Tech / Misc Tech topics that don't seem to go elsewhere.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Does this sound like a ground issue?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 15, 2007 | 05:02 PM
  #1  
itrSteez's Avatar
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 3,510
Likes: 0
From: Wilmington, NC
Default Does this sound like a ground issue?

Alright, so I barely ever drive my R but out of nowhere one day I'm just going normal speed (might of went over a bump, forgot) and the car completely cut off for a split second then came back on.

I wasn't sure, then I let my girlfriend use it to run errands and it was fine all day and then on her way home it did the same thing (the night before ITR expo 7 mind you)..... so I got my *** out of bed and took it up the street and it was fine for a little while......... so I decided to start whipping the steering wheel to shake things around and sure enough it completely cut out... ignition, headlights, gauge cluster, everything electrical just ****...

Before I was blaming it on my Blackjax alarm thinking that it had an issue with a short to my ignition, but since my headlights cut out I'm starting to think it might just be a ground.

Anybody have any quick suggestions for me to take?
Reply
Old Jun 15, 2007 | 05:32 PM
  #2  
Hybrid96EK's Avatar
Honda-Tech Member
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 6,919
Likes: 5
From: In the garage
Default Re: Does this sound like a ground issue? (itrSteez)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by itrSteez &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Alright, so I barely ever drive my R but out of nowhere one day I'm just going normal speed (might of went over a bump, forgot) and the car completely cut off for a split second then came back on.

I wasn't sure, then I let my girlfriend use it to run errands and it was fine all day and then on her way home it did the same thing (the night before ITR expo 7 mind you)..... so I got my *** out of bed and took it up the street and it was fine for a little while......... so I decided to start whipping the steering wheel to shake things around and sure enough it completely cut out... ignition, headlights, gauge cluster, everything electrical just ****...

Before I was blaming it on my Blackjax alarm thinking that it had an issue with a short to my ignition, but since my headlights cut out I'm starting to think it might just be a ground.

Anybody have any quick suggestions for me to take?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Hmmm. Well, with the car running, I would think that a loose connection at the battery would simply resort to using the alternator to keep things going. I would say it sounds more like a short. Something shorting out and causing everything to go down with it. I would check the alternator wire, the plug on the back, all the grounds, the battery and then look at the ECU as well. Perhaps something is hitting somewhere and causing this short. Could also be something in the ignition switch that is causing the problem. Does rattling the key in the cylinder while the car is running seem to do anything? I know these may sound funny, but they are good starting points.
Reply
Old Jun 15, 2007 | 05:42 PM
  #3  
itrSteez's Avatar
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 3,510
Likes: 0
From: Wilmington, NC
Default Re: Does this sound like a ground issue? (Hybrid96EK)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Hybrid96EK &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Hmmm. Well, with the car running, I would think that a loose connection at the battery would simply resort to using the alternator to keep things going. I would say it sounds more like a short. Something shorting out and causing everything to go down with it. I would check the alternator wire, the plug on the back, all the grounds, the battery and then look at the ECU as well. Perhaps something is hitting somewhere and causing this short. Could also be something in the ignition switch that is causing the problem. Does rattling the key in the cylinder while the car is running seem to do anything? I know these may sound funny, but they are good starting points.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Stupid question, but would a short in my ignition have any effect on my headlights/gauge cluster lights?..... Once I saw those go out I was thinking it was perhaps something else.... I'm a damn idiot when it comes to finding shorts and weak grounds so I'll probably just take it to acrua since nothing seems out of the ordinary.
Reply
Old Jun 15, 2007 | 06:18 PM
  #4  
Bjorn20's Avatar
Member
 
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,402
Likes: 0
From: MN, United States
Default Re: Does this sound like a ground issue? (itrSteez)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Hybrid96EK &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Hmmm. Well, with the car running, I would think that a loose connection at the battery would simply resort to using the alternator to keep things going. I would say it sounds more like a short. Something shorting out and causing everything to go down with it. I would check the alternator wire, the plug on the back, all the grounds, the battery and then look at the ECU as well. Perhaps something is hitting somewhere and causing this short. Could also be something in the ignition switch that is causing the problem. Does rattling the key in the cylinder while the car is running seem to do anything? I know these may sound funny, but they are good starting points.</TD></TR></TABLE>

there "could" be an extremely lose or shorted connection at either battery cables that would cut off everything since all the alternator does is recharge the battery, if theres no battery in the circuit, its useless.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by itrSteez &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Stupid question, but would a short in my ignition have any effect on my headlights/gauge cluster lights?..... Once I saw those go out I was thinking it was perhaps something else.... I'm a damn idiot when it comes to finding shorts and weak grounds so I'll probably just take it to acrua since nothing seems out of the ordinary.</TD></TR></TABLE>

if your talking about the ignition switch yea. But just start checking all your connections. From all those symptoms of hitting bumps and jerking the steering it really sounds like a loose connection or short.
Reply
Old Jun 15, 2007 | 06:28 PM
  #5  
Hybrid96EK's Avatar
Honda-Tech Member
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 6,919
Likes: 5
From: In the garage
Default Re: Does this sound like a ground issue? (itrSteez)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by itrSteez &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Stupid question, but would a short in my ignition have any effect on my headlights/gauge cluster lights?..... Once I saw those go out I was thinking it was perhaps something else.... I'm a damn idiot when it comes to finding shorts and weak grounds so I'll probably just take it to acrua since nothing seems out of the ordinary.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, I didn't think that one through clearly. The ignition doesn't control power to the headlights and gauge cluster, so that is most likely not an issue. I'd look for another short somewhere. Perhaps you have a wire that rubbed against the frame or something and is now shorting out?
Reply
Old Jun 16, 2007 | 10:58 AM
  #6  
itrSteez's Avatar
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 3,510
Likes: 0
From: Wilmington, NC
Default Re: Does this sound like a ground issue? (Hybrid96EK)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Hybrid96EK &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Yeah, I didn't think that one through clearly. The ignition doesn't control power to the headlights and gauge cluster, so that is most likely not an issue. I'd look for another short somewhere. Perhaps you have a wire that rubbed against the frame or something and is now shorting out?</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah that's what I'm thinking... either a weak ground or a short somewhere in the bay... either way I'm always too dumb to find that kind of ****, it's probably going to have to go to acura.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
KINGVEM^^ED6
Honda CRX / EF Civic (1988 - 1991)
6
Oct 4, 2011 05:02 AM
jewpont
Lighting
8
Dec 31, 2007 11:34 AM
ivicr
Acura Integra
2
Aug 8, 2006 05:43 AM
b20integrapower
Acura Integra
29
Jun 26, 2006 09:31 PM




All times are GMT -8. The time now is 11:37 PM.