| Subject: | car electrics |
| Question: |
2 morning in a row, I've gone out to start my car and discovered that the digital clock has lost the time, and the stereo has lost its presets. The CD player has ejected the CD. However, it starts right up without problems and has no other issues. Any ideas? |
| Answer: |
Derek, You should have your battery checked. Most mechanic garages and stores like AutoZone can load test your battery for free. If they discover your battery is not holding a charge or is weak, you need to replace it. Check your connector harnesses that goes from your battery to your fuse box. If it's corroded, it can fail to supply adequate power to your clock, radio, and CD player after the car has been turned off. There may be fuse, fusible link, or relay that may have blown, or is about to. Check your fuse box next to your battery for any blown components. You didn't mention what make/model of car you own, so I can only speculate at my next idea. If you have a 1G Eclipse (90-94), your ECU (car's computer) may be burnt out. Those models were known to have ECUs with under-rated capacitors. Over time, those capacitors will leak and short out the car's computer. When this happens, everything will reset when you turn your car back on in the morning. If you have one of these Eclipse, and you notice a clicking noise coming from behind your radio and/or you detect a faint smell of seafood, your capacitors have leaked. You'll have to buy a new computer for your car. These are just a few cases that I can think of. It may just be a bad harness connector to your radio. Have all the easy things checked first. Most likely, your problem is something simple, and will require an easy fix. Have your electrical connections checked by a qualified technician. Good luck! |