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drewprops
Space Pirate
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Atlanta
 
2006-07-01, 21:53

Hey guys, I need some help with one of my cars, an '03 Honda Accord.
A few weeks ago my built-in radio/temperature display went out. I checked around and found out that it's a widespread problem with that model. Then, this past Wednesday I noticed that my low beams had gone out. I decided to save some money and bought some replacement bulbs yesterday. This morning I went to replace them but in the process I flattened my front driver's side tire.

What I need to know is, does this have anything to do with my car's electrical system?

Steve Jobs ate my cat's watermelon.
Captain Drew on Twitter
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turtle
Lord of the Rant.
Formerly turtle2472
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Upstate South Carolina
 
2006-07-01, 21:56

Your tire should have nothing to do with the electrical system. Look for a nail or screw in your tire instead.

There is no connection from the tire to anything other than the rim. The rim is only connected to the car by four (I'm pretty sure) bolts. Nothing to connect the air pressure to the electrical system.

Louis L'Amour, “To make democracy work, we must be a nation of participants, not simply observers. One who does not vote has no right to complain.”
Visit our archived Minecraft world! | Maybe someday I'll proof read, until then deal with it.
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billybobsky
BANNED
I am worthless beyond hope.
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Inner Swabia. If you have to ask twice, don't.
 
2006-07-01, 21:59

(I think drewprops is drunk)
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ThunderPoit
Making sawdust
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Minnesota
 
2006-07-01, 22:00

nah, the flat tire is most likely due to a hole in the rubber :P
.....cricket chirps.......

ok, ok, enough with the wise cracking
were both headlights out on the low beams? and when you replaced them, did they turn back on with no problems? if they did, then i'd just say its a coincidence, if not, i'd start checking fuses and probably have it checked out
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turtle
Lord of the Rant.
Formerly turtle2472
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Upstate South Carolina
 
2006-07-01, 22:00



There could be a connection, you know, like in an H1...well sort of.

Last edited by turtle : 2006-07-01 at 22:13.
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Robo
Formerly Roboman, still
awesome
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Portland, OR
 
2006-07-01, 22:01

Quote:
Originally Posted by turtle2472
Your tire should have nothing to do with the electrical system. Look for a nail or screw in your tire instead.

There is no connection from the tire to anything other than the rim. The rim is only connected to the car by four (I'm pretty sure) bolts. Nothing to connect the air pressure to the electrical system.
Er, I think he's talking about the rest of his problems. He says he accidentally flattened the tire.
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ThunderPoit
Making sawdust
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Minnesota
 
2006-07-01, 22:01

dammit, i was too slow
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turtle
Lord of the Rant.
Formerly turtle2472
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Upstate South Carolina
 
2006-07-01, 22:01

Quote:
Originally Posted by ThunderPoit
nah, the flat tire is most likely due to a hole in the rubber :P
.....cricket chirps.......

ok, ok, enough with the wise cracking
were both headlights out on the low beams? and when you replaced them, did they turn back on with no problems? if they did, then i'd just say its a coincidence, if not, i'd start checking fuses and probably have it checked out
Note that most cars try not to put head lights on fuses but rather a thermal breaker. This way your lights will flicker rather than just go out.
  quote
ThunderPoit
Making sawdust
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Minnesota
 
2006-07-01, 22:04

ya, but he said he just lost his lowbeams, not all of his lights. fuses are usually the first thing i check when i have two unrelated electrical systems go out
but then again, im used to dealing with the electrical system on a 15 year old oldsmobile
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turtle
Lord of the Rant.
Formerly turtle2472
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Upstate South Carolina
 
2006-07-01, 22:07

So Drew, what are you asking for help with?

Did your low beam replacement work? Are you asking if your loss of low beam came from your electrical system? Heck, I thought you were wondering if your flat was caused by the electrical system.

Quote:
What I need to know is, does this have anything to do with my car's electrical system?
Yes, your low beams are connected to the electrical system and a surge or even worse and under-voltage might have blown them.

Louis L'Amour, “To make democracy work, we must be a nation of participants, not simply observers. One who does not vote has no right to complain.”
Visit our archived Minecraft world! | Maybe someday I'll proof read, until then deal with it.
  quote
drewprops
Space Pirate
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Atlanta
 
2006-07-01, 22:10

Damn,
Six replies??

Okay.
So, on my Accord, to gain access to the driver's side low beam bulb you have to:
  • turn the tires to the right
  • remove two interior fender well clips

So, the interior fender well liner is plastic and the two clips were being really difficult to remove because they would lean off to one side, away from where I was placing the flat blade of the screwdriver. So I tried using two screwdrivers, but that was pointless. Then I went inside to look for a tool that would give me two flat edges that I could slip under the head of the clip (think of it like the head of a nail). I happened across a pair of handheld shears that I use to cut up thick sheets of paper. It was perfect! I could just slip it around either side of the clip and pry away.

So I did.

And then it slipped.

Down. In a really quick and harmless arc.

An arc that ended in "shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hhh".

Yeah, right into my sidewall.

I mean, I hadn't even peed yet. I got up bright and early to knock this job out of the way and save some money. Five hours and many, many dollars later I had a new tire on my wheel and only just barely missed being late for the wedding I had to attend this evening.



Damned electrical system.

EDIT: the fuses were not blown, but both low beams were. I'm going to have to have them replace the entire head unit of the radio, hopefully on extended warranty.

Steve Jobs ate my cat's watermelon.
Captain Drew on Twitter
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turtle
Lord of the Rant.
Formerly turtle2472
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Upstate South Carolina
 
2006-07-01, 22:12

Well that sucks, glad you made your appointment though.
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Banana
is the next Chiquita
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
 
2006-07-01, 22:13

Quick!

Get yourself a lawyer and sue Honda's pant off! They MUST pay for this outrageous crime!

Seriously that was a WTF! design...
  quote
drewprops
Space Pirate
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Atlanta
 
2006-07-01, 22:14

I'm especially happy with the way that I constructed my original question to avoid the whole issue of me being an idiot....
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billybobsky
BANNED
I am worthless beyond hope.
 
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Inner Swabia. If you have to ask twice, don't.
 
2006-07-01, 22:14

I still stand by my conjecture that you are drunk.
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turtle
Lord of the Rant.
Formerly turtle2472
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Upstate South Carolina
 
2006-07-01, 22:16

Quote:
Originally Posted by drewprops
Damned electrical system.

EDIT: the fuses were not blown, but both low beams were. I'm going to have to have them replace the entire head unit of the radio, hopefully on extended warranty.
See if they'll replace your lights too, it's unlikely that they just went at the same time. Then again, how often do you use them? I would notice if I lost both of mine, though it sounds like you might not use them much.

Quote:
Originally Posted by drewprops
I'm especially happy with the way that I constructed my original question to avoid the whole issue of me being an idiot....

Louis L'Amour, “To make democracy work, we must be a nation of participants, not simply observers. One who does not vote has no right to complain.”
Visit our archived Minecraft world! | Maybe someday I'll proof read, until then deal with it.
  quote
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