Strange problems - please help!!!

[Stewie]

Up until now I havn't had any problems starting the car. Had the phone kit fitted a couple of days ago, still fine.

Today, they sorted out the microphone problem with the kit. Took about 1/2 hour. I go to start the car to go home and it was slow to start like the battery was going flat. strange I thought so I checked the bootlight to make sure it was going out when the boot was shut. (had this problem before)

Leave the building glance down and my Brake check warning light was faintly coming on. Turn around go back and checked the brake fluid. Fine.

Leave the engine running for about 15 mins, turned it off. When to restart - click, click, click

Pushed it back into the phone/audio fitting bay and they checked the battery, reading 11 - 11.5 volts. Checked the phone kit over quickly - fine, battery terminals - fine.

What the heck has suddenly caused this, as I say it has been fine even if i've had the radio on for 1/2 hour.


If anyone has any ideas I would be very very greatful.




PS. At least I get an electric blue Lexus IS200 to use in the meantime.

[Stewie]

anyone

[rgv_stu]

sounds like it could be a badly installed phone kit

jump start it and then check alternator to see if its charging ok

[Stewie]

They sware its nothing to do with them (but then they would). Its just really strange its happened when they have been fiddling. Surely if the alternator wasn't charging the light would come on? And I would have noticed something odd happening over that last couple of days.

I guess I have to see what state its in when I get in tomorrow. If it is completly dead than I supose its either a knackered battery or a serious battery drain somewhere.

[Dav1d]

Is the click click click sound coming from one turn of the key (ie constant clicking) or three turns (ie turn the key and click, release the key, turn the key , click) ?
Was your battery disconnected during the phone fitting etc?
Battery negative cable may be loose going onto the batter or some other earth may be faulty/loose.
Failing that, ask the people that fitted the phone for advice,as it was fine before ..

[Stewie]

the clicking is when I go to start the car. Seen it happen many times before when there isn't quite enough power in the battery to start. They have checked the terminals on the battery and they are fine.

[tomstickland]

Well I think you're going to have to poke around where any changes have been made looking for chafed wires. And experiment with disconnecting bits of the phone kit.

[Makis22]

When they installed your phone system your battery drained and probably just needs a recharge. If this does not help you either have a dead battery or your new installed phone system is draining the battery when the engine is switched off.

[SKAMAN]

brake fluid light and check light = shagged alternator nothing else
unfortunately.

Change your alternator but as has been said check the car phone install is it shorting anything out?

To test the therory put a charged battery in start her up and measure the voltage across the battery should be 13.5 tto 14.5 volts ish then compare this with the bat voltage when switched off you should notice a marked difference i.e higher volts when running than when not if other way round shagged alternator but it should be 13.5 to 14v ish when charging.

Also when you turn the key does the bat light go on during the check of lamps if not you have blown the bulb and your really gonna enjoy getting the dash out believe me

[Stewie]

Right, went to the car this morning when I got to work. It started albeit a little slow. Left it running for a couple of mins then tried to re-start. Click Click Click.

Later, I managed to jump it to take it to our workshop. Ran for about 5 mins, then it started hunting then stalled. Tried to re-start. No hope only a slight glimmer on the dash.

I'm now thinking alternator. I'll get it on the transporter on Monday and get to the workshop that way.

And in the mean time its 'IS200 Sport' for me!!!