Car won't start - indicators on full time

[Violet]

I've got a possible wiring problem on my car. It's a 1991 Astra GSi.
The last time it was used was in March this year, so it's faced a bit of rain since (but is totally watertight - I think).

Basically, I turn the key, the dash lights come on, but no starter. Plus, when the battery is hooked up, the indicator lights are -on- fully. Nothing can turn them off, pulling the hazard light switch, etc.

I've never had a factory alarm on the car, as it came with a Clifford (now removed). Any ideas? Does anyone know what might be causing this?

THANKS

[Stevey_n1]

sounds like the clifford imbolizing the car ... dont hold me on that thou.. have you got a clifford fob? or spare one ? have u tried both or tested to see if batterys ok in fobs?

[MSG]

It does seem like the immobiliser issue. Try locking the door manually and then unlock it manually using the key not the fob buttons. might work.

[Stevey_n1]

yh that a good point i forgot about that one!

[MSG]

Yes in some vauxhalls the deadlocking also triggers the alarm on and switches it off as well, so if a car was parked for a long time and the battery ran flat, the deaDLOCKS won't operate and the alarm may still be on using its own battery, so after the jump start, the main battery picks up the charge, then lock the doors again, and unloack them again to see if this helps the alrm to reset, on the other hand an aftermarket alarm may have already been disconnected from the door microswitches and operated via a keyfob buttons.

[Andy K]

probably either factory or aftermarket alarm causing indicators to be on.

Locking and unlocking the doors is a good idea.

Once you have found what is causing the lights to come on, it might be the same thing causing the engine prob.

In the drivers footwell is a box with yellow connector. Try disconnecting and see if the lights go out. (if won't start with it disconnected though)
If it is this causing the light problem, try hitting it !

[Violet]

I removed the Clifford years ago (there is no trace of an aftermarket alarm), and there is definitely no standard alarm fitted. (I was meant to write 'NOW removed' )
Is the immobiliser a yellow box in the footwell (which it doesn't have?) What should I be looking for?

[MSG]

depends of how the original factory fitted alarm was removed, or disabled, so it may well have been enabled accidently, for example, on my calibra my factory fitted alarm had been disabled by its previous owner, little did I know, until it got broken into a couple of weeks ago, since then I figured out how it was disabled, and have now re-enabled it,

On the non RC type, the factory alarm is set and reset by a micro switch in the driver's door , (on calibra that is) ( yours may be not the same concept) so easiest way someone who disabled it was to break a little right angle tab on a cam that turned the micro switch with the door key, to set the alarm On as you deadlocked the car, and when you open the car again another cam strikes a different micro switch to cancel the alarm and undo the deadlocking.

So I am wondering if somehow your factory fitted alarm may have been accidently re-enabled somehow. It is the alarm coming on that starts your flashers (Alarm siren sounds for 30 seconds) and the flashers continue indefinitely. Your sounder may be dead on the other hand.

[Violet]

It's nothing to do with the alarm, there was never one fitted.

[Andy K]

Are you sure

What does the interior light look like ?
What do the rear side windows have on them ? Any brown tracking ?
Does the hazzard switch have a white round lense on it ?

[Violet]

No x 3. I've has the car stripped bare and replaced the wiring loom.

[cossieste]

on the battery terminals are all the earths on the correct post as with the lives i had a mate a couple of years ago put the terminals on the correct way but got a couple of wires on the wrong way around maybe worth a try to just remove any additional wires 1 by 1 and see if the indicators go out.

[Grim Reaper]

the following thread might help, buzball had similar problems
Astra mk4 indicator stuck on (HELP)

[Violet]

No to all I'm afraid.
Today I started to strip the car, as there doesn't seem much point as I haven't driven it for nearly a year. I took that little black 4x4inch box from behind the driver's kickpanel and it was full of water, lol. Most of the components on the bottom had disolved in the water.
Need a new one I think.



Anti-theft control unit (not alarm!), hidden for years!

10 CONTROL UNIT,ANTI-THEFT -P2653557 1 (90359788) (12 37 469)
WARNING SYSTEM (IDENT YZ) -P5173811
(NLS.- USE 90450859 -P8173811
12 37 555)
Note: EXC.SWITZERLAND
__________________

[MSG]

No, you don't need a new one yet until you found out where that water got from! lol

[Andy K]

A bit like this alarm

probably either factory or aftermarket alarm causing indicators to be on.

In the drivers footwell is a box with yellow connector. Try disconnecting and see if the lights go out. (if won't start with it disconnected though)

[MSG]

So now he's got his blinkers sorted out, but now without this black box of tricks witha yellow connector his engine won't fire now!! Lord! he needs some real help now.

[Grim Reaper]

A bit like this alarm

who asked you anyway??? lmao

[Violet]

I'm not sure why it's there - what is it exactly? Should the car have a blipper, or has it been deactivated?
I've got another couple somewhere in the garage, I'll just swap em over.

The water is getting in through the windscreen that AutoWindscreens put in a couple of years ago. They managed to crack the corner (leading to a bigger crack) and didn't actually seal it, and then didn't put the rubber trim back on properly. Hence, why it's leaking.

[Astra Dan]

That's the box that controls the central deadlocking and engine immobiliser.

[Andy K]

it's the alarm unit. The alarms is activated when the drivers door key is turned 90° to --

Drill 2 holes in the bottom of it, to stop it filling with water.

And if the PCB hasn't been laquered (i.e clear or red or whatever) then spray lacker over the PCB to prevent water damaging it, or interfering with its function

[MSG]

I think his one has corrosion set in it, as he said some of the parts are now desolved beyon recognition!! But the thing is still working wonders doing its job, thats the good part about it! well done!!

[Astra Dan]

No it isn't, the car won't start.

[Grim Reaper]

it's the alarm unit. The alarms is activated when the drivers door key is turned 90° to --

Drill 2 holes in the bottom of it, to stop it filling with water.

And if the PCB hasn't been laquered (i.e clear or red or whatever) then spray lacker over the PCB to prevent water damaging it, or interfering with its function

that is pretty good gen

I think his one has corrosion set in it, as he said some of the parts are now desolved beyon recognition!! But the thing is still working wonders doing its job, thats the good part about it! well done!!

No it isn't, the car won't start.

lmaolmaolmaolmaolmaolmao

[Violet]

Yeah, it's knackered. I've already changed the central locking ECU before (which is the smaller 1" x 2" black box) due to the water ingress. Have to get a new screen for MOT.
I had the same with the ECU on the Starion, it filled with water. Mitsubishi, the genius' that they are, turned the ECU -upside down- to stop water getting in on later models.