Electricals gone for a toss My Sierra is dead.
I've been driving it around for quite a while now without headlights, they used to brighten up beyond normal and blow, thus causing me to replace over half a dozen expensive bulb pairs. So I had given up and have been driving with the fog lamps that I have embedded into the front bumper of the car.
Yesterday, there were some more surges that sent all the electricals for a toss. In the afternoon, it was slow to start on a couple of occasions, usually the Optima yellow top cranks it in a jiffy. I was surprised that the battery seemed to be draining. Anyway, since I was far from home, I was happy the car started, and just headed homewards. A while later, I first heard a loud pop from the rear of the car. I couldnt identify what it was but I think the aftermarket brake light bulbs or LEDs whatever, popped it. Next, when I gave an indicator to turn left, the indicator bulb in the odo flashed once very very brightly and perished. I turned on the parking light, that also glowed atleast twice as bright as normal. I switched it off, and while the car was in motion, switched the engine off and tried to crank it. Nothing. So I shifted back into gear and started the car since the car was in motion. Once I stopped outside my house with the engine still running, the windows rolled up at double speed. After switching off the ignition and getting out of the car, I realized that the security system would not work, or perform a central lock. Tried cranking again, but just the red lights come on, but not a whisper from the starter.
Ishan suspects an overcharging alternator to be the problem, seems like it to me too. Now I dont know what to do, since if I use another battery, the car will start, but probably wreck the new battery by the time I get to the garage also. On the other hand, I dont know what else is left to be destroyed by the alternator that may happen once the car starts. Can anyone suggest a plan of action hereonwards? Does anyone know exactly what may cause the alternator to overcharge? I would guess it has something to do with the rectifier circuit or something. Any precautions for the future? I was damn lucky I had just removed some test audio gear from the car, otherwise it would have been far more devastating.
Edit: I realize this is a lighting thread, but I couldnt find an electricals section as such. |