What the hell happened

matthewhotdude · 31 May 2011 at 10:29

Decided to go a nice ride to a beach in Wales yesterday, about 2 hours into the journey crusing along at 60mph all of a sudden the interior light comes on engine cuts out and all dials on the dash die!!! No lights come up on the dash, no engine management...nothing.

the red light was flashing though, not the engine management one, the central one that flashes once you have locked the door

So pulled over and restarted the car no problem, and managed to drive home another 2 hours with no problem.

Any ideas what could have caused this? Oh yes it's a 07 Fiesta ZS

MikeHiow · 31 May 2011 at 10:31

Sounds like an alarm/immobiliser glitch to me...

mrk · 31 May 2011 at 11:32

MikeHiow said:
Sounds like an alarm/immobiliser glitch to me...

I prefer the more exclusive and exciting explanation:

A) EMP Grendade
B) UFO

Or if you want to be xtra exclusive:

C) UFO with EMP grenade!

Brookert · 31 May 2011 at 11:38

Khaaan! said:
I prefer the more exclusive and exciting explanation:

A) EMP Grendade
B) UFO

Or if you want to be xtra exclusive:

C) UFO with EMP grenade!

i lol'd

but yes does sound like an immobiliser glitch. Think nothing of it unless it happens again.

Dutch Guy · 31 May 2011 at 12:14

Maybe a lightning strike?

I bet it was scary though, can you even steer without the steering wheel going into the steering lock?

matthewhotdude · 31 May 2011 at 12:19

Dutch Guy said:
Maybe a lightning strike?

I bet it was scary though, can you even steer without the steering wheel going into the steering lock?

I don't know luckily it was on a very straight road with no traffic around

Frozennova · 31 May 2011 at 12:24

Dutch Guy said:
Maybe a lightning strike?

I bet it was scary though, can you even steer without the steering wheel going into the steering lock?

providing the key is still in the I/II position in the ignition the steering lock won't engage

Danm54 · 31 May 2011 at 12:30

My mates 206 used to do that, that was immobiliser issues with just the occasional EMP grenade, he used to keep them in the boot and the damn things kept going off!!

Thing is you lose most of your braking ability and get very heavy steering so id imagine its quite scary if you're not expecting it!!

tigerstyle · 31 May 2011 at 12:50

Dutch Guy said:
Maybe a lightning strike?

I bet it was scary though, can you even steer without the steering wheel going into the steering lock?

Think you'd have to remove the keys from the ignition to do that.

I had it happen once in my old Polo, but I put that down to water in the electrics as it happened 15 minutes after jetwashing the engine bay, never did it again after that episode though, fixed itself within 5 minutes of waiting.

phil675 · 31 May 2011 at 13:03

This happened to me when I had a Fiat Brava but it turned out that the battery positive terminal was loose. Turning a 90 degree corner in town while going down a hill with no power steering was.. interesting.

nutcase · 31 May 2011 at 21:21

What jumps out at me is the interior light coming on, seems bizzare, do modern cars do that with imobilisers?

If it's not normal behaviour, I'd be looking at earth connections as it might be tracking back through the interior lamp to earth instead of its proper route?

Mud · 31 May 2011 at 22:12

nutcase_1uk said:
What jumps out at me is the interior light coming on, seems bizzare, do modern cars do that with imobilisers?

If it's not normal behaviour, I'd be looking at earth connections as it might be tracking back through the interior lamp to earth instead of its proper route?

I don't know, but it would be logical...the car's way of saying "look who's trying to nick me!" :eek:

Brookert · 31 May 2011 at 22:13

nutcase_1uk said:
What jumps out at me is the interior light coming on, seems bizzare, do modern cars do that with imobilisers?

If it's not normal behaviour, I'd be looking at earth connections as it might be tracking back through the interior lamp to earth instead of its proper route?

Maybe if the car suspects skullduggery, it puts the light on to catch the fiend!!

wez130 · 1 Jun 2011 at 15:18

I had a 2003 Mondeo that this happened on a couple of times, scary times! No idea what caused it though.

andrewdodd13 · 1 Jun 2011 at 15:28

nutcase_1uk said:
What jumps out at me is the interior light coming on, seems bizzare, do modern cars do that with imobilisers?

If it's not normal behaviour, I'd be looking at earth connections as it might be tracking back through the interior lamp to earth instead of its proper route?

Mine turns the light on by itself when:
- You first unlock it with the fob (to help you get in); this then goes off when the ignition is started.
- You switch the car off (to help you get out).

And of course when you open the doors.

nutcase · 1 Jun 2011 at 20:25

New fangled contraptions being clever

Next thing you know you'll be able to unlock cars with a button instead of actually putting the key in the door

Uriel · 1 Jun 2011 at 21:57

Something like that happened to my old Fabia a few years back. Never recurred. Never knew what caused it.

davy89 · 2 Jun 2011 at 10:06

Not sure what car you've got (and can't be assed to read all the other comments

) but that flashing light is the immobaliser on my clio 172. Frustratingly I'm having a similar problem with it flashing and not starting first turn of the key sometimes. Thankfully it's not cut out while driving though!! Sounds like it may of stopped recognising the key for a split second? :confused:

lordrobs · 2 Jun 2011 at 11:50

nutcase_1uk said:
What jumps out at me is the interior light coming on, seems bizzare, do modern cars do that with imobilisers?

If it's not normal behaviour, I'd be looking at earth connections as it might be tracking back through the interior lamp to earth instead of its proper route?

Many cars put the light on when you pull the key out or switch the engine off. If the immobiliser thought the key had been removed then I can see why the interior light would come on.