Satan Must Live In My Civic!

[sm02]

Ok you guys, I posted this in another area, but I think I should have it in here too. I drive a 92 civic ex sedan. For everything you see below, they were broken when I was alone, and when I wanted someone else to see it, it worked in front of them and would prove me to be a liar!

The first weird thing happened about 2 years ago. My dash lights went off, and only came back on when it felt like it. That game went on for about a year, and then one day, the engine (and lights) started playing an on and off again game while I was driving down the road! So I brought it in and the Honda mechanic played with it for 2 weeks! They couldn't figure out what went wrong, so they changed the computer. Well, the engine no longer flickered it's power on and off, but the dash lights were still out. They told me I'd have to order a new dash switch. I haven't gotten around to that yet. So, I have just been reaching up and turning on the interior overhead light to see my speed at night. Soooooooooo, about a month ago, I'm doing my little thing, when suddenly I go to get in my car one night, and when I open the door, the interior light didn't come on. So I'm thinking, "hmm, this ought to be an interesting ride home!" I couldn't manually turn the thing on, and the stupid dash lights were out, of course. Here I am, riding in total darkness, praying that the fricking HEADLIGHTS don't start wigging out on me too! That would be the next big electric issue. I used my cellphone's light to set my cruise just to make sure I wasn't going 40 miles over the limit (can't afford a ticket at this very moment, and no cop would believe me about my insane light situation). Ok, so I survived the ride, and every other night ride after that. Then, a ummm, week ago, it was raining. I was in my driveway. I turned the wipers on intermittent (spell check), and instead of giving me one little wipe, and then stopping, they went haywire! The wipers were on super-high speed and I couldn't get them to stop!!! I turned the switch off, and they were still going at it! I had to turn the car off. I restarted and it was fine for the rest of that day. The next day, it was sunny outside. The wipers had been off since the day before, and all was well. Well, sort of. I started my car, with the wipers obviously set to OFF, and they did it!! Like lunatics, my windshield wipers were scratching away at my dry glass and all I could do was turn the car off. Ok, so that was the last of that. I've driven a lot since then, and the wipers worked normally. Weird? Also, sometimes my overhead interior light works, sometimes it doesn't.

So, everything in my car works intermittently. The computer has been changed and is brand new. Could all of my other problems be the dash switch? I just brought her to the Honda place 3 days ago, and they are telling me that the only problem they have seen since were the dashlights not coming on! The wipers and the interior light have been behaving normally!!! Of course, the car makes me out to me a liar! Just like the engine-death. It ran every time the mechanic drove it! He drove it every day for a long time before finally he got what he wanted and the engine flickered on, off, on, off, on, off........

There used to be an after-market keyless entry system in it, installed in a weird way by someone in the early 1990's. They took that out for me, and their main old-Honda-problem-man "rewired" the whole car "correctly", since apparently it was done in an "on crack" manner the first time. So, the keyless entry is gone, and there isn't anything else except for my sound system in the car. I am hoping that this all has to do with the dash switch and not the after-market stuff. Because there is a HUGE bundle of wires under the steering wheel that looks intimidating!!!! Plus, the stereo stays, end of story!! I'd rather have a genious come and rewire it again than have to sacrific all the amenities I have in life!!! The sound system doesn't affect the headlights or anything else. I think it's in there right.

Anyone ever had issues like these? If so, did you fix it yourself? I don't know anyone good at 92 Honda wiring, so I have no choice but to be robbed by the dealership! If anyone can give me any advice, shoot! Oh yeah, and I am not trading in my car. I want it fixed! Hey, if the dealership gives it back to me, broken, and tells me that the devil is in my car (which is what they said the 1st time they've dealt with it's wiring), could anyone point me in the direction of how to find someone who can fix electric stuff??? I know this is tough. So far it has baffled every specialist who's looked at it, even the one who's looking at it again this week.

