ABS, TCS & Handbrake light issues

Technical Area Electrics & ICE
1
  1. My model of MX-5 is: MK3 (2006)
  2. I’m based near: Chester
  3. I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: Hi, I’ve been having an issue with my car where the ABS light, TCS light and Handbrake light all suddenly appear on the display. After following the instructions in the handbook to turn the wheel full lock both ways, then turn off and on again, it clears them. But I have also experience a complete loss of electrics when trying to restart the car from time to time - when i turn the key the car doesn’t start and there are no lights displayed anywhere. I have also recently lost the ability to use the radio - it seems to switch itself off then on again at the same time as the lights appear. Last night I completely lost the radio function and it now simply displays “CODE”.
2

Your battery is low on voltage. Classic symptoms.

This might either be because it’s too old and has lost capacity (Ampere Hours),
or it does have capacity but it’s empty of electrons because it hasn’t been charged enough to keep up with dark current drain (about 28-38mA 24/7, ie about half an Ampere Hour per day).

I bought a Yuasa YBX5053 to replace the old Panasonic when this happened to my NC; the other give away was that it only took ten minutes for the Smart charger to think the old battery was full again, but now a very small bucket not holding many electrons.

I gave the new battery a full charge overnight before even thinking about starting the car, this is as a matter of principle because one never knows how long it sat on the warehouse shelf. That new Yuasa took 12hours at 3.5A on the smart charger before it was full - a very big bucket very nearly empty.

3

Thanks for your response. I’m still unable to use the radio after a battery change - it continues to flash “CODE”. How do I fix this issue?

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4

Alas, the radio code has been set by a previous owner, and I don’t know how to reset it.

But there are others here who can advise.

5

I’ve just checked in the manual and one of the previous owners had kindly written the code in the book. Thanks for your help.

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