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#118481 - 30/09/2002 07:46 Possible dimmer short
edsmiata
addict

Registered: 18/08/2002
Posts: 544
Loc: New Jersey
OK...another question for the ages:

While driving with the lights on I get some ground loop whine only through the radio. At time, when I flash the hi-beams the entire system goes down then comes right back up with the battery icon being displayed but without actually re-booting.

To make it even more interesting, when this happened yesterday I got this horrible whine with the player on (not just the radio). And finally, after a while (15 min) the whine totally disappeared on the player.

Now, the easy answer is not to use the hi-beams...but for the sake of closure, would anybody have a probable solution. (I'm guessing there is a short in the dimmer wiring connection somewhere along the line)

Thanks

Ed
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#118482 - 30/09/2002 08:34 Re: Possible dimmer short [Re: edsmiata]
Daria
carpal tunnel

Registered: 24/01/2002
Posts: 3937
Loc: Providence, RI
Echo. Echo.

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#118483 - 30/09/2002 08:57 Re: Possible dimmer short [Re: Daria]
edsmiata
addict

Registered: 18/08/2002
Posts: 544
Loc: New Jersey
huh?
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#118484 - 30/09/2002 09:13 Re: Possible dimmer short [Re: edsmiata]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31594
Loc: Seattle, WA
He's complaining about your cross-posting the question to multiple threads.

Anyway, back on topic...

All of the ground loop problems you describe sound like they're caused by a wiring fault somewhere. I don't know if the fault is internal to the player, internal to the tuner, or external to both, but everything you've been saying, all the way back to the problem with the whine-in-tuner-mode-only, sounds like some kind of a fault where there's an intermittent connection or a shorted wire someplace.
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Tony Fabris

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#118485 - 01/10/2002 13:32 Re: Possible dimmer short [Re: tfabris]
schofiel
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/06/1999
Posts: 2993
Loc: Wareham, Dorset, UK
To me it sounds like a duff battery that is going high impedance, or is going dry. It would probably be a good idea to check your battery fluid levels, and have a look at your charging system (fan belt tightness, alternator) to find out if it's all in order. A high impedance battery gives all the signs you are describing. This does not rule out the possibility you may have a short, however.

How old is the car battery? And out of interest, who did your installation wiring?
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#118486 - 02/10/2002 13:49 Re: Possible dimmer short [Re: schofiel]
edsmiata
addict

Registered: 18/08/2002
Posts: 544
Loc: New Jersey
The car is a 2001 with 17 k on it and i had the system professionally installed...i will check the fluid levels tonite!

Thanks
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#118487 - 02/10/2002 13:50 Re: Possible dimmer short [Re: edsmiata]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31594
Loc: Seattle, WA
"Professional installation" is often an oxymoron. Don't assume they did everything right just because you paid them to do it.
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Tony Fabris

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#118488 - 02/10/2002 14:04 Re: Possible dimmer short [Re: tfabris]
303
enthusiast

Registered: 24/04/2002
Posts: 305
Loc: Germany
Tony, you are a wise man!!!

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#118489 - 02/10/2002 14:27 Re: Possible dimmer short [Re: 303]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31594
Loc: Seattle, WA
If wisdom is defined as having read some of the horror stories about so-call "professional installations" in this forum, then I guess that would be the case.
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Tony Fabris

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#118490 - 04/10/2002 03:16 Re: Possible dimmer short [Re: tfabris]
schofiel
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/06/1999
Posts: 2993
Loc: Wareham, Dorset, UK
I agree - I must admit at this point if it was my system I'd be inclined to take out the sled to have a look at the state of the wiring....
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One of the few remaining Mk1 owners... #00015

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