Power Hiccups
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Joined: Feb 2023
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Power Hiccups
Hello all,
Recently, my 2013 Accord has been having these random power failures. I first noticed some random little power fluctuations while working (I drive rideshare), but they were minor and barely noticeable. I continued to work that day until I had an incident where a random pitbull jumped into my car. She was very friendly and seemed lost. She had also given birth recently, so I drove her around the neighborhood to see if she would react to a certain house, which she finally did, but it wasn't hers. The people there were very nice and as we talked about the dog, I was getting some very hard power fluctuation just sitting idle in the road. I told the couple that my car was about to die and I needed to get moving 'right now'.
I drove back to a more familiar area of the city with minor fluctuations and pulled into an auto parts store up the road from my brother and sister's house (in case I had to call someone for help). As soon as I turned the car off, everything died. No door ajar notification, no dome light, nothing. I tried to lock it with the key fob and nothing. It wouldn't even start back up until I replaced the battery. It was only after replacing the battery (getting rid of the random idle fluctuations) that I noticed it was happening only during certain actions. It was, mostly, when turning sharply, that I noticed it, as the power steering would toggle on and off quickly as the dash died and relit. Also, when shifting (I have an automatic), toggling my high beams and taking off from a full stop. None of the fluctuations have been very severe since changing the battery, but I had the alternator tested, by two different people using two different devices. I informed my dad of my issues and he recommended utilizing some contact cleaner in the connections. I did a few passes with the cleaner and the fluctuations have become a bit less frequent, but still present. I'm just wondering if there's something else I can do. I feel like there's only so much that cleaning will do.
Anyway, any theories I can test would be more than welcome. Thanks in advance.
Sincerely,
- A random driver
Recently, my 2013 Accord has been having these random power failures. I first noticed some random little power fluctuations while working (I drive rideshare), but they were minor and barely noticeable. I continued to work that day until I had an incident where a random pitbull jumped into my car. She was very friendly and seemed lost. She had also given birth recently, so I drove her around the neighborhood to see if she would react to a certain house, which she finally did, but it wasn't hers. The people there were very nice and as we talked about the dog, I was getting some very hard power fluctuation just sitting idle in the road. I told the couple that my car was about to die and I needed to get moving 'right now'.
I drove back to a more familiar area of the city with minor fluctuations and pulled into an auto parts store up the road from my brother and sister's house (in case I had to call someone for help). As soon as I turned the car off, everything died. No door ajar notification, no dome light, nothing. I tried to lock it with the key fob and nothing. It wouldn't even start back up until I replaced the battery. It was only after replacing the battery (getting rid of the random idle fluctuations) that I noticed it was happening only during certain actions. It was, mostly, when turning sharply, that I noticed it, as the power steering would toggle on and off quickly as the dash died and relit. Also, when shifting (I have an automatic), toggling my high beams and taking off from a full stop. None of the fluctuations have been very severe since changing the battery, but I had the alternator tested, by two different people using two different devices. I informed my dad of my issues and he recommended utilizing some contact cleaner in the connections. I did a few passes with the cleaner and the fluctuations have become a bit less frequent, but still present. I'm just wondering if there's something else I can do. I feel like there's only so much that cleaning will do.
Anyway, any theories I can test would be more than welcome. Thanks in advance.
Sincerely,
- A random driver
Thread Starter
Trial User
Joined: Feb 2023
Posts: 3
Likes: 2
Re: Power Hiccups
Just an update... took it out in the rain and snow just a bit ago. It was raining pretty heavily shortly after leaving my home. The traction control system popped on here and there, with no issue but, that wouldn't last. At one point, when the traction control kicked in, on the highway, traveling at 55 mph and the car lost power completely for about a full second before returning VERY slowly. No other fluctuations for an hour or so, but on my way back home I hit a little patch of black ice as I was slowing for a turn and the car died completely with the battery light coming on. I put it in park and attempted to restart, but it would not. Just as I was sitting there, trying to figure out what to do next, part of the dash relit (probably due to the key still being in the ignition). So, naturally, I gave it one more try and it started up like nothing was wrong.
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