Strange performance behavior - need advice.

Amethyste · 06-21-2008, 07:58 PM

Hey guys and gals...

All that I am describing here has happened over the course of one day...

2 times today, I started my smartie the same way as I have in the last 4 months. I turn on the key and wait for the computer to wake up: i fastened my seat belt and look at my dash display then I start the car... Twice today, I had a misfire, like the car 1/2 started and stahlled with the engine light on. Then i turned off the car buy removing the key and tried to re-start the car and it starts without any problem like that incident didnt happen before - and the engine check light is OFF. So this happened twice today....

THen, driving late tonight, I notices my headlights "flickering" more than usual. When I say more than usual I mean other than the normal intensity loss during shiftings. It was a lot even one time, I felt like I lost more than 50% of my headlight power in a nanosecond.

Also, my CD player totally stopped playing ( it sorta did a re-boot of some sort ) and started again twice today - all that ( twice again ) after doing an upshift.

Today, its extremely humid outside... I donno, I just feel that the alternator is not powerful enough to supply all that is required for the carto run at a certain eveness...

Any thoughts on this??? my dealer is 1 hour away and this is my only car, so I want to exhasperate all possibilities before I take a day off work to take it in... Not even sure that my dealer would be kind enough to give me a loaner.... URGH!

xcrew229x · 06-21-2008, 08:06 PM

In the bad old days that would almost certainly be a bad ground somewhere. With all the electronics onboard that's a trip to dealerville for me in this era.

Karl Roth · 06-21-2008, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amethyste

Hey guys and gals...

All that I am describing here has happened over the course of one day...

2 times today, I started my smartie the same way as I have in the last 4 months. I turn on the key and wait for the computer to wake up: i fastened my seat belt and look at my dash display then I start the car... Twice today, I had a misfire, like the car 1/2 started and stahlled with the engine light on. Then i turned off the car buy removing the key and tried to re-start the car and it starts without any problem like that incident didnt happen before - and the engine check light is OFF. So this happened twice today....

THen, driving late tonight, I notices my headlights "flickering" more than usual. When I say more than usual I mean other than the normal intensity loss during shiftings. It was a lot even one time, I felt like I lost more than 50% of my headlight power in a nanosecond.

Also, my CD player totally stopped playing ( it sorta did a re-boot of some sort ) and started again twice today - all that ( twice again ) after doing an upshift.

Today, its extremely humid outside... I donno, I just feel that the alternator is not powerful enough to supply all that is required for the carto run at a certain eveness...

Any thoughts on this??? my dealer is 1 hour away and this is my only car, so I want to exhasperate all possibilities before I take a day off work to take it in... Not even sure that my dealer would be kind enough to give me a loaner.... URGH!

have the dealer do a load test on your battery willing to bet yours may be going away. mine no longer dims on upshifts like it would do pror to it getting repaced when it died. A local shop could check it but they won't fix under the warranty... let us know what you find out good luck
karl

Amethyste · 06-21-2008, 08:16 PM

Karl, You are saying that my battery may be dieying already? how is this possible? It's brand new

wahi · 06-21-2008, 08:21 PM

"Battery's in a brand new car" means "the car's brand new, not the battery"...

Karl Roth · 06-21-2008, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amethyste

Karl, You are saying that my battery may be dieying already? how is this possible? It's brand new

Mine quit last week or so, Happens smart has a slightly larger battery as a replacement get it checked as soon as you can getting towed in is no fun.
karl
my dealer does not provide loaners, the job takes less than an hour depending on when you can get in it should be half a day for you.
sorry no better news for you

Amethyste · 06-21-2008, 08:33 PM

THank you - I will call Monday to schedule something... I hope this is not the beginning og more problems to come... I just started a new job and taking time off surely doesnt look too good... :P

Karl Roth · 06-21-2008, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Amethyste

THank you - I will call Monday to schedule something... I hope this is not the beginning og more problems to come... I just started a new job and taking time off surely doesnt look too good... :P

The battery has been the only unscheduled stop so far in 5k miles. good luck with yours and the new gig.
karl

SuperGeek · 06-21-2008, 09:32 PM

Autozone, NAPA and O'Reilly can do a battery and alternator load test without a trip to the dealer, on any other car... is there anything unique about the smart that they would need to know to prevent damage to onboard systems?

Amethyste, you might be able to take the car in for a free battery check tomorrow and not miss any work. They may even charge it up for you if it's just low on a charge and your alternator's on the fritz. That'll last you another day or two, optimistically. If the battery or alternator comes up as bad, get it fixed at the dealer. Drive with all accessories turned off if possible, especially AC. AC triggers the electric radiator fan more often.

Battery problems are among the most common and simplest to fix, and with all the onboard electronics they can trigger a dozen warning lights, CD player problems, everything you describe.

Amethyste · 06-22-2008, 06:59 AM

THank you all for taking the time to reply.

I am going to VIP Auto in a few and have them run some tests... i'll post my results here later on the day...