Hey all,

Hopefully one of you has seen this, cause it has me baffled. Yesterday I was checking out the center console and the sketchy wiring from the aftermarket DVD unit that the PO put into my '05 MCSc when I had a problem starting it.

The only thing I had done was to pull the speaker wires that are ran under the glove box down an inch or two to look at them and start thinking about investigating correcting that mess. I had to run to the store for the wife, so I jumped in and turned the key and the wiper went up half way and stopped, the started didn't engage and the stereo was dead...? Okay I tried again, and again, and again, and somewhere about the 15th time it kicked in and started so I ran up to the store (2 blocks).

Came out of the store and same thing happens, but the wipers would return down if I hit the switch, but now the passenger seat airbag light is half illuminated for the short drive back home...

Pulled it in the garage and started looking at fuses, listening for the starter clicking, etc. Same glitch repeats, and I notice the brake lights are on - no pedal depressed or anything, but the brake lights are full on. Then I think about the wiring I had pulled on a bit, so I leaned over and pushed it upward behind the glove box - and bamm everything starts up like normal and the brake lights are off (but work correctly) stereo is back to life, so on and so on.

Today, car starts fine to go to work. I go get lunch stuff at noon, come out of the store - does the no start thing again! I pull the key out and then put it back in to try again, now it starts and acts normal.

So, has anybody had a similar glitch and maybe know where to point me? I've searched quite alot last night and this morning but couldn't find a thread with similar problems (alot of others, but not this combo).

Thanks in advance,

John

 

Low batteries can make these cars act very strangely. If you had the lights on and door opened, you might have lowered the level and it is just hanging on. Testing the battery isn't nuts and wouldn't be the first time it caused wierdness.

 

concur

sounds like it could be a flakey battery to me .... but hacked wiring always makes my skin crawl too.

If all is well once the car is running then add 10 to the battery factor . . .

but this:

Then I think about the wiring I had pulled on a bit, so I leaned over and pushed it upward behind the glove box - and bamm everything starts up like normal

worries me

that suggests a short in the hacked wires and that's bad . . .

were it me the first thing I'd do it replace every splice, which I'll guess is wire nuts or twisted wires and tape - with soldered connections sealed with shrink tube.

 

Sorry, should've spelled out that when I was checking fuses and such I also checked the battery cables and switch out the interstate battery for the Optima out of my truck.

Car's still doing it's tricks, now the cruise control doesn't work either - when you turn it on the light blinks twice and then it turns off.

I am concerned about the wiring behind the stereo, almost don't want to open it up. I'll be biting the bullet tomorrow night (soccer tonight) and see what the damage is...

Thanks guys!

 

Well after 2 weekends of cleaning up the hack job done by somebody on the aftermarket stereo, I can conclusively say that none of that mess caused my problems. There were a double handfull of wire nuts and alot of the crimp splices that had to go, but afterward there is still no resolution to the flakiness.

The cruise control did start working now that I've reset the service interval reminder.

I'm leaning toward the ignition switch for the remainder of the problems. It seems like if I twist the key fast it manifests the problems more often than if I turn it slowly and gently. I did find another thread where one guy mentioned the dealer had replaced his ignition switch when trying to sort his problems of a similar nature.