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Last week while driving, the battery and brake dash lights came on faintly then the airbag light came on and the car lost power, wouldn't restart and had to be towed. Replaced battery and tested alternator, charge was good. Car worked for a few days but battery and brake dash lights would come on faintly when car was idling or coming to a stop and go back off when car was driving. Also, the windshield wipers were much slower than usual. Radio fine, heat fine, headlights fine. Yesterday after driving for about 15 minutes, the airbag light came on again, then the car started to lose power again while driving up a hill. All of the dashboard lights went completely black and the car barely made it up the hill to my destination. There was a burning smell too. After about 10 minutes, I went back out to move the car, it started up and all the dashboard lights were back on. I'm baffled! Please help!
PS I posted this here too because someone I know had a similar problem to mine with a VW.PS I posted this here too because someone I know had a similar problem to mine with a VW.
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What your car is shouting at you is that there is a low power problem. This may be simply a battery cable or a corroded connection but the systems are not able to get the power they need. I would take the vehicle to a AutoZone (or competitor) as they have free diagnostics for the battery, alternator and etc. They can also read the codes in the OBC module.
Your belt broke, either something is wrong with a pulley and caused the belt to brake or the belt was just old and broke on its own. Either way needs a belt put back on then see if anything else is wrong
Hi, Same problem - with my Hyundai Getz. Thought I'd pummelled the horn too much. However, I'm told that it might be the alternator. Battery completely died and couldn't be charged - AA man cleaned around the alternator ready for new battery, which seemed to work - advised to get new alternator. Didn't! Battery died again few weeks later, but still some power so that I can jump start the car - all lights on! ABS, airbag, brake - you name it! Also, car is brakig itself when driving - this only occurs when all lights are on. Lights eventually go off, and car resumes back to normal driving again - no more bunny hoping a it brakes, and no more smell of rubber. Have read that low power can be a problem for airbag light, and so checking battery, and alternator is a must. My alternator is now being ordered. Hope this helps. If it was anything else let me know.
Offhand, definitely an electrical issue. Some ideas to check, consider and/or explore:
IGN switch - check for loose, corroded or heating connections. To test, under normal usage of the vehicle, should feel warm but not overly hot. If so, then possibly loose connection;
fuse/relay box - check for loose, corroded or burned terminals, holders, clips and connectors/pins. Use an electrical contact cleaner and spray. It may also be necessary to scrape to remove burnt marks/corrosion;
fusible link - the battery would have 2 wires connected to the + terminal. The big wire goes to the starter, the smaller of the two is the electrical systems main wire. This normally goes to the fuse/relay box. Check for frayed ends, loose connection, corroded terminals. In some instances instead of being at the battery's + terminal, it is connected to the end of the big cable down at the starter motor.
ALL connectors with big wires - these carry the main +12 either as always ON, ACC or IGN. If a connector has a wire bigger than the others, check them. It may be necessary to disconnect to enable you access to the inside pins/terminals. Scrape them clean.
on the 2002 Accent we have, the area is clearly identified w/the "cutout" area and marked SRS Airbag...perhaps look at Hyundai.com at the owners' manual online, or look at used cars/junk yards to compare dash panels to yours...would think it VERY difficult for avg person to perform this task
PS I posted this here too because someone I know had a similar problem to mine with a VW.
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