Spent all day messing around with the elctrical system. Basically while driving all dash lights, headlights, tailights fade in and out (almost randomly) like there is a lot of fluctuation in the power system. I have yet to figure out why. Dealer claims it is from the aftermarket Code alarm; people who put the alarm in are in Chicago and I am in Arizona. Very very frustrated here. Just had to vent.

 

Were any wires spliced during the alarm install? I'm wondering if they were if maybe they weren't connected good or wrapped tight enough with electrical tape. Just a thought....good luck though

 

that really sounds like a grounding problem. Here is what i would do. one at a time, unwrap each alarm wire connection, reconnect the wires and re-wrap with electrical tape. do each one separtaely. you will find the bad connection and it should be fixed.

Slap: who is glad his brother is a badass alarm installer and doesnt have these problems

 

Yeah, they were, but all connections that were spliced were soldered and tapped up. I re-tapped some of them and looked aorund but it all seemed okay.

I am thinking out taking out the under-hood fuse for all the lights except the headlights, which are on a different fuse. This should isolate the headlight electrical system and then if they still fade in and out I know it is something NOT connected with the alarm system (since the alarm system has no connection to the headlight system except through the other lighting systems).

Ugh, I really feel for electrical engineers here.

 

Is the voltage light coming on? Have you put an ammeter and/or voltmeter to the circuit yet?

Warren

 

My car did this sorta, the harness plug next to the fuse box came loose, and finally pulled all they way out

Luckily i just had to replug it in.

--reid

 

I agree with Slapsmak, my kinda does that too but not as extreme as yours, when I rev the car I can see the lights in and out of the car get brighter. I can't help thinking I need one if those Hyper Ground Systems wire kits seen on the Speedoptions site a while back.

 

Check all the main grounds:

1. Battery posts - clean & do a load test if possible
2. Alternator - really check this
3. Other ground wires

 

12volts white + ignition harness
Starter black/white + ignition harness
Ignition black/yellow + ignition harness
Accessory yellow + ignition harness
Power Lock black/white - drivers kick panel
Power Unlock black/red - drivers kick panel
Parking Lights+ red/black grn plug above fusebox
Parking Lights- blue/red factory alarm (if equipped)
Door Trigger lt. green/red - drivers kick panel
Dome Supervision use door trigger
Trunk/Hatch Pin green -
Hood Pin yellow/red - drivers kick panel
Brake Wire green/white + brake switch
Horn Trigger gray or blu/grn - steering column

these are the wiring colors and locations for an integra that a shop would use to put an alarm in I know I have been installing car audio and alarms for 5 years. but it does sound like a ground problem and check all of your plugs on your fuse box under the hood and in the car..

 

I had a similar problem a couple of years ago. The fuse for my interior and exterior lights would keep popping.

My first suspicion was the alarm, but the installing shop (that does excellent work, by the way) checked everything over and found nothing wrong. I took it to the dealership and they finally found a wire with worn insulation somewhere deep in the dashboard.

 

yea, sounds like you have a grounding problem. Not that your ground isnt grounded, but one of your other wires is grounding out. Check wires for cuts or breaks

 

As an electrical engineer in the auto electronics industry by trade, here's my suspicion. I would bet money that if you lifted (disconnected) the ground to the alarm you problems will stop. I suspect the alarm module itself has gone bad (not uncommon for Code Alarms). You say you lights are dimming. They are dimming because there is a secondary path to ground. I am guessing that path is through the alarm control module. The control module should only source current through the parking light output, not sink it. Secondly, when the Ingnition B+ wire is hot, the control module should enter a disabled state. It appears that is not, if in fact it is the source of your problem. This is easily tested by lifting the ground(s) to the module, or just unplugging the module completely. Just my 2 cents. Good luck.

 

Unfortunately I can't just unplug the unit; I need it to start the car. Unless I do it once the car is started? Not sure if that would work but I can try it.

Ugh, it's going to be a long weekend...

 

Obvious solution here: Roll on up to Chi-Town, we'll assemble the crew, bust some heads at the alarm shop, then have a BBQ

 

I had the same problem, it ended up being the battery

 

could be your alternator too, or maybe your Alt/Speed Sensor fuse. is your speedo jumping around at all?

 

lol, I may take you up on that io_burn.

Dealer said they checked the battery and alternator and that was all fine. Other than fading lights, no other wierd things going on.

Little bit of a rough idle, but fine when warm.

I am going to try to get a hold of my friends OBD II tester/log tool and trying to see if I can log data while driver and see anything wierd.

Hopefully I can figure this crap out!