Several months ago I wrote about a strange problem on my '03 AE convert. Several folks on the Forum were very interested in helping; especially Bill Curlee, Patches and a third fellow whose name I have forgotten. Some wanted a post if the problem ever got solved. I think that it has and here is the story; I will leave out some of the details in the interest of brevity, relatively speaking.

At various times over a period of 4 or 5 months I would open my door and immediately hear the chimes. When that occurred I knew that the battery was dead or dying and would not turn the engine. This might happen whether the car sat for a day, a week, two weeks or a few hours. I replaced my OEM battery with first one then another Optima Red Top; the car totally destroyed each one.

I brought (or had towed) the car to the dealership 7 or 8 times and they tried their very best to fix it. Various components were replaced but the situation persisted. Finally, a series of deductions led to the conclusion that my Fikse wheels were the culprit. The explanation is that they interact somehow with the car to build up excessive static electricity which was zapping components. Everyone to whom I told this thought that that was totally ridiculous. However, there are 4 very compelling facts which say otherwise:
1)-The problem did not surface until after I had replaced my OEM wheels.
2)- When I added anti-static straps to my car 3 months ago the problem has disappeared (with one exception).
3)- The exception is that the problem came back one day. Then I discovered that both straps had broken off.
4)- After I put on a new set of straps the problem went (and stayed) away.

The naysayers should realize that we are in a new electronic car-world and many problems that folks "never heard of before" are going to be cropping up. (Just ask the people at Mercedes.)

I wonder, for example, how many Corvette owners know that early C-5s were experienceing electrical problems caused by the protective plastic (?) body coatings being pulled off of the cars at dealerships.

I'm sorry this took so long (there's more !) but hopefully those people who wanted to know the outcome will read this, and maybe it will be helpful to others, too.

 

that sounds like a nightmare to track down.....i bet your dealership is glad YOU figured it out....they will grimace every time your car is back lol lol lol lol lol

 

WOW...Now THAT is crazy........ How did you ever track it down to there

Do you have reflectors on the end of your ground strips

 

That is interesting!

 

Why do I hear the Twilight Zone theme?

Glad you got it fixed. That's a good piece of info to have if it ever happens to me.

 

That problem is one that you just don't hear about. Glad you found out what was causing it and thanks for posting.

 

Fascinating. I wonder if any other Fikse owners have experienced a similar phenomenon? Have you identified the unique trait that cause your Fikse wheels to generate such high levels of static electricity? Did you contact the manufacturer and relate this to them?

Kudos to you for tracking it down but I knew you'd be tenacious.

 

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[Patches]
Kudos to you for tracking it down but I knew you'd be tenacious. [/QUOTE]
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I NEVER would have thought of that.......nice going

 

Thanks for the info