I.C.E. (Audio) & Electrical Upgrades Post all your I.C.E. (In Car Entertainment) and wiring questions here (Audio, video etc.)

93 Civic EX: ALL electrical dies--then returns by itself!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Aug 4, 2013
  #1  
wilberfan's Avatar
Thread Starter
Registered!!
 
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Rep Power: 0
wilberfan is an unknown quantity at this point
93 Civic EX: ALL electrical dies--then returns by itself!

I bought my sister's neighbors barely used Civic EX several years ago, and it's been a real reliable gem so far!

Happens to have had an aftermarket alarm system that started going wonky a couple of years ago: Weak, barely audible 'chirp' on arm or disarm, sometimes the car wouldn't start at all! Lately the alarm would go off as soon as I turned off the ignition. (Other weird combination of things, too: Alarm would sound when I opened the trunk--even though I'd never armed the thing!)

A couple of days ago, I drove to the market, did my shopping, and when I came back the car wouldn't start: No dome light, no dashboard lights, power locks wouldn't work--nothing. (I haven't been using the alarm in months.)

A few minutes later, everything started up fine--but I didn't do ANYTHING. The clock was wrong, and I had to recode the radio...

Went to an alarm company, who replaced the transmitter and receiver, replaced a fuse, supposedly checked the wiring. (They didn't replace the entire system--just the receiver & transmitter and a fuse.) I thought all was well until I got home last night:

Pulled into the garage, got out and the brand-new alarm wouldn't arm. Nothing. But nothing else worked, either! No interior light, no dashboard lights, no horn, no starter solinoid click, no power locks no clock, no radio--literally no electricity was getting to ANY components.

Ten minutes later, when I tried the alarm for the 100th time, everything was back on!

This morning the starter wouldn't catch (dashboard lights, getting a click when I turned the key, but starter wouldn't engage). 5 or 6 more tries and it started up. It started flawlessly 3 more times this morning since leaving the house.

What on earth could kill ALL of the electricity to EVERYTHING? Then RESTORE it all by itself?! The battery was stolen a month ago, so it's got a brand-spanky-new battery....

I'm going to take it back to the alarm place tomorrow--but I'm not convinced that's the problem. The OLD alarm system had an ignition kill feature--but the alarm guy told me the new one does NOT. Is it possible there's some kind of ignition-kill module left behind from the old alarm system?

What could kill everything like this--then seemingly self-restore within minutes?? It's never (so far) died DURING operation (ie, while driving), but I've had to reset the radio code 4 or 5 times in the last 2 1/2 days...
Reply
Old Aug 4, 2013
  #2  
ezone's Avatar
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
 
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 32,017
Likes: 256
From: Midwest. Aiming about mid-chest
Rep Power: 518
ezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond reputeezone has a reputation beyond repute
Re: 93 Civic EX: ALL electrical dies--then returns by itself!

Originally Posted by wilberfan
and I had to recode the radio... What on earth could kill ALL of the electricity to EVERYTHING? Then RESTORE it all by itself?! The battery was stolen a month ago, so it's got a brand-spanky-new battery.... I'm going to take it back to the alarm place tomorrow--
Don't bother, it's not an alarm issue now. Unless those guys can find the problem....

The problem lies in the battery, battery cable(s), or their connections. You have a bad connection somewhere, either in the positive cable or the negative cable. Between battery positive and fusebox, or between battery negative and frame/trans.

Got any of these on your battery cables? These, and others like them, are great for bad connections and problems:


CLUE: Bad connections may get HOT.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Honda Civic Forum
Replies
Last Post
CarStuff
Safety/Security Items - SRS, Keys, Immobilizer, airbags, ABS
6
Dec 6, 2020 12:52 PM
Civicchicky87
Idle Issues
5
Apr 22, 2015 07:16 PM
SSMatey
Mechanical Problems/Vehicle Issues and Fix-it Forum
4
Apr 13, 2015 06:09 PM
nickfn
General Honda Civic Forum Archive.
5
Nov 8, 2001 09:44 AM
crazydragon
General Automotive Discussion
16
Nov 7, 2001 05:13 PM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:42 PM.