Heh, my car is haunted!

[NYGarageQueen]

So I have this nice new shinny CCTV DVR unit in my office that I am bench testing (will be installed into a family's place over the weekend) - so I have it setup to some of my cameras on the outside of the house, one being directly focused on the car in the driveway.

So tonight, I was just using the search feature, going through making sure everything works - then I noticed something - my head lights are randomly turning on and off!

Whats more is, I have HIDs, so sometimes both of them would go on, other times the right one would go on, and stay on for a couple of seconds.

Well, I just saw this, so I went outside to go see what the hell is going on. Unlock the car, battery is dead.

Hooked up the charger, and it is throwing an error saying the battery is bad. I have it set to recondition it right now to see if that helps.

But the battery is less then a year old. Is it possible the battery just randomly took a crap like this? When I got into the car, all I heard was the LCM making a ticking noise, which I remember it doing that when it did not have a proper ground/battery was dead.

It was doing this from about 5 oclock on then just stopped. The car has not been started for a couple of days - could the battery just be bad from never getting a full driven charge (all I have been doing was starting her up, running her for 10 minutes, maybe driving just a bit, but I am doing work to her so no long drives).

I was just watching scary videos on you-tube :eek:

[fastblackmerc]

So I have this nice new shinny CCTV DVR unit in my office that I am bench testing (will be installed into a family's place over the weekend) - so I have it setup to some of my cameras on the outside of the house, one being directly focused on the car in the driveway.

So tonight, I was just using the search feature, going through making sure everything works - then I noticed something - my head lights are randomly turning on and off!

Whats more is, I have HIDs, so sometimes both of them would go on, other times the right one would go on, and stay on for a couple of seconds.

Well, I just saw this, so I went outside to go see what the hell is going on. Unlock the car, battery is dead.

Hooked up the charger, and it is throwing an error saying the battery is bad. I have it set to recondition it right now to see if that helps.

But the battery is less then a year old. Is it possible the battery just randomly took a crap like this? When I got into the car, all I heard was the LCM making a ticking noise, which I remember it doing that when it did not have a proper ground/battery was dead.

It was doing this from about 5 oclock on then just stopped. The car has not been started for a couple of days - could the battery just be bad from never getting a full driven charge (all I have been doing was starting her up, running her for 10 minutes, maybe driving just a bit, but I am doing work to her so no long drives).

I was just watching scary videos on you-tube :eek:

Yes, the battery is bad because starting the car and running for 10 minutes will not replace the energy expended starting the car. I'd suggest a nice long drive after recharging the battery. I'd suggest a battery tender.

[NYGarageQueen]

Yes, the battery is bad because starting the car and running for 10 minutes will not replace the energy expended starting the car. I'd suggest a nice long drive after recharging the battery. I'd suggest a battery tender.

Thought so, well after the new rad and fan go in today + doing the coolant burp correctly, I should finally be able to do that. Looks like first though, its to the store for another battery.

[musclemerc]

What type DVR is is?

[NYGarageQueen]

What type DVR is is?

Its one of those ebay no-names 4 channel DVRs. It does record in mpeg 4, had to throw a 500 gig HD in it. Works great for the application, they need to remote view to look at the shop to see who is working when they are not there.

[musclemerc]

It will do the job with mpeg4. They got a static IP or you doing port forwarding?

[NYGarageQueen]

It will do the job with mpeg4. They got a static IP or you doing port forwarding?

Going to have to do a little port forwarding and use dyndns so they have an easy to remember hostname to get to it. Luckily recently we installed a router in there for them, so I at least now have the availability of open ports and forwarding. Who ever set them up previously had their main pc hooked up directly to the modem, with no firewall (I don't even think windows firewall was activated :shake:)

[musclemerc]

Well sounds like your gonna take care of them.

[NYGarageQueen]

You bet!

I found the problem.. I went driving today and got out in front of the house and did a walk around, my headlights were on again! Got my probe out and noticed on the HID side harness, the low power wire was powered - which should not be when it is not connected to the car's harness. Turns out the stupid cheaply made relay fried and shorted out, keeping the lights on all the time.

Glad I caught that, back to regular bulbs now.

[musclemerc]

Go get yourself a good strong relay. I like using the 70amp truckers relays from Napa and just fuse them down to the amp load required.