dre271

This is really odd.

99 Acura CL 3.0

I was driving home and the Tachometer goes to 0 (no longer works) and the Brake light in the Dash comes on? If I shift the car into Neutral or Park, the Brake light on the dash goes off. The Tachometer still does not work. Any ideas on where to start troubleshooting?

This has really been a great car at 136K and the only thing I have had to replace is an EGR valve & window motor.

Help

dre271

Oh, I forgot,
1) Brake fluid & pressure are fine
2) Car is driving and shifting fine
3) Confused.

dre271

Ok, it gets better.

1) About a hour ago, the CL's car alarm starts going off, in the parking lot after it had been sitting for a while?!?
2) I started the car, and the Tac. starts dancing up and down (without the engine increase in rpms) and then goes back down to 0 while the engine is on?!?
3) I then try to open my hood, and it only partly releases, but will not allow me to open the hood - Some security issue!?! How do I open my hood now? Start the car, turned off, etc, but the hood will not completely release....

* I heard that this may be related to the alternator going bad? Any ideas?

AznX TL

your hood latch is probably old and a little bent, try pushing up not from the normal spot, but a little up the bar.

saiko_cl_duck

sounds like either battery terminal connections or an alternator. Do your lights dim off and on?

dre271

I believe I have 2 problems now (One problem created another side problem...):

1) Alternator is bad, which is causing my electrical system to act odd.

2) My Security System now has my hood on lock down, hood switch (electrical switch controled by the security system will not release). Your hood has a 2 stage release system
a) Stage 1 - Mechanical release
b) Stage 2 - Security Switch release
I cannot get past Stage 2, is there anyway to reset the security system? I would normally disconnect the battery, but that is not possible in the situation.... How does one reset the security system or clear it so that I can open my hood?

More info on the security issue: The car will not give the normal 'chrips' when locking with the FOB, it will lock the doors, but not give the happy seal chrip....

beancenzo

your battery is probably almost out of juice since your alternator is out. you'll have to get that fixed first then try to resolve the other issues

jam36a

But he needs to get his hood open first so that he can access his battery

Any ideas? I am interested in seeing where this thread goes...just in case it happens to one of us

dre271

Can't get the Hood Opened as it is locked by the security system. Is there a Kill Switch for the car, or the ability to disable the security system somewhere else besides under the hood? I would hate to take it to the dealer to have them pop the hood.

2) My Security System now has my hood on lock down, hood switch (electrical switch controled by the security system will not release). Your hood has a 2 stage release system
a) Stage 1 - Mechanical release
b) Stage 2 - Security Switch release
I cannot get past Stage 2, is there anyway to reset the security system? I would normally disconnect the battery, but that is not possible in the situation.... How does one reset the security system or clear it so that I can open my hood?


Any HELP!

dre271

Well the mystery has been figured out.

1) Mechanical Hood latch was bad, dealer charge $90 for the assembly and 1.5 hrs of labor. Took them a while to get the hood open. Turned out that the security hood latch switch was fine, as was the alternator.

2) Electrical issues were caused by the missing top cover that goes over top of the brake cylinder / firewall. It was raining on the day that all the electrical issues occurred and it is believed that water had gotten into the top of a switch assembly. Cover is back on that area now and dry with no electrical issues.

Thanks again for the help,
Cheers.

GhettoNinja06

iTrader: (1)

Holy crap! I would have ditched my car for haunted if it was doing that freaky shit! Glad you figured it out.

beancenzo

curious how the security system locks the hood? is that an add-on?

dre271

There is a hood switch that is already built into the existing system. The purpose is that when some breaks into your car, they don't have the ability to open the hood and disconnect your battery, thus disabling the security system while it is going off. In my case the hood switch was not being utilized, I just had a spattering of issues.

beancenzo

cool, thanks. i might test it out in an empty parking lot then.

AznX TL

i dont think there is one, i might try it. just roll down your window, lock your door and wait a few minutes then unlock it from the inside from the rolled down window and your alarm should be blaring, try to open your hood. from the way the latch is designed, i dont see any sort of safety device like that built in.

beancenzo

I don't understand it myself so thought I'd test it out. The problem is when/where to do it without looking like an idiot to other people