Hi guys!
Got a really odd issue that i'm hoping someone may have come across before.
My car is a 2013 1.6 Mazda 3 Tamura, bought the car privately in April. 2 months later the fault started developing.
The car seemed to struggle on full lock when parking on a drive or supermarket etc. The headlights would flicker and the radio would stutter or maybe reset to the 'Hello' screen as seen when first started. This would happen very rarely and would not happen on demand to demonstrate.
The next symptom is once the car is warm (ie blue icon gone out), when driving on a dual carriageway/motorway with the headlamps on and you indicate to change lane the headlamps will flicker and dim in time with the indicators. The headlamps also dim very momentarily when you apply the foot brake. Sometimes when flashing main beam the instrument lights will light up like a tree and the car will cough but then continue as if nothing has happened! This sometimes also happens when turning the headlamps on while driving.
This has gone a while sporadically but has now got more frequent.
I have drop tested the battery and it passed no problem.
I have checked the alternator output with headlamps on, 12v socket occupied, air con on - 14.5v at idle and 3000rpm
I have checked every earth i can find, even added a thick new one from battery to gearbox!
I had the car diagnostically scanned - It showed battery low voltage, battery high voltage, EC Relay fault code.
Bought a new relay from Mazda - still no joy!
If anyone can suggest a check or share any wisdom i would very much appreciate it!