ABS Lights comes on and electrical cuts in and out

[zorrt]

Maybe you guys can help me. I don't know how to test for ECU codes etc etc but just need an idea of what could be happening.

While driving today I noticed my ABS light lit up and my electrical started cutting in and out (radio jumping, headunits dimming etc.) but no other check lights lights up. Anyone have any idea of what could be wrong?

[dsp26]

taking a stab as this is common on a few cars (not neccesarily Honda)... but i rex the abs sensor on at least one of the corners


http://www.tomorrowstechnician.com/tt/tt100410.htm <--HONDA btw...
"Accessing Codes
To access the codes if the ABS warning lamp is on, find the ABS service check connector under the passenger side of the instrument panel. It has a two-wire connector on the end.

Connect a jumper wire between the two terminals (key off). When you turn the ignition on, any diagnostic codes that are stored in the ABS control module's memory should make the ABS warning light flash within 10 seconds.

The first series of flashes corresponds to the first digit of the code (which Honda refers to as the "main code"). After a one second pause, the light will flash out the second digit of the code (which Honda refers to as the "sub code"). If more than one code is stored, a five second pause will be followed by a single flash of the light, followed by another five second pause before the next fault code is displayed.

After all codes have been read, the codes can be cleared by removing the ABS module fuse for at least three seconds (key off)."

[zorrt]

Thanks for the link. Read through it but sounds like that mainly applies when the ABS lights up but doesnt turn off. Mine starts normally and ABS light turns off. But from time to time (only happened twice so far) is turns on then electrical starts cutting in and out. I am getting it checked by a mechanic soon but just want to get a general idea of what could be causing the problem so I know how much money I'll need to fork out. Would anyone know how much it would cost to replace things like ABS module etc etc or anything else that could be failing?

[dsp26]

but at least you can identify if there is a short in one of the sensors....

the only other thing to cause OTHER lights to turn on and sort of stall the car is dead battery/alternator voltage regulator related....

DONT get it checked by a mechanic (especially places like ultratune) as they know shit **** all. Please take it to an auto electrician that specialises in a Honda...

[EuroDude]

If the electrical system is cutting out, then it could be a live wire somewhere shorting out, or maybe a bad alternator. The electrical problem could be triggering an ABS error.


Do you have an aftermarket sound system? Maybe the positive Amp cable is shorting on the chassis or ground cable.

[zorrt]

What I've been told is that possibly the ABS module is crapping out and drawing too much power which tends to cuz things to momentarily cut out. One way to possibly help fix is to reset the ABS module or something? My friends workplace couldnt get it to reset so they sent a car which had the same problem recently to Honda to get them to reset it.

Really I'm not too sure whats wrong but have a gut feeling its something to do along the lines of ABS somewhere. When things shorts out doesnt fuse tend to blow especially when it comes down to sound system?

dsp26, yea I'm taking it down to Hannys which specialises in Hondas, if worst comes to worst I'll take it down to Good Performance as the guy there knows a great deal about Hondas.

[ECU-MAN]

your Ignition Switch could be faulty, this can cause things to cut in and out, but your engine will also cut in and out.


you really need to read the codes from the ABS ECU, its the best start

[zorrt]

ecu-man: I think I'll leave those sort of stuff to the experts eheh. If only you were in Sydney maybe I could pay you to check it out for me :]. I don't trust my car with many people but you seem to know alot judging by ur past posts.

Btw thanks guys for replying. I don't think I'll be able to get the best answer here due to my inability to provide ECU read outs and stuff but at least I have some possible ideas of what could be causing it. I'll wait and see what the mechanic tells me.

[ECU-MAN]

thanks

if only you where in SA :)


good luck with it.

[zorrt]

Hey question from ECU readout, if it was my audio system shorting somewhere, would the ABS ECU give a readout for that?

One guy said he had similar problems to mine it it turned out it was from his sound system. He said he then replaced the terminal to the amp with a larger gold plated terminal which fixed it. I consider mine fairly large atm, about 3mm or more thick gold plated but its connected directly onto the battery. Cable I'm not too sure what the gauge rating it but its quite thick.

[bOoStn]

What model car is it?

[zorrt]

94 Dc2.

[dsp26]

Hey question from ECU readout, if it was my audio system shorting somewhere, would the ABS ECU give a readout for that?

One guy said he had similar problems to mine it it turned out it was from his sound system. He said he then replaced the terminal to the amp with a larger gold plated terminal which fixed it. I consider mine fairly large atm, about 3mm or more thick gold plated but its connected directly onto the battery. Cable I'm not too sure what the gauge rating it but its quite thick.

mate that would be hard to figure out without looking at actual ecu schematics or at least consulting with one of the ECU tuners here.

the worst i've ever had is my strobe circuit (dont ask) getting wet by rain leak in the boot one night and my whole car pinged/misfired, lights blinking everywhere then compeltely shut off. killed my ecu & alternator... but thats cause strobe systems are capacitor discharge based... that aint good to short with everything else in you car...

[dsp26]

Maybe you guys can help me. I don't know how to test for ECU codes etc etc but just need an idea of what could be happening.

While driving today I noticed my ABS light lit up and my electrical started cutting in and out (radio jumping, headunits dimming etc.) but no other check lights lights up. Anyone have any idea of what could be wrong?


actually i've just re-read this again.... have you used a multimeter to test:
- alternator is outputting the correct voltage
- battery voltage.

i had massive 250wrms 6x9s in my car running off the deck... i was driving along one day... music (CD) progressively got distorted lights blinky abruptly and car felt as if stalling... my battery was getting drained to the shithouse as they were only rated at 270cca!!!!

thought i'd also throuw this in as you brought up yor sound system also...

[zorrt]

Got my car back from hannys and the guy doesnt know what wrong as no readout from ECU.

Yep I've checked battery and alternator. Battery when car off is a healthy ~12.5 and alternator is ~14.5. Even pumped up stereo and high beam on everything, battery readout still fine. Problem didnt occur tho. Gonna be a headache tryin to find the culprit now. Don't know why its happening now. Maybe cuz of the cold weather? Oh wells.

Spose it time for me to learn how to do continuity tests....

[jaffa_cree]

Got my car back from hannys and the guy doesnt know what wrong as no readout from ECU.

Yep I've checked battery and alternator. Battery when car off is a healthy ~12.5 and alternator is ~14.5. Even pumped up stereo and high beam on everything, battery readout still fine. Problem didnt occur tho. Gonna be a headache tryin to find the culprit now. Don't know why its happening now. Maybe cuz of the cold weather? Oh wells.

Spose it time for me to learn how to do continuity tests....

My car had the exact problem.
ABS light would suddenly come on, stereo cuts out, tacho and speedo dies.
This would only happen when i have driven the car for a while, say closing on an hour with a load. I assumed you need a load to drain the battery.

The problem with mine was a bad sensor wire that tells the alternator when to charge, so it was telling the alternator not to charge the battery even though it was flat.

Took it to an auto electrician, and that was the last time i saw that problem.