Sailingsenses
Member
- :
- Mazda, Protege5, Stock, 2002
Hello.
With a new battery & new alternator:
Two weeks ago, I was a red light during rainy weather and my P5's radio and dash lights basically went bonkers flickering and such. I managed to park a block away and turned it off but it would not restart; when I turned the key, I was getting a bunch of quick clicks, but no cranking. I still had lights, however. Again, this is on a new battery and alternator.
AAA came out and told me that the (new) battery is not holding a charge but the alternator "seems fine" (based on voltage). They easily jump-started it and I drove it to the mechanic's. They resolved that it was the alternator, and replaced it again. I don't know what basis they used to determine this, but I believe it was an incorrect assessment. Note that they didn't replace the battery, as it was new and the cells were fine.
Something about the car seemed off to me, still...especially when it was raining a lot.
Fast forward six days:
It was another rainy day (but hardly), I'm driving off from a Starbuck's drive-through and the lights flickered and yet again, I lost power. This time, the car was making buzzing/humming sounds when I turned on the hazard lights--without the key being turned or inserted at all. If I shut off the hazard lights, the buzzing stopped. Unlike two weeks prior, I was only able to hear the rapid clicking a couple of times, then it completely stopped. Eventually, the hazard lights stopped working, too. It couldn't draw enough power to do the most basic thing: e.g., run the hazard lights.
AAA came out and easily jump-started it, but fearing it would die out while I drove off, I towed it to the mechanic's anyway.
So, now the problem is presenting itself despite having a new battery and being on its second "new" alternator.
Does this match your issue? What was wrong with it? What was done to resolve it? What did it cost?
From a bit of research I've done online, here's what could be wrong:
-- ECM water intrusion. (It is happening during very wet, ongoing rainy weather. What would be the symptoms, exactly? Would this match what I wrote above? Would there be a trouble code?).
-- Wrong alternator (but twice in a row is highly unlikely).
-- Blown master fuse or fusible link. (What would be the "symptoms"?)
-- Parasitic draw/draining (I doubt this one).
Lastly, I should mention that I don't any trouble codes.
Thank you for your time! I appreciate the help.
NM
With a new battery & new alternator:
Two weeks ago, I was a red light during rainy weather and my P5's radio and dash lights basically went bonkers flickering and such. I managed to park a block away and turned it off but it would not restart; when I turned the key, I was getting a bunch of quick clicks, but no cranking. I still had lights, however. Again, this is on a new battery and alternator.
AAA came out and told me that the (new) battery is not holding a charge but the alternator "seems fine" (based on voltage). They easily jump-started it and I drove it to the mechanic's. They resolved that it was the alternator, and replaced it again. I don't know what basis they used to determine this, but I believe it was an incorrect assessment. Note that they didn't replace the battery, as it was new and the cells were fine.
Something about the car seemed off to me, still...especially when it was raining a lot.
Fast forward six days:
It was another rainy day (but hardly), I'm driving off from a Starbuck's drive-through and the lights flickered and yet again, I lost power. This time, the car was making buzzing/humming sounds when I turned on the hazard lights--without the key being turned or inserted at all. If I shut off the hazard lights, the buzzing stopped. Unlike two weeks prior, I was only able to hear the rapid clicking a couple of times, then it completely stopped. Eventually, the hazard lights stopped working, too. It couldn't draw enough power to do the most basic thing: e.g., run the hazard lights.
AAA came out and easily jump-started it, but fearing it would die out while I drove off, I towed it to the mechanic's anyway.
So, now the problem is presenting itself despite having a new battery and being on its second "new" alternator.
Does this match your issue? What was wrong with it? What was done to resolve it? What did it cost?
From a bit of research I've done online, here's what could be wrong:
-- ECM water intrusion. (It is happening during very wet, ongoing rainy weather. What would be the symptoms, exactly? Would this match what I wrote above? Would there be a trouble code?).
-- Wrong alternator (but twice in a row is highly unlikely).
-- Blown master fuse or fusible link. (What would be the "symptoms"?)
-- Parasitic draw/draining (I doubt this one).
Lastly, I should mention that I don't any trouble codes.
Thank you for your time! I appreciate the help.
NM