Electrical Issues (No radio or interior lights)

[Tubbs540]

Well this just started the other day.

I was driving home from a friends house, and it was raining/sleeting. I was on my way down the highway, and all of a sudden my radio turned off.. It wasn't just my ipod that stopped. Like the screen shut off, the whole thing shut off. Thought it was odd but continued on my way home. When i got home i took a closer look, and noticed that my dash clock was off as well. The two reading lights in the headliner and the dome light dont work as well. My keyless entry stopped working as well. I checked all the fuses in the whole car and they all are fine. The cluster lights and hvac lights and headlights and everything else works. Just not those things that i mentioned above. Now whats weird is that i have 2 gauges, an aem wideband and an aem tru boost. Both those gauges are wired into the clock wires for power. And the gauges work.... Totally lost here

Can anyone shed any light on the subject??

Car is a 02 wrx

Thanks guys

* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

[Cougar4]

Using a test light probe, use it to check the slits on top of each side of fuse 2 in the Main Panel under the hood. Verify power is getting to both sides of the fuse. Just looking at fuses isn't good enough and many people mistake a bad fuse for a good one on the first check. You wouldn't be the first to do that if that is the case. If that is ok then the wire lead after the fuse needs to be checked for a break in the connection.

[Tubbs540]

Okay. I did check all the fuses with a dmm. And today I went to get in my car. And everything was back on. Just completely randomly. All of last night nothing worked. The clock and all the lights worked again. I turned my radio on. And it would keep cutting in and out. Like it would turn on then turn off and back on. It wasn't due to bumps. Or anything of that sort. I tried shaking the wires and everything and nothing changed it. Seems that there is some sort of loose connection somewhere. It's just a matter of finding it now.

But as of right now it's dumping snow here so I guess this will have to wait till later.

[Cougar4]

From what you describe about the trouble it does sound like a bad connection. It may be in Main Panel under the hood. That would be the first place to check at least. Use a screwdriver handle to tap on suspected trouble spots like connectors while you are watching the lights or listening to the radio to see if that shows up the problem area.

[car_freak85]

I blew the fuse in the main panel under the hood a few times when trying to install a LED dome lamp.

You need to investigate the radio/illum. circuit for breaks, shorts, slit wires, pinches, wires pulled loose from their plastic molex housings.

If it isn't the fuse, get ready to hunt...

[Tubbs540]

But I hate hunting.

[Cougar4]

Originally Posted by Tubbs540

But I hate hunting.

All the more reason to check things in a logical order. My info shows a blu/red wire ties to fuse 2 in the main panel under the hood on connector F68 so verify power is getting to that wire. The problem might just be at that connector so reconnecting it may solve the problem. Use a screwdriver handle to tap on suspected trouble spots to see if that flushes out the trouble. I suspect the trouble is most likely at a connector. You would be wise to invest in a factory service manual for this and other problems that can come up. It will show where all the connectors are and how the wiring runs through the car.