RTH: battery light / voltage light

[Chris FJ80]

Driving into work today the battery warning light / voltage warning idiot light went on.

Then the ABS and two VSC lights went on.

Interesting thing is when I turn the headlights on, the battery warning light goes off (does not affect the VSC or ABS lights.)

Battery is Sears Die Hard - brand new. Dashboard voltage gauge reads a tad under 14V and my Scan Gauge reads 13.2V. Battery holds charge at 12.5V when vehicle is off.

Only thing unique about today was the record rains in Phoenix resulting in lots of deep puddles in the roads.

ANY IDEAS? Could this be water related? Could the alternator be starting to go?

Anyone know what triggers the idiot light to come on? (I am at work without my EWD...)

Thanks in advance!

 

[TTO5]

Both times it came on for me I had to replace my alternator.

 

[Chris FJ80]

Both times it came on for me I had to replace my alternator.

Thanks. How quickly did the alternator go after the light came on? Hours? Days?

 

[Chris FJ80]

When I headed home last night, with the lights on, no battery/voltage warning, but now the brake warning light came on in addition to the ABS and the two VSCs.

This morning when I started up I thought I had good news - no warning lights. But after a few minutes I noticed the A/C controls and radio controls are not functioning, the engine temperature gauge swings between cold and the mid point, the tachometer is also swinging around and the "D" drive light comes on and off....

 

[El Perro Grande]

Hmm.. same here. In Phoenix. Had the 100 out yesterday just to check out the local damage. No question the undercarriage and more got wet. Voltage light came on. Going over some rocks set the tire pressure light off too. Hopefully it'll dry out in a couple of days and shut off. It's been pretty humid and raining today too. The thing runs fine for now though.

 

[aljollano]

X 2

 

[Chris FJ80]

Update: started her up at the end of the day and all seems better. No more warning lights. A/C and radio controls work again. No issues with temp gauge or tachometer. Hopefully still good tomorrow.

Pretty disappointing to see all these electrical issues. Much more complicated than my 80

 

[El Perro Grande]

Well that didn't take long. I don't think my first post is even 3 hours old. Took the family to Chipoltle just now... all was fine going there... voltage light and tire pressure light still on. On the way back though, the VSC light came on, brake light came on, ABS light came on, probably a couple more... then went off. Stereo started bugging out. I turned on the map light to make sure I didn't bump the VSC button with my knee, noticed the map light was extremely weak. Started to hi-tail it home, noticed the voltage meter was dropped to the bottom.... made it about 5 miles before the truck went completely dead. An incredible stroke of luck that didn't happen on a main road and I was able to coast it into the school parking lot that's about 1/4 mile away from my house. Very disappointed. I have owned my 80 for over 20 years and was never stranded once. I'm just about 9 months into this 100 and it dies from going through a few puddles. Oh well, off to take my 80 over to attempt a rescue.

 

[El Perro Grande]

Took my 80 out there, dropped it's redcap optima into the 100, started it up brought it home, yaddah yaddah yadda, I'm shopping for a new alternator. Good call TTO5. I had to learn the hard way.