Anyone here any good with Auto-Electrics?

Question

Hi All, I have a 1993 Vauxhall Cavalier GLS 2.0i.
The electrics have gone on the blink. I came out one morning and ALL the elecrics were dead.
I re-charged the battery, but when I put it back on the ignition light would come on without me putting the key in.
When I do turn the key, the other lights come on, but the battery light goes out.
It starts and runs, but I'm afraid to drive it anywhere incase I get stranded.
When I'm not using it, I have to take one of the battery terminals off to stop the battery discharge.

Any ideas what this is please??

Pete.

Answer 1

What you had was a dead battery. When you turn the key, the battery light should go out.
This is what you need to do. Im assuming the vauxhall cavalier 2.0 has the same 2.0 in the chevrolet cavalier. Pop the hood, and look for a little black box that says "diagnostics". Open it up, and there are going to be a series of holes. take a paperclip, and stick one end in "ECU" and the other end in "GND". Then get in your car and turn the key to "ACC" . DONT START IT, just turn it to ACC. THen if you have any problems, your Check Engine Light will flash. Count the number of flashes.
Then go here if they flash, and it will tell you what you need.
http://www.auto-diagnostic-codes.com/Petrol-Engine/European/Vauxhall-Opel-Fuel-Injection.html
**EDIT**
And to the poster that said take it to a mechanic. The entire point of this person asking the question was so they didnt have to take it to a mechanic. If 5 people give the same answer, your going to be wasting money taking it to a mechanic, because 99.99% of the time, the mechanic is gonna tell you the same thing!

Answer 2

You replace the ignition switch. A bad switch is the only thing that could make the ignition light come on with the key off, and that would drain the battery in time.

Answer 3

i own a repair shop,and i have seen them do this before,it was the alternator that caused it on a couple of ones that i have worked on,,and after you run it for a while it seems to be ok,,but you might want to take it by a local garage,,and have it checked real good,they have tester they can hook up t it,and tell you if ts going out or if it might be the battery going bad,,that light shouldn't have come on just from hooking the cables up,good luck with it,i hope this help,s.

Answer 4

take it to a mechanic


they'll fix it