Vauxhall Corsa Problems - whats wrong with my car?

[vickyclare]

Yesterday I parked my car in town and sat inside with the engine off, but the radio on. Everything else, lights etc were off.

8 mins later the sound on the radio went and the radio screen lights dimmed. I thought uh oh....but didn't check to see if it would start because I had to go.

When I came back an hour later it just wouldn't start. Nothing was happening. I turned the key and I could hear a click click noise from the engine, but it was very quiet and nothing else came on but the lights on the dashboard. They headlamps didn't come on but my hazzard lights did! A grinding noise started coming from what seemed to be the hazard warning interior light and I eventually took the key out. When i tried to turn on the headlamps without the key in the ignition they came on fine! But when I turned them off they wouldn't go off for about 30 seconds.

I called my break down service and 2 hrs later they turned up and jump started the car. As soon as he put the leads on the battery my windscreen wipers suddenly came on but they weren't turned on! Eventually about a minute later they turned off themselves.

The guy said that the battery only had 9 volts in it so all I had to do was drive for about 20 mins to charge it up. He asked me if I had left something on and I told him I'd left the radio on for less than 10 minutes but he said that was enough to kill the battery....now I'm no car mechanic but is that true?!? Surely it would have to be left on for a LOT longer than that!

The car is going fine today but I'm planning on driving a long journey tonight and I'm unsure about whether its safe or not. Does it sound like anything more than just a dead battery? I have a feeling something isn't right, can anyone put my mind at rest?

Thanks in advance!

[Clanad]

A number of years ago, I owned a Audi 5000s. It was a fine car, but once, during a long trip, some friends told me I had left the headlights on. I went out and sure enough they were on, but the lever for turning them on and off was in the off position. I inserted the key and they turned off. This happened a couple of times, once almost running the battery down. My Audi mechanic finally figured out there was a short or some such problem in the switch mechanism itself. Unfortunately, that switch couldn't be replaced individually. It cost nearly $400 U.S. to have the entire assembly replaced. It did cure the problem though. One of the joys of European automobile ownership!

[qapmoc]

Well, as it is OK now that you have driven it, the charging system is probably working correctly and the problem is that something is draining the battery, not the radio in 8 minutes unless you have a 500watt booster amp with multiple sub-woofers and bass drivers etc... What!!! you do, well thats the problem then.

The odd effects of things switching on/off you can ignore as this was most likely due to the low battery voltage upsetting the controller systems.

Anyway you should be good for making a journey because the car will be no problem while it is running, but what about when you stop and try to restart, you had better make sure that you only stop the engine somewhere safe where you can get access to assistance if required.

[vickyclare]

Thanks for the answers!!

I just got home, parked the car in the drive and after everything was off and I was gathering up my things there was this huge flash of blue light from the bonnet. What on earth?? Is that bad?? Is my car possessed?!?!

[qapmoc]

Its possessed with a problem thats for sure !
After your last post I would suggest that it is time for a professional to have a look at it, sound like it might be the alternator having an intermitant short circuit or something like that.

[donnamarie21]

Hi there...

If your car is a 2001 + model with an on board computer *ECU* ..
You'll probably need a new ECU and get it reprogrammed. this should cost in the effect of 1000 pound. (Sorry to say this) .

I myself had a similar problem of it wouldn't even start some mornings , now the windows open on their own and then dont close, the doors lock and unlock on their own..
(i only bought the car a week ago and had nothing but problems Vauxhall corsa 1.2i 16v easytronic) turns out when I spoke to someone from mondeal mechanics said someone had jump started the car and caused the ecu to go nuts. (mondeal mechanics need 15 years experiance and only deal with top of the range cars, i think they know what they're on about !)

JUMP STARTING A CAR WITH AN ECU IS A DANGEROUS MOVE IT FRYS THE COMPUTER BRAIN MAKING THE CAR DO DANGEROUS AND ERRATIC THINGS.

IF YOU NEED TO JUMP START THE CAR HEADLIGHTS MUST BE PUT ON , ALONG WITH ANY HEATERS SO WHEN THE POWER IS SURGED THROUGH IT REGULATES IT INSTEAD OF BLOWING IT SIDEWAYS!!!.


Some breakdown companies are so thick sometimes... sighs..