Odd electrical occurrence

[wuzzzer]

2 years ago when I bought my SHO, on the coldest winter day the battery froze solid. The fluid in it was no longer fluid anymore.
At that time, a few days before it completely froze, while I was listening to the radio it switched over to trying to play a tape, then switched back to AM radio. When I tried pushing the 'FM' button, it wouldn't switch at all. The only thing I could listen to was AM or CD. Then, a few mornings later when I went to start my car for work, nothing. I remember at the time that the climate control was also messed up. A new battery fixed the problem...

Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago. Driving to work, pulling into my parking spot, listening to a CD, all of a sudden it switched over to tape. Great, here we go again. Climate control was messed up, too. It displayed the Celsius 'C' but the numerical display was still in Fahrenheit. Also, the heater wouldn't turn off when I pressed 'Off.' I turned the car off, restarted it, and even though nothing displayed on the climate control, the heater still came on. This time I was able to turn it off by pressing the 'Off' button. And, as before, it wouldn't let me listen to any FM stations. We had experienced a very cold 2 weeks here, and my car was only used driving to and from work, a distance of about 3-4 miles each way. So, it didn't have a lot of time to warm up.
Well, fortunately the weather has warmed up. That and a combination of unhooking the battery overnight and resetting the engine's computer has brought everything back to normal.
My question is, has anyone else had this happen to them when their battery is going out or in very cold weather? Also, why wouldn't it let me switch to FM at all?

As a P.S., can anyone tell me the proper procedure for resetting the car's idle after the battery has been disconnected?
Thanks!

 

[SHODWN]

Mark it has to do with something in the trunk. That is where the radio is located. Mine did the same thing all the time when it was driven when it was cold. I even had the radio shut off on me when I put it in reverse!! Weird

It stopped last year (well hasnt done it yet) and the only thing done differently was the addition of an AMP in the trunk. I had to move all the wires to find the 12v switched feed for the remote turn on. Since I moved the wires the problem has not come back, and seeing the the radio and reverse lights are all routed in the same harness - I figure the connection is there thats was/.is messed up.

Pulling the radio fuse, the one in the pass compartment and reinstalling it solved it instantly. for a temp fix.

 

[SHOZ123]

If the battery froze solid it is because it was discharged and the specific gravity of the electrolyte was near that of water. Or in other words all the acid was in converted and bound to the plates. Leaving behind mostly water.

To set the idle

1. idle in park for a few

2. idle in drive for a few

3 while idling in drive turn on the A/C MAX for a few

4. move to park with the A/C MAX on and idle for a few more.

<small>[ January 31, 2003, 02:13 AM: Message edited by: SHOZ123 ]</small>

 

[Fast 3.4]

I'm confused...does the idle become erratic after unplugging the batt???

<small>[ January 31, 2003, 09:05 AM: Message edited by: Fast 3.4 ]</small>

 

[SHOZ123]

Yes the idle will be a bit on the high side but the car learns the correct speed soon on it's own. It really only takes a minute to go through the idle learn drill though.

 

[wuzzzer]

Thanks Paul!

 

[wdnitro]

I'm having a little idle problem with mine now also. After driving for a bit a putting it into park the idle will crawl up to about 2K RPM. The only way to get it back down is shutting it off. Also sometimes after driving and putting in park the idle will revup and down from 600-900? ANYONE ELSE HAVING THIS PROBLEM?

 

[projectSHO89]

wdnitro,

Your problem indicates a vacuum leak. This might also be cause by the IAB valve.

Steve

 

[wdnitro]

replace the part? I need to try the idle reset precess first. I'll try at lunch today. I'll keep you posted.