Vectra Electrical Problem

VectraDon · 08-21-2006, 03:28 PM

Today my 2004 Vectra died in the middle of a major highway! No electricity, no hazard lights, no movement. Just sitting in the middle of the road. 911 to the rescue. After 20 minutes and just before the tow arrived, it started. Off the road safely. Turned on the headlights - died again. Waited 10 minutes, started, drove to garage. The mechanic said the primary battery ground - to chassis- was rusted and didn't look good. He cleaned it off added new hardware, thightened everything and set me home. Solved? I don't know.

Does this sound familiar to anyone?

VectraDon · 08-21-2006, 03:28 PM

Today my 2004 Vectra died in the middle of a major highway! No electricity, no hazard lights, no movement. Just sitting in the middle of the road. 911 to the rescue. After 20 minutes and just before the tow arrived, it started. Off the road safely. Turned on the headlights - died again. Waited 10 minutes, started, drove to garage. The mechanic said the primary battery ground - to chassis- was rusted and didn't look good. He cleaned it off added new hardware, thightened everything and set me home. Solved? I don't know.

Does this sound familiar to anyone?

glenda1908 · 08-21-2006, 05:06 PM

We have your same coach. Never had something like that happen though. Sounds like the battery issue was the problem. At least that seemed to fix the problem. Have you had an opportunity to use it again to see if things were okay?

VectraDon · 08-22-2006, 04:05 PM

We haven't driven far yet but everything seems OK. A long trip later this week will be the true test. I'll report when we get back.

VectraDon · 08-23-2006, 03:22 PM

Getting ready for a trip. Sitting in the yard all clean and preped. All seems well until I turn on the headlights. ENGINE DIES. Start again, directionals...Engine dies.

Called Freightliner. "Could be the headlight control module" Appointment for service a week away.

To be continued ...

rebelsbeach · 08-23-2006, 03:52 PM

Don, I owned a 2006 Vectra for six months....turn signal cams got so I could activate and cancel them with the ICC headlight switch on the steering wheel...When I used turn signals the NAV screen brightened and then dimmed...
Keep plugging along and you'll have a good coach one day.

VectraDon · 09-21-2006, 05:37 PM

Well, the problem has been solved. Bolted to the chassis, is a 135 amp circuit breaker. This circuit breaker is on the line between the battery pack and the starter and front-end electrics. Mine was badly corroded, rusty and shorted out. It's worth taking a look at and spraying with an anti-corrosive. I found it behind the left compartment with the shore power/inverter equipment. Too bad they didn't put it in a location not exposed to water, dirt and salt (I live in the Northeast).

What I've learned from this is - more attentio need to be given to cleaning the places you can't see, adding rust proofing, and spraying anti-corrosion spray on most of the undercarriage of the Vectra.

What you can't see - WILL HURT YOU!

cbeierl · 09-21-2006, 06:26 PM

Hi Don,

Any chance of taking a picture of that circuit breaker and its location?

VectraDon · 09-24-2006, 10:25 AM

I'll try to attach a couple I took to this note. Hope it works. I found my circuit breaker behind the compartment that houses the shore power reel.

Sorry It won't paste into this document. I can email it to you if you like. [email protected]
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by cbeierl:
Hi Don,

Any chance of taking a picture of that circuit breaker and its location? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

rebelsbeach · 09-24-2006, 11:25 AM

Don,
If you would upload your pic to the internet you could then post it here...

If you have no way of posting a pic to the internet we have a free photo gallery which you can join and then upload the photo....Once it's uploaded all you do is copy and paste the photo's URL..

Many folks that join our photo site simply use the same login and password you use for the forums.

Hope that helps!