Dash gauges lights gone wild

[rbryan]

The other day when I started up, a couple of the dash gauge lights came on and have stayed on. The red light on the battery charge gauge, the brake light and the A/T oil temp light have all decided to decorate the dash. Any ideas? - are they tied togther on a fuse? Thanks, Roy

 

[CJF]

Classic low voltage warning.

Crazy, huh? But apparently designed to really catch your eye.

99% chance your alternator's going out.

Curtis

 

[Gordopescado]

X2 on the Alt. Battery too.

 

[Eicca]

Definately alternator. Happened to me three times over as many years.

 

[rbryan]

The lights haven't gone off yet all is ok. How do you reset the ligths once I've checked everything is in working order? Thanks!

 

[retrofive]

The lights haven't gone off yet all is ok. How do you reset the ligths once I've checked everything is in working order? Thanks!

Alt was inspected and passed?

 

[adamsclarke]

I've got the same problem right now. Alt and Batt are perfect and putting out well both at idle and under load. My come on when I hit bumps etc...so I am thinking a bad ground somewhere in the dash. I havn;t looked yet, but yours could be similar.

 

[lndcruz]

Replace your alternator asap. Mine would also come and go so I didnt worry about it. Bad idea, 3 days later stranded in rush hour atl traffic dead on a overpass. $700+ learning curve.

 

[finderscuba]

I've got the same problem right now. Alt and Batt are perfect and putting out well both at idle and under load. My come on when I hit bumps etc...so I am thinking a bad ground somewhere in the dash. I havn;t looked yet, but yours could be similar.

Two things to check:

alternator mounting - make sure it's tight and not vibrating at all

alternator plug - the square plug on the back of the alternator, mine doesn't lock in place very well and vibrates like crazy. I've tried slightly bending the male terminals but it's still loose. I tie-wrapped the cable to an adjacent battery cable near the alternator to try to mitigate some of the movement. It fixed the problem for a few weeks but it is now bad again.

Both the above assume that your alternator and batteries have been tested and determined to be good.

 

[fj803fe]

x5 Alt

 

[rbryan]

Battery and alt are fine at idle and load. Will double check the plug.

 

[wxm]

Time for starter contacts rebuild? I had the similar problem, rebuilding starter contacts fixed the problem. Whatever it is, I would not drive the car until it is fixed.