned off with the 'Off' button. With this fuse blown, the stereo doesn't detect the accessory circuit switching on and off.

As for your door lock prob, sounds like your actuator might be giving you grief. I have disassembled mine, cleaned the motor commutator and fitted new microswitches and they work fine now,
This isn't an easy job by any means and you might just want to get new or a recond actuator to replace faulty one with. I had three crap out in mine.

hope this helps

[anonymousmoose]

Just an update, the car wont start again this morning. Something in there will not shut itself down. I need to take it to a professional to have a look at. I made sure the stereo was turned off and I locked the car with my key and then pressed the key-button twice. Any ideas what the mechanic should be looking for? Somethings draining the battery bad. This time the car was left without being driven from Thursday evening until Saturday morning.

[Sean880]

Just an update, the car wont start again this morning. Something in there will not shut itself down. I need to take it to a professional to have a look at. I made sure the stereo was turned off and I locked the car with my key and then pressed the key-button twice. Any ideas what the mechanic should be looking for? Somethings draining the battery bad. This time the car was left without being driven from Thursday evening until Saturday morning.

Possibilities:

1. A faulty power window switch ( I had this on one previous commodore and it allowed the power window motor to drain power even with everything switched off and locked up. New switch and all was fine).

2. A Power window motor not shutting down.

3. One of the seat motors not shutting down and draining power even though everything is switched off. I notice a few people here have had this problem.

4. A faulty after market alarm system or faulty after market stereo system.

I would tend to go to a competent auto electrician rather than a general mechanic. More than likely he will know where to start on your car from previous cases he has seen.

Assume you have checked that no interior lights are remaining on and that the glove box light and boot light are switching off as they should.