Ok so, recap:

Dash lights off and on, then off for good (over the course of 3 years)
Engine stops, along with all lights, off and on again
New computer installed, engine problem was solved
Open door one night, light doesn't work anymore
Light works
Doesn't work
Works
Doesn't work
Is working for the mechanic as we speak! issed:" class="inlineimg" />
Wipers gone wild
Wipers are normal in front of family, friends, and mechanics

All of these things took 3 years to develop, so I'm really not being bombarded by my little car. It's just coming at me little by little. I love my car, and it looks like it did the day it came out of the factory in 92. I want it to act new too!

Thanks you guys!

[Toyz-B-Us]

It can be many things for your problems, but I can tell you what the most likely cause for things.

Dash lighs need a new dimmer switch-I may have one for sale
Dome light issue is more than likely your door trigger not grounding all the time
Wiper switch is causing your wiper issue and is easier to replace than it looks

[sm02]

But the light sometimes doesn't come on when I manually flip the switch. hmmm...

[Specter]

you have a ground issue. somewhere along the circut there is a corodded or disconnected ground and the power from another system is backfeeding throught it. [hence the wipers not stopping]

this may sound wierd.. but try this first. clean your ground terminal on your batt... if nothing happens then chech the ground for the dashlights. [or whatever system started to act wrong first.]

basically electricity NEEDS and will find a ground, no matter what it has to go throught to get there. so it'll "backfeed" throught another system in order to get to ground. thus making something work that was not supposed to.

trust me on this one.

[sm02]

Specter, I do trust you on this one. I don't know a damn thing about cars, sadly I don't know how to clean anything on my battery without somehow finding a way to kill myself in the process!!! And how do I check the groud? EEEKKK!!!!!!!!!

Checking the ground for something.....does that require that little tool that looks like mini jump chords attatched to a digital thing? If so, I have a friend who does sound systems and he has one of those. But he's pretty busy and I hate to inconvenience anyone. Plus, his is probably different. I don't know! I am pleading for any and all knowledge on this stuff, because I am a young female and I am CONSTANTLY being bombarded with stupid lies that these mechanics/customer reps think they are feeding me. For example, my car was in the shop all last week. I went there yesterday and spoke to a woman in that department who basically answers the phones and walks 10 yards over to the garage to chat with the mechanics. Mature lady. So, I'm a dumb kid right? So, when I ask them why they haven't gotten around to working on my car yet, she tells me it's because they would need to work with it after dark due to the daylight imparing their ability to check the lights. And who has time to stay at the shop til 9 o'clock just to test my lights? Right? I said, "why don't you just close the garage doors so that it would be dark enough for your guys to prove to themselves that the lights are out?" She-after pausing for a moment- said, with blinking, lying eyes, "oh.....ahem....yes, well, that COULD work, but the lights in there are like these", she points up to the flourescents above our heads, "and they are just SO bright, that it's practically like daylight in there".

I'm like, "ok just give me my keys and my car". I decided I would like my car to go to someone who might know how to flip the shop light switch and analize my shit. I don't know a thing about cars, but I do know how bad a liar some can be. Like, "oh my god! These shop lights are so bright! Now we'll NEVER be able to fix broken dash lights because we can't see them! Lord, please send a storm to grant us no electricity in order to have total darkness for fixing dash lights".

By far, the stupidest thing I've ever heard in my life.......

So, if I can guard myself with just a few simple words or suggestions, I might get something accomplished. When my car first spent it's weeks in the shop, I had to have a male voice call for me to get someone over to the vehicle and look at it. And all he said was, "has anyone looked at the red civic?" And the last time I needed a tired fixed, I knew the tire place was going to try to change it altogether (brand new tired). So, I suggested, "I believe there's something in it, so don't change it, just fix it". That's the first time I ever had a shop hand look me in the eye. Seriously. I was right too.

I'm sure there are some good guys out there who aren't dishonest like this. I wish I could find the decent ones in this area. I have to take my dad with me everywhere to get something done. That way, there is less gawking and my stuff gets fixed. Love you dad!

