High beams causing me to stall out?

**Kittenpunch** · 06-02-2014, 08:49 AM

So yesterday I had some spare time so I decided to pull out the ECU to see if it needed to be replaced. Lo and behold, leaky caps and gunk in places it shouldn't be. I can't afford a new board right now, so I did my best to clean it with some peroxide and Q-tips, and put it back in. Drove it around the block and it ran fine.

This morning, however, I tried to start the car and realized the battery was dead. That's odd, I thought. I didn't leave any lights on overnight. I popped the hood to jump start it and I heard a buzzing noise coming from the relay marked "H/lamp door". Pulled it out, put it back in, and the buzzing stopped. I jump started the car and drove it for about an hour and all was well.

When I got back home and pulled into the driveway, I figured maybe my high beams were triggering it, so as I was idling in the driveway, I turned on the high beams and the car instantly died, and I'll have to jump start it again.

I guess maybe my battery could be on its way out, or maybe the relay has something to do with it. But I've been driving it tons since I bought it a month ago and everything seems fine.

Thoughts, anyone? I'm not very good with electrical issues.

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**opy01** · 06-02-2014, 10:27 AM

If you pull the H/lamp door relay and drive the car around does the battery stay charged enough to start it again? If the car can still start after that then the high beams should not be enough to kill the car unless there is a short. Also with the relay pulled try to switch on the high beams and see if the car dies.

Also, try unplugging both the high beam bulbs and see if flipping the high beam switch kills the car again.

If pulling the relay fixes the issue then there is probably a short between your relay and lights. If not then there is a short before the relay. That may be what caused your relay to start buzzing. When I get home I'll see if I can find the wiring diagram for the lights. It may go to the BCU but I'm not sure.

Just a side note, cleaning the ECU will not help anything. When the caps pop, they are toast. Not sure if replacing them now would fix anything since the repair service costs so much. They may do more than just replace the caps or they may replace caps and fully test it to guarantee it works.

**Kittenpunch** · 06-02-2014, 10:37 AM

Extremely helpful reply, thank you. I'll try the relay when my friend gets home from work, as I need him to help me jump start my car.

I'll report back with my findings!

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**opy01** · 06-02-2014, 12:44 PM

You've got a 92 Stealth TT with the pop-up headlights right? I'm wondering if that was your light automatic shut-off unit trying to turn the headlights on. I guess I should ask if the switch was in the automatic position. With the battery being dead then getting a charge it may have been trying to turn the headlights on if the switch was left in the automatic position (that's what mine does but without pup-ups).

I fight my headlights all the time lol. Completely different problem than yours but my door switch is going out and if I don't make sure the lights go off automatically it will kill my battery in less than 2 hours. I'm trying to remember to turn them off manually until my new switches get here.

**stealthee** · 06-02-2014, 02:22 PM

If the high beams kill it and you have to jump it then it sounds like a battery and/or alternator issue. When my battery had a dead cell I had to jump the car to get it started and it ran fine until I shut it off, then I had to jump it again.

**opy01** · 06-02-2014, 03:02 PM

unless the battery is deader than dead and/or the alternator is going out I can't see the high beams actually killing the car... then again the ECU is fried so a large current draw could cause issues. When my car gets hot and I am sitting at a turn with the blinker on the voltage goes between ~12.5 to just under 12v each time the blinker clicks. I'm wondering if his high beams are just pulling too much current and his fried ECU shuts down or something.

I suggested unplugging the relay just to eliminate a short as a possibility. If the car does not die but still needs a jump then it definitely needs the battery and alternator checked.

**Kittenpunch** · 06-03-2014, 03:12 PM

I charged my battery overnight and tried it again this morning. I cranked once, then it seems like the battery died. All the lights turned off and the open door buzzer stopped too. I heard the H/lamp door relay buzzing so I pulled it out, and went to start it again. No dice. It's like the battery is beyond drained. Not even a ticking when I try to turn it over.

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