AREITU

I have a '92 LS400. The car was running fine and I parked it for a few minutes to swing by the library for a book, but when I got back in and started it up, a bunch of the gauge cluster indicator lights stay on. The airbag, seatbelt and oil pressure lights turn off shortly after startup, but the oil level, coolant level, rear taillight warning lamp, e-brake, and charge system warning lamp don't turn off.

The e-brake lamp gets slightly brighter when I engage the e-brake though. I cycled the ignition a few times but it's still the same.

normally I wouldn't be concerned, but I'm just paranoid that something might actually be wrong with the charging system, like the battery not charging off the alternator. I mainly don't want to get stuck somewhere waiting hours for triple A to show up.

I'm thinking that these indicators are all on the same ground or something and a loose or broken connection somewhere is causing these to light up and stay lit.

Any ideas?

ERILUDE

Disconnect the positive at the battery post, let it sit for 10 minutes-long enough for the computer to reset.

Good Luck

lorenzo816

I'd much rather pull the ECU fuse than the battery cable.

any objections fellas?

justfixit

Your alternator is going out. This is a normal condition when it is starting to fail. It is electrical current backtracing through the system due to defective diode. You possible have power steering pump leaking causing internal short in alternator.
Time to check alternator output.

AREITU

Thanks for the heads up. It's the most logical conclusion I can think of too. My friend's Neon did goofy things because the battery was weak. I'll have the voltages checked when I take the car into the shop on Friday for an AC system leak.

It makes sense becasue the car's had a really slow PS leak as long as the car's been in the family and the lines run right over the alt. Plus it's 15 years old.