2002 Suzuki Esteem Unknown electrical problem

2002 SUZUKI ESTEEM
97,000 MILES • 4 CYL • FWD • AUTOMATIC
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DAMOLITOY
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The car is a 2002 SUZUKI ESTEEM GL 1.8, sedan, automatic transmission.

Last winter, because of intense use, the heat blower stopped to work.

One week ago, I decided to go to a car repair because I really needed the A/C.

As I was thinking, the relay has failed. And the car repair made be pay 170$ to replace this 15$ relay.

However, when I took my car the day after, I noticed that the radio was not working anymore: it turned on but no sound was coming from the speakers...

I went back to the car repair and explained them that I was confused about that. They checked the wiring for like 1hr, and then told me everything was alright, but the radio is broken...

I took my car out of the car repair, and 1 miles away, I stopped the car... and it couldn't start again... battery light was on... I believe the mechanic put the A/C when he was checking the car...

So I got towed, and jump started... then I bought the best battery that fits my car.

Then my car started correctly...

However, two days after, the battery light turned on... I was thinking that the mechanic let the ceiling lamp of my car turned on so it has discharged the battery... so I bought a battery charger, and I charged completely the battery.

But now, the battery light is still on. And I have these weird behaviors:

- car cranks up correctly
- A/C + blower works fine
HOWEVER:
- no more headlights. I have permanent headlights so they should be always on. If I put the headlight lever in the on position, they switch on though... Other lights are working fine.
- wipers runs VERY SLOWLY
- and of course, no radio...

Conclusion: to me, there is a lack of power from the battery... maybe coming from a dysfunctional alternator? BUT, I have charged my battery to the maximum so I shouldn't have these issues for at least a few hours, right?

Please help me, this car is driving me crazy.

Thank you very much.
Jul 12, 2010 at 1:01 PM
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DAMOLITOY
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Update: this morning, I was on the highway at high speed... I got a loss of power...
then I exit the highway... The rpm needle dropped to 0, but the engine was still running... the Airbag light turned on... Very little power...

Once in my office, I stopped the car and try to start it again... nothing happened...
Jul 13, 2010 at 8:47 AM
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SATURNTECH9
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First of all thank you so much for your donation.First thing your going to have to do is charge your battery fully.Do you have a multimeter?If you do have a multimeter after you charge the battery fully start it up let it idle put the meter on dc volts 12 volt or higher scale and see what the the voltage is at the battery cable's.Let me know and we will go from there that is are starting point.
Jul 13, 2010 at 12:38 PM
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DAMOLITOY
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Hi saturntech9,

I did what you have asked:

- after charge: 12.1 V
- while engine running: 12.0 V

I guess it means the alternator is dead?

What can I do?

Thanks
Jul 13, 2010 at 3:12 PM
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SATURNTECH9
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Looks like it's go to be the wiring to the alternator or the alternator itself.I emailed you testing the alternator and replacing the alternator.Let me know what you find.
Jul 13, 2010 at 5:25 PM
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DAMOLITOY
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Thank you very much. However, I did'nt feel like I could do it myself so I brought it to the car repair... He changed the alternator and everything works fine now. Except the radio.

As I said before, radio turns on, I can seek for channels and everything, but there is just no sound. So I doubt that it is broken...

I would like to have a look and then to replace it myself. I can begin to pop up the plastic dash, but it seems like the heater "directionnal buttons" (face, feet,...), that have individual green LED, are attached to the dash? I'm affraid to brake them if I pull the dash, how can I proceed?
Jul 16, 2010 at 11:19 AM
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SATURNTECH9
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Glad to hear your car is up and running again.First thing i would check is fuse 26 in the inside fuse box and fuse 8 in the under hood fuse box it show's both of those in the radio wire diagram.I emailed you the radio wire diagram.I tried to find radio removal in mitchell ondemand for your car which we use to give out information for repair's and it wasn't in there.I even tried to look up other thing's that might have listed the radio there just wasn't anything on it.So we will have to just wing it.As far as those leds there should be a connector to unplug them possibly on the back of them or they have a pigtail coming off them that unplugs or they unsnap out of the dash some how.Let me know how it goes.
Jul 16, 2010 at 2:50 PM
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DAMOLITOY
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Hey Saturntech9, thanks for your answer.

I've checked the fuses and also checked the back of the stereo to see whether a cable waas disconnected. Everything looks right. So i believe the stereo is actually broken.

Now, I would like to buy a new unit. I've found this one, which seems nice:

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_18600_Sony-WX-GT77UI.html

The website say it will fit my car. However, the picture showing the back of the unit shows very different connections from what I saw in my car. I have a unique, very large wire harness (as shown on the wire diagram you've sent me) whereas the picture of the Sony stereo shows a small, "double deck" wire harness (see left of the picture).

Is this stereo really compatible? Which adapter do i need?

Thanks!
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Jan 17, 2011 at 4:58 PM
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SATURNTECH9
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Here is a link to the harness you can get so you don't have to cut into the cars harness.They also sell radio's and install kit's check out what they have and let me know what you find.
Jan 18, 2011 at 8:51 AM
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DAMOLITOY
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Hey! I believe you forgot to post the link?
Jan 18, 2011 at 9:50 PM
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SATURNTECH9
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You got me on that one lol sorry about that here it is.
http://www.crutchfield.com/g_103000/Vehicle-specific-Wiring-Harnesses.html?tp=2977
Jan 18, 2011 at 11:22 PM