I made an appointment with another shop. It's for the 25th, and my parents just left for a trip, and won't be back for a month. That means, on the 25th I'm on my own.

So, perhaps I should suggest to try what you suggested, Specter? I swear, if I don't suggest something, the car will sit in the same place for weeks. It's happened to me twice already!

I LOVE how much you people know about this crap!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Come to my house and show me how to fix junk!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Specter]

where do you live? seriously i work for beer and sandwhich's

it's really hard to tell someone with little to no knowlage [no offence] how to preform complicated gremlen hunting... the best thing i can tell you is find a mechanic that you trust or a friend that has had at least two years of training in electricity... also a complete wireing/service manual is a good thing. i'll try to help with what i can but there are just so many things that could be the issue. however the easiest thing for you to do right now is look at your negitive batt. cable and see if you can see any "green crap" on it.

[sm02]

No offense taken, I admit that I know jack about my beloved car Everyone has a talent, cars aren't mine. I just called an ignition place with a good reputation in this area. I'm feeling hopeful about these guys, since everyone says they're the best at fixing electrical crap. There is a 3 week waiting list right now, and I'm on it!

Wouldn't ya know it? My interior lights have been working just fine! Ugh! I hate when things never break when I want them to. So help me god, they better be broken when I bring the car in.

But if they throw the car back at me and say they don't want to have anything to do with it (basically what the dealership has done 3 times, if you count that first visit when they gave it back thinking it was fixed and it died in the parking lot as I was leaving with my "fixed car"--the death part is over now though, so that's a plus). You wanna come fix it? You probably live on the other side of the continent from me though. I'm in---hate to admit it-----Louisiana. Don't start reading my posts with a twang! I live in a smallish city where we are surrounded by rednecks, yet we remain untouched by the influences of rusted trucks with 6 foot tall tires, country music, idiots, and accents. Hah, if anyone in here lives in Louisiana too, I'm sure you aren't offended and you actually feel the way I do. I'm moving as soon as I get out of college (and I haven't even started yet, lol). Nothing here to stay for. The people are just as big a pain in the ass as anywhere else, the weather is horrendously hot, we have had to evacuate---it seems----constantly lately for hurricanes, and there's no scenery, unless you consider flat land, trees, and mud a nice view. Wow, I'm ranting again..

Yeah anyway, if you lived close enough, I'd go stock up on your beer. That's very nice of you to offer! Where are you? Ha, probably either Maine or Oregon! If I had money, I would import you here via roundtrip plane ticket. Imported wire-fixer. Hell, when you're desperate it doesn't seem too far-fetched.

This forum is my favorite coffee activity in the mornings. I am on my second cup and I still can't see clearly. What's funny too is that I incorporate music into this daily ritual, and as I complain about where I live, I'm listening to Deftones---the song "Drive Far Away", where he talks about a town not feeling right and him wanting to be driven far away, haha. Hysterical.

PS. I shall check for green crap as soon as I get some clothes on and go outside.

[sm02]

Ok, I checked. One of the cables connected to my battery DOES has green stuff on it. The wires inside have been slightly exposed from under the rubber and the wires themselves have green crap.

What is it?

[Specter]

that is corroded copper

the little green devil that is making your car go nuts, if it's on the batt. then you can be damn sure that it's on every other ground connection on your car.

so to make things easy, yes your car has a ground issue.

and no i'm not that far away, i'm only in IL [1200 ish miles... but not as far as i could be]

tell this new shop exectly what you've said here and they should come to the same conclusion. electrical issues are a pain, so they may take a while to find it, considering there are about 30 grounds on your car and only one of them may be causing this... or two... or three... or all of them lol

[sm02]

Oh god, this is going to cost a lot isn't it? How hard would it be to just rip out all of my grounds and give me new ones? Probably enough for a new car, haha. Which I am not even considering....

So, this corrosion, it grows and travels doesn't it? UGH!!!!!!!