[Help] Car Electrics Experts - Recommendations

[Westdene Seagull]

Mrs WS' Mazda MX5 is doing weird and random things with the electrics - drivers door sometimes not unlocking, passenger seat seat belt alarm randomly going off with nobody or anything on the seat and lights on the dash coming on randomly and then going off.

Loathed though I am to use a dealership I contacted Brighton Mazda. Unbelievably they don't have any Mazda technicians on the books so can't help ( not sure where that leaves people that actually buy a car from them ! ).

Can anyone recommend a local (Hove or Brighton) car electrics expert ? Thank you in advance.

 

[Coldeanseagull]

That bloke from Tuneup knows his stuff, Stephen I think his name is...also he's mobile so he'll come to you

 

[World of Sport]

Cut yer losses fella
webuyanycar.com
Buy her something reliable

 

[thedonkeycentrehalf]

No idea if they are any good but there is an independent MX5 specialist up at Scaynes Hill - they may be able to help - http://hooterscountrygarage.co.uk/mazda-specialist-sussex/

 

[wellquickwoody]

Mmmm, intermittent electrical fault, absolutely nothing worse on a motor vehicle.

Do not over invest in monetary terms. Spend as much time as you are comfortable wasting then get rid if there seems no logical conclusion.

 

[Coldeanseagull]

Mmmm, intermittent electrical fault, absolutely nothing worse on a motor vehicle.

Do not over invest in monetary terms. Spend as much time as you are comfortable wasting then get rid if there seems no logical conclusion.

Failing that, get rid of the car instead!

 

[Eric the meek]

Have you tried the MX5 owners club?

Central locking issues 2011 MX-5 - driver side door not working.

forum.mx5oc.co.uk

Often you just need to speak to the right person, or put a plea for help out on the right forum. Faulty sensors are often fixed with a new one.

Good luck.

 

[Justice]

It’s often a ground fault meaning the negative side of the battery may be lose or where it bolts onto the car body may have become loose. I only say that as you have many faults and not one in particular.

Of course I may be wrong although it’s something to check out. Another thing you can try is disconnecting the battery for a while and it may reset the PCB.

 

[Cotton Socks]

First thing I'd check is the earth wire & clean the battery terminals. Has anyone put in any 'after market' stuff like a radio or camera? Electrical faults are a nightmare to fix as it usually needs to be doing one of the random things while it's being looked at. Without wishing to alarm you, there is now a fire extinguisher in the vehicle I go in because of an electrical fault. Like your wife's it was intermittent and doing strange things. It liked to lock you out completely sometimes, immobilise the engine. Dashboard lights just going completely crazy along with the rev counter and speedo whilst stationary. Radio & clock resetting etc. Ignition switch was changed, helped for a while but then it started doing the weird stuff again. As others have said, set a budget for it or time taken to identify the fault. 2 mechanics said they wouldn't even start to look for the fault. We 'think' the fault is fixed now but it's not trustworthy anymore.

 

[WATFORD zero]

My first questions would be how old is it and how many miles are on the clock ? Because you're answer may be here before it starts getting complicated (and expensive)

 

[AIT76]

Whilst 'just get a new car' is the sort of helpful advice normally dished out on Mumsnet, in the case of electrical problems it's often the only solution.

I had a low mileage, well cared for Ford Ka and one day the odometer on the dashboard started flashing. Couldn't find an explanation or fix online. Also from then, the battery wouldn't hold a charge.

That particular model shared it's chassis, engine and electrics with the Fiat 500. Ford told me it needed to go to Fiat to be diagnosed, Fiat told me their machine wasn't compatible with the Ford interface...

A couple of independents gave me a 'go away' quotes for a diagnostic and the one that did look at it told me it 'might' be the telematic unit (£1200) and that would 'probably' fix it.

It ended up going to an auction, which was galling as otherwise it was a perfectly good car.

 

[Westdene Seagull]

My first questions would be how old is it and how many miles are on the clock ? Because you're answer may be here before it starts getting complicated (and expensive)

A 2014 plate with about 26k on the clock so I'm not keen to get rid of it.