I bought mine 2008 Manual honda fit about 5 months ago. put around 5000 miles on it, mostly driving on the Autobahn at around 100 mph. All i did to it was adding a new radio, change oil and transmission fluid. While installing the radio, i blew a fuse but i've replaced it been driven around for around 4000 miles since.

So here's the problem.
I took it on an 900 miles roadtrip ( 450 miles each way ). My fit chug along just fine on the first leg. On the return leg a few days later, about 400 miles into the drive, i hit a small bump on the road and then i noticed that my radio would shut off randomly and then turn back on.
My drive to work daily is fairly short ( about 2 miles ) so it rarely happen again. I've taken a few long drive ( 30 miles+ and i've noticed that the radio would turn off and then back on ).

I took my car on a 60 miles drive today and the following thing happen. My radio turn off and back on about 3-4 times (completely random). For the first time, i can feel my steering wheel locking up for a brief second while i'm trying to park. A few hours a later, while running errands, my check engine light turned on ( P0685 is the code ) and i can feel the steering wheel locking up again while i'm trying to park ( it only happen when the radio is turning on and off )

What is wrong here ? Did i knock something loose while hitting a small bump at 70 mph ? Where should i start on troubleshooting it ?

 

To me it sounds like the ground wire is loose on the new radio, or (if it grounds though the metal casing the radio sits in) isn't connected very well.

Id pull the radio out and check the ground wire; im sure thats where your issue is.

 

Thanks for responding. That's what i'm thinking too, i will take a look at it later on this week. It still doesn't explain why the steering wheel locked up when i'm trying to park though.

 

True. What about the ground connection at the battery? Maybe the steering wheel didnt lock up, but the steering wheel got heavy due to loose battery connections? (grabbing at straws on this one)

 

I opened up the battery compartment, clean the battery terminals and cable with a spray that suppose to destroy dirt and clean electrical contact. So far so good, it only being two days though. Time will tell i guess.

 

Did you check the tightness of the battery terminals?


I've found that (at least in the USA) many replacement batteries have terminals that are too small. IE, with the terminals fully tightened, you can still spin/pivot the wires.

The solution is to shim them. Autoparts stores have battery shim kits.

 

hey phamtastic -

did cleaning the battery end up solving the problem? i'm having the exact same problems w/my 2008.

thanks!
kyle