Thread: Electrical fault - unable to trace

Odd problem.

i returned to my D2 after sons rugby. The alarm would not disarm. The front interior light was on, but no doors were ajar. I unlocked the drivers door with the key and got in. Disabled the alarm i think when i put the key in the ignition. I then closed the door and tried to reset the alarm, but nothing. Back in the car I then tried to unlock the remaining doors with the unlock switch in the car, nothing.

I turned the ignition on and the dash lit up as normal, with an auduble chime that repeats 6 times, (seatbelt warning I think?). Still could not operate door locks. In addition there was, on the LCD display for odometer, a flashing letter where the gear selection would normally be displayed. Looked to me to be a capital B with a diagonal line running through it.

Started the car, ok. The letter B still flashing, no gear selection showing.
Turned my lights on and drove off.

No symptoms of low charge like limp mode.

A few k's down the road the flashing B stopped, to be replaced by the normal D for drive.

However it did come back on, could not link this to any change in operation at the time.

On the way home, i did turn the headlights off, shortly afterwards the B was back. Turned headlights on, shortly afterwards B disappears.

Noted, also that indicators would not work when the headlights were off, or on highbeam. Discovered this while i was changing lane !!!!

Got home with head lights on, no B. After turning the car off at home I restarted the ignition to find the B back. Still no alarm operation.

Also noted that my left front park light function is not operating.

Battery steady at 12.5 volts , alternator chucking out steady 13.99 at idle.

Any suggestions or help would be appreciated. i am wondering wether a nanocom may be required here, so any one feeling generous, feel free to Pm me.

yours, Confoundedkiwi

Originally Posted by imatt

Very strange fault, maybe B is meant to represent a fault with a bulb, but I don't know how this would affect your alarm or door locks. Unless the park/indicator bulbs are used in the alarm circuit?
Cheers Matt

Yeah. Couple of things. Yes the indicators are in the alarm circuit, and most alarms will have an issue if they sense an indicator not working. I don't see the park lights operating with the alarm though.

Also, I knew the park light was out before this B started up. There are two bulbs at each front corner, one in the headlight, and one in the indicator lense. Not sure if both were out at first, however when I fixed things, they had both gone. Either way it still bugs me that I can't find any mention of this warning in any literature.

thnks all
Nick