E39 Electrical Gremlins

[Kinky]

In the past 2 weeks or so I've had some odd electrical issues .... they're all minor, but I wonder if they're leading up to something bigger.

I've had the car for about 3 or 4 years now, and never had a problem, except for an ignition switch problem (original thread here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... ).

It started with the alarm system going off, for no obvious reason. It's done this 3 times. The 1st 2 times when it has gone off the indicators also flash. Today it went off again - but this time no indicators.

The drivers window goes down OK - but is intermittent going up.

When the windscreen wipers are on the intermittent setting - say for example to wipe every 5 seconds - it will wipe twice in sucession, then not wipe for 10 seconds - then will be normal. And every so often it will double-wipe.

In addition, although I'm not sure it's relevant (although odd), is that I get the steering wheel wobble when driving, up to about 60 mph. The obvious thought is dodgy tyre, pressure, or unbalanced wheel - but it's intermittent.

And finally - my MPG has dropped in the same period. I can't explain it - but the revs don't seem to match what the engine, or fuel consumption meter is doing.

Any thoughts or guidance anyone?

Many thanks in advance,

K

[MarkwG]

Might be a failing battery? Mine mucked about in a similar fashion when I accidentally drained it. Alternatively, have you tried diconnecting the battery, leaving it +20minutes to completely reset? That sometimes works.

[paoloh]

Battery/Alternator??

[Kinky]

Thanks Marks and Paolo - 2 suggestions that it's battery related

To be honest, the battery is the last thing I'd have considered, as I fitted a 90ah about a year ago. The car get's a good daily run - so it's not a case of draining the battery daily. It's not throwing up any alternator/battery lights.

Ironically, I posted the wrong thread link above. The correct thread was here: http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...

Anyway - I'll disconnect the battery tomorrow afternoon (got an away rugby game in the morning - an hours drive away) and see how we go.

If it pitched down to Halfords - could they check the battery for me? I don't have a meter.

Thanks again - genuinely.

K

[paoloh]

Loose connection maybe on battery?

Had similar gremlins on an Audi, turned out to be loose battery terminal.

Good luck.

[miniman]

Agreed, battery, or perhaps ignition switch.

[Kinky]

I can't believe it's the ignition switch again - it's only a year old (or so).

I just can't believe the electrical shenanigans that seem to haunt me .... the Tiv, the Alfas.

When they started - I did check the same things that went wrong last time - and they're all ok - the radio, rear wiper, vanity lights, and horn!

I'll have a muck about tomorrow afternoon with the battery.

And a rear brake bulb went today as well - and a side-light on the Alfa

[paoloh]

Kinky said:

I can't believe it's the ignition switch again - it's only a year old (or so).

I just can't believe the electrical shenanigans that seem to haunt me .... the Tiv, the Alfas.

When they started - I did check the same things that went wrong last time - and they're all ok - the radio, rear wiper, vanity lights, and horn!

I'll have a muck about tomorrow afternoon with the battery.

And a rear brake bulb went today as well - and a side-light on the Alfa

The BMW has obviously caught Alfa disease....

[Kinky]

It all started with the Tiv

I'll have to fumigate the driveway and garage to get rid of the those gremlins. Does Mr. Muscle work?