Odd Electrical Problem
Intermediate
Joined: May 2023
Posts: 309
Likes: 99
From: California
Had to drive the car for a short distance today and now I have the following. This is in addition to the other issues from saturday/sunday. I did not have time to scan it today. Hoping this is all pointing in a direction. Thinking I want to monitor "live" info for alternator voltage/operation.
Check VSC
Check Electronic parking brake
Check ABS.
Still have the Check brake system and SRS/airbag .
Today radio was on. Radio went off after 5 min of driving and then a few seconds later the Christmas tree of warning lights and dash warnings started happening. Tried to set the cruise and the light in cluster would just flash. Car drove fine. I HATE electrical issues!! Will scan tomorrow and see if there is anything different than Sunday scan that I posted above.
Check VSC
Check Electronic parking brake
Check ABS.
Still have the Check brake system and SRS/airbag .
Today radio was on. Radio went off after 5 min of driving and then a few seconds later the Christmas tree of warning lights and dash warnings started happening. Tried to set the cruise and the light in cluster would just flash. Car drove fine. I HATE electrical issues!! Will scan tomorrow and see if there is anything different than Sunday scan that I posted above.
I don't know if it might be the ignition switch, one of the fuse boxes, or somewhere else that might have a bad connection, but I'd suspect every component that carries voltage for more than one function/multiple different functions. It might be something as simple as a bad ground connection in the wiring someplace.
Thread Starter
Pit Crew
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 143
Likes: 63
From: MA
Update-Alternator arrived, installed today. What a PIA! Took for a 20 min drive while monitoring voltage on a graphed scanner. Stayed consistent at 13.5-13.8. Had high of 14.1 and low of 13.4 in that drive. Nothing funky happened, but time will tell. FYI, the alternator on an AWD car only has 3 attachment bolts. There is a large crossmember under the alternator so all work has to be done from above as opposed to a non AWD version.
Thread Starter
Pit Crew
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 143
Likes: 63
From: MA
Just a quick note to close the circle on this for future reference. Have driven the car a couple hundred miles without a hiccup. Problem seems to have been solved. In 40 yrs of working on cars, have not run into this issue before. As in, with car idling, voltage at battery was all within specs. Battery light never came on in the instrument cluster. Probably should have monitored the actual voltage while graphing during a typical drive, but didn't. With Boykie help, decided to replace the alternator. Went to Rockauto, rebuilt Denso. Hoping it lasts. Onward and upward!
Pole Position
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 3,057
Likes: 1,134
Last edited by Gerf; Nov 21, 2023 at 04:45 AM.
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