YACT: Bad Ground?

[kmac1914]

For the past week, i've been having some weird problems with my car. I think they're related to my stereo, but I'm not sure since i havent changed anything with it in a while...one day i just got in my car and strange stuff started happening:

• When i get in, the dashboard clock resets to 1:00..every time i open a door.
• The clock also resets when i turn on the cabin lights
• Even if all the doors are closed, the open door light comes on when i turn on the cabin lights.
• Neither my stereo nor my amplifier is getting any power--I unplugged my stereo from the car, and when i plug it in now, the clock sorta fades in and out.

I talked to one of my friends about it, and he said it was probably a bad ground, which makes sense. The question is, how do i go about finding it and fixing it?

 

[Quixfire]

Please post the year, make, & model.

 

[kmac1914]

95 Mazda Protege, and i checked the fuses i could find, but none were out.

 

[kmac1914]

bump...any help?

 

[TechnoKid]

Weak battery? Go to autozone and have em do an electrical test, or maybe kragen. I've had weak batteries that did weird stuff to the electrical system. Check the ground from the battery and the positive lead cable; make sure nothing is shorting out and the connnections aren't corroded. Thats the best I can think of right now.

 

[FrustratedUser]

Does it turn over and start OK?

If not it could be a bad ground, which leads to all kinds of weird problems.

 

[fredtam]

Clean your battery post. and check any wire connections at the terminals.

 

[kmac1914]

It turns over fine, although my power locks/windows only work when the car's running. I looked at the battery posts, and they do need to be cleaned, so i guess i'll try that next.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Is it still the original battery? If the battery is 3-5 years old, it's in the replacement range.

ZV

 

[Quixfire]

Originally posted by: dahotboykj

I talked to one of my friends about it, and he said it was probably a bad ground, which makes sense. The question is, how do i go about finding it and fixing it?

You will need a wiring diagraph for you car and a basic understand of electrical circuits. I would start by looking for what these systems, clock, radio, amp, & interior lights, have in common and visual inspect the connection or splice. I would then disable one system at a time until the condition stopped, then you would know where to look next.