FIL's Zafira Problems

[cobra kid]

He phoned me this evening as he has various lights flashing on the dash and the rev counter is acting erratically.

I got him to get me some ECN codes and these are as follows;

210300
210870
50071

Could a faulty alternator or charging circuit cause electrical issues like this? He says the engine cranks and runs fine.

59 plate 1.6 petrol by the way.

Any thoughts?

Cheers.

[paolow]

cobra kid said:

He phoned me this evening as he has various lights flashing on the dash and the rev counter is acting erratically.

I got him to get me some ECN codes and these are as follows;

210300
210870
50071

Could a faulty alternator or charging circuit cause electrical issues like this? He says the engine cranks and runs fine.

59 plate 1.6 petrol by the way.

Any thoughts?

Cheers.

Hmmm.

I will start by saying I am no expert - but that combination smells of a basic electrical issue rather than a more significant mechanical problem. It is my understanding that your ECU can store fault codes so you may be getting some false problems the engine may have already tried to overcome (or been in a position to do so).
First step - clear the fault codes - if you can - with an OBD scanner and drive it till a fault occurs. then interrogate again and see what that throws up. Last thing you want to be doing is chasing false issues.

[cobra kid]

paolow said:

Hmmm.

I will start by saying I am no expert - but that combination smells of a basic electrical issue rather than a more significant mechanical problem. It is my understanding that your ECU can store fault codes so you may be getting some false problems the engine may have already tried to overcome (or been in a position to do so).
First step - clear the fault codes - if you can - with an OBD scanner and drive it till a fault occurs. then interrogate again and see what that throws up. Last thing you want to be doing is chasing false issues.

I agree to be honest.

I have asked him to look under the bonnet to make sure there are no obvious things such as loose belts, bad battery connections etc.

They live 60 miles away so I'm sort of doing this remotely.

[BFG TERRANO]

Might sound silly but the battery might be on its way out, plays hell with electrics. I had electrical issues with an 07 Vectra SRi company car. In the end a new battery sorted it.

[lescombes]

+1 with the Battery...on leccy laden cars these days, when the battery is a little tired... they can "assist" the ECU to throw a wobbly...

As examples.. A pals Focus diesel was chucking headlight bulbs weekly..and strange MIL and other warning lights... a new battery solved it... her indoors was off to work in her C3 and it threw the ignition light and a couple of beeps... checked it over..no codes but battery is 8 years old and a new one has sorted it..

I would do as advised... get the codes cleared and check again when and if any lights come on...and go from there...