Minor electrical issues becoming big pain in the azz!!!!

hiechimu · 08-13-2004, 01:17 PM

OYE! So I'm having some wicked issues. My car (99 SL2) died 2 weeks ago, thought it was the starter. I finally got it back from the shop yesterday, and turns out it wasn't the starter, it was a bad ground connection to the starter. No problem, except when I got in, the service engine lights won't shut off, and my new radio won't turn on, and the keyless entry/car alarm doesn't work, and when I'm in the car and press the unlock button, the locks open for 2 seconds, then lock themselves.

Anyone have any ideas on what might be wrong? I've checked all the fuses and relays, still no clue.

**Ssicarman** · 08-14-2004, 02:07 AM

interesting fix. The starter does not actually have a ground strap/wire going to it. It ground through the case of the starter to the block. So unless there was corrosion where the starter mounts some one is not telling exactly what they did. There are ground wires to the block at the top two trans to engine bolts so they may have done something there.
Try taking it backl and find out exactly what they did. If all was working before then something that they did has caused what is happening.

hiechimu · 08-16-2004, 01:11 PM

Thanks for the info.

I'm not exactly sure what the guy at the garage did. He was a buddy of my dad's and he did me a favor by getting the car running again. I was stuck in a hick town in the middle of no where. Now that it's running, I'm gonna get it to a dealer and have them once over it. I'm thinking there may be a short somewhere.

hiechimu · 08-18-2004, 06:59 PM

Ok, I checked with the mechanic, it was a faulty ground connection to the starter Relay.

But that still doesn't explain way my power door locks/alarm/radio won't work.

Any ideas? Are there any common electrical short issues with sl2s?

**Ssicarman** · 08-19-2004, 03:20 AM

Perhaps something knocked loose during the first repair. Factory or aftermarket door locks/alarm/radio?

hiechimu · 08-19-2004, 01:26 PM

Aftermarket radio, just a headunit. Factory alarm & door locks.

I let the car sit for a week, it's been raining here a lot. I had to drive to work today, and the service light with the wrench didn't come on until I started driving. I let the car warm up for a few minutes and then has a casual ride into work (10 min on the highway) the shakes went away, and it ran smooth with no issues.

By the way, thanks for your help on this.