Random electrical failure

[Groovemeister]

I’ve got a a 2008 Aygo which has been the cheapest most reliable car I’ve ever had - until now! It started a few weeks ago when the ABS and parking light came on after going over a speed bump and stayed on until I cleared it by turning ignition off and on.

No issues for a week until I popped the headlights on and the ABS and parking light came on again. Also those lights coming on after bumps in the road became much more frequent . Also the Speedo occasionally dropped and flicked back up again. Every now and again the whole dash warning lamps would light. When turning left the power steering was lost temporarily but came back along with the warning  lights, this has happened twice.

the weirdest thing though started happening this week when I came to open the car with the fob and nothing happened and had to open it with the door lock. The car was completely dead but central locking suddenly started responding to the key fob and but when I tried to start the engine nothing happened but the Battery  warning light was dim and flickery. After a couple of jiggles the car started and all electrics were restored.

finally in this sorry saga, I came home from work last night and after a couple of bumps in the road  the ABS light came on and went off but I’m sort of getting used to this by now. Stopped outside my house switched off and locked with fob. Went back to the car and it wouldn’t open with the fob. The car was completely dead, no interior light, no radio, no starter - nothing. Popped the bonnet, fiddled with the Battery terminals tapped the fuse box and still nothing. Dropped the bonnet and bugger me the damn thing started and all electrics restored.

sorry it’s a long winded explanation but I’m at a complete loss as to what’s going on and it’s really starting ( no pun intended) to get on my nerves. I don’t want to scrap the car but I need something I can trust and not leave me stranded in the middle of nowhere. Thoughts gratefully received.

FYI the vehicle has done 68,000 miles. Original alternator but new starter and the Battery is year old budget one from GSF. Battery showed 12volts static and 14 with engine running but no load.

 

 

[dannyboy413]

Well I am no mechanic, but my first thought was an earthing fault. I am sure somebody more knowledgeable can give a better answer.

[Heidfirst]

it does sound like a connection issue of some kind to me but I am  not an auto electrician.

[Bper]

Hi Keith,Given the age of your Aygo, the most likely cause of these electrical issues is loose or corroded Battery terminals or grounding problems. These are common in older cars and could explain the intermittent power loss, flickering lights, and issues after hitting bumps.

It could also be due to worn wiring or a problem with the fuse box or Body Control Module (BCM), especially since tapping the fuse box temporarily restored power. I would suggest starting by checking and tightening all Battery and ground connections,this is the most likely and simplest fix.👍

[Stecha]

Something is definitely sounds loose, by what you've said, a earth or connection somewhere

Slamming the bonnet is jolting something on temporarily, so you need to go over all your earths and connections

Battery, starter, alternator, all earths etc

[flash22]

check the Battery terminals are clean and tight

Silly question, do you have say, house keys on the car keys

 

they could be unrelated issues, change the Battery in the fob

ABS and or hand brake light coming on after hitting a bump check the brake fluid level, it may just need a top up

[Groovemeister]

Thanks to all those who have replied it is really appreciated and really heartwarming that people are willing to take the time to help, so thank you.

your suggestions made me look at the Battery connections. So I undid them and all the other connections associated with them, wire wooled the surfaces and sprayed with electrical contact cleaner ( not WD40 ) . The negative terminal has a Battery isolator which I thought was OEM but now suspect was an after market addition. When I unscrewed the black connector there were clear signs of arcing and melted metal which I cleaned up and reassembled- now everything works as it should. That isolator is obviously a weak point and I will change it ASAP. What seems like a good idea actually caused more problems than it solved.

thanks again to all members for steering me in the right direction, I now love my Aygo again.

[dannyboy413]

Glad you seem to have got it sorted.