Weird isn't it?

J

Jurassicspark

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Yesterday night went to start up my Zafira (2010). I put the key in and when I turned it to the on position the lights lit up then they suddenly went off. Everything lost power and it was completely DEAD.

This morning I checked all fuses, relays, all tested good, tested the main fuse (also good) unplugged battery and checked again. Battery had 12.8v which was good. Still no avail.

When diagnosing, the lights on the dashboard came on again and then went off, so I thought it was a loose connection somewhere maybe.

Sat in the car and while I was checking the can bus I heard weird clicking noises coming from the radio. It seems like only the radio had power. Indoor lights were not working only the radio had power. It was not playing songs but it did accept cds. Meaning that it had power.


I took out the radio connector and suddenly all lights came on! I plugged it in back and it was working fine. Radio connector was showing 7 volts only? Battery was still 12.7v

Took me 3 hrs to diagnose this problem! No work was done in the recent months. Car was running fine.
Also car automatically locked itself in the morning.


Any thoughts? Ty
 
I cant answer why the voltage is low on it but faulty equipment can bring down the can network and cause all manor of problems.
 
Zafira's always seem to be plagued with electrical problems. I had one once that was towed in by the AA. They diagnosed crank sensor. I fitted one, still wouldn’t start. Messed about for a few days but still no luck. Gave up and the owner had it towed to a main dealer. When I next saw him, I asked him what it was. He said they couldn’t find it either but took it in p/x for another one!
 
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Mottie said:
Zafira's always seem to be plagued with electrical problems. I had one once that was towed in by the AA. They diagnosed crank sensor. I fitted one, still wouldn’t start. Messed about for a few days but still no luck. Gave up and the owner had it towed to a main dealer. When I next saw him, I asked him what it was. He said they couldn’t find it either but took it in p/x for another one!
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Always a bad sign when cars can't be fixed by dealers for the people who made them. Some years ago my Old Man had a 7 series Beemer. That threw up some strange elec problems meaning it wouldn't start. Couple of independent specialists were scratching their heads. Had to go to local main dealer in the end and they couldn't figure it to start with. In the end some big guru had to be summoned from HQ in London to go through it and rectify. Bill was massive, and car with them for 6 weeks!!

Seems like often dealer networks have not caught up with the complexities of the cars they sell. Doesn't bode well as cars become ever more complex.
 
ReganAndCarter said:
Seeing as it's a Zafira..................................... No offence to op here, but I would be carrying a gallon of unleaded to make sure the thing goes up properly. :evil:
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For a week or so, whenever I will go somewhere, I won't trust to turn off my car. I'll leave someone in the car while I do my shopping or whatever it is.
 
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