Electrical problem

[seanyp00h]

Hey Guys

After finding out that a rat had chewed a hole into the material under my bonnet, i thought i had figured out why my Ibiza's electronics have been acting funny.

Ever since i got the car, whenever i turned the wheel with the lights on they would dim a bit. I kind of just ignored that

Since about a week ago usually after a medium/short trip, as i pull up to the driveway and turn the wheel, the steering light comes on and the wheel starts getting harder to turn. Switching the car on and off fixes the problem.

Also lately while iv been driving the radio goes off and then back on again, the same thing happens when i switch the lights on while im driving.

Once the ABS light also came on as i was parking.

It seems as though i have a short somewhere or the bloody rat might have chewed some wires. Now i'v looked all over and cant find any damaged wires.

Please could somebody advise me where to look or what i could do to solve the problem.

 

[UnUnOctium]

When was the last time your replaced your battery? If it's more than ~ 2 years ago, take a look at it and see if it might be bloating on the side a bit. If it is indeed wiring, you're going to have to go through it the hard-labour way, the rats wouldn't have gotten past the firewall so it would be somewhere in the engine bay.

 

[Pearson6]

Well a much quicker way to check is put ur car on the computer/diagnostic plug it will pick up the errors if it cant read a certain part of your car meaning it might not pick up something then u can start looking there also where exactly did the rat enter ur car work or home?

 

[seanyp00h]

Its a 2008 model so the battery is basically 2 years old. Where could i get hold of one of these diagnostic machines?

Im sure it got into the car at the parking lot at work. I work in the CBD an we all know its really not the cleanest place around.

 

[luxe]

Dont fear.

I had an ibiza, had the exact problem...my positive battery terminal connection was loose. Same thing, lights dimmed, blah blah, all they did was tighten the battery terminal , and all was fine.

 

[UnUnOctium]

Its a 2008 model so the battery is basically 2 years old. Where could i get hold of one of these diagnostic machines?

Im sure it got into the car at the parking lot at work. I work in the CBD an we all know its really not the cleanest place around.

The 'diagnostic machine' Pearson is talking about is an OBD2 to USB or RS232 convertor + software. Not so easy to find. Go to a shop where they sell batteries/tyres, ask them to do a battery test. Then go to another one and do the same (they love to lie to you just so they can sell you a new battery).

 

[seanyp00h]

Dont fear.

I had an ibiza, had the exact problem...my positive battery terminal connection was loose. Same thing, lights dimmed, blah blah, all they did was tighten the battery terminal , and all was fine.

This is a relief, hopefully mine has the same problem.

Thanks a lot guys