1jz - battery light flickering with bumps on road
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So this started yesterday, while driving my battery light will flicker on and off.. usually according to the bumps in the road. Im assuming it has something to do with a connection since the vibrations are causing the light to turn on because of a "weak battery" - (read bad connection).
when i pulled up to work the light flickered again and remained on.. so i tried to see what i could do fix it.
-i tried tugging on the wires going to the alternator - light still on
-i used a jumper cable going from the neg. battery terminal to a good chassis ground - light still on
the only thing i can think of is when i did my steering rack this past weekend, i had to realign my steering wheel so i had my dad take the battery terminal off so i could disconnect the airbag.. he put it back on aswell.. im thinking it has something to do with that.
any other ideas? it has a new(er) alternator and a new battery - 2/3 months old. ill see if i can get a multimeter on the alternator
when i pulled up to work the light flickered again and remained on.. so i tried to see what i could do fix it.
-i tried tugging on the wires going to the alternator - light still on
-i used a jumper cable going from the neg. battery terminal to a good chassis ground - light still on
the only thing i can think of is when i did my steering rack this past weekend, i had to realign my steering wheel so i had my dad take the battery terminal off so i could disconnect the airbag.. he put it back on aswell.. im thinking it has something to do with that.
any other ideas? it has a new(er) alternator and a new battery - 2/3 months old. ill see if i can get a multimeter on the alternator
Last edited by bryan767; 06-22-12 at 05:54 AM.
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once you start the car you can disconnect the battery and the light won´t came on anyway. You should start to look from the alternator. Ask some electrician or battery seller to check if its working as it should. (around 12,5-14,4v)
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pretty positive its the alternator. because under load (a/c on) the light goes away ~usually. also higher rpm's due to higher speeds the light goes away and stays off. its only when i come to a stop does the light turn back on. this would deduce that its not wiring but the actual alternator i believe.
i think the problem came when my car was over heating at the beach and i had to spray the block with water, i may have accidentally hit the alternator.. though the motor was not on and i let it air dry, i may have damaged the inside fins. non-the-less i found one local, just have to make sure i have the same plug.
i think the problem came when my car was over heating at the beach and i had to spray the block with water, i may have accidentally hit the alternator.. though the motor was not on and i let it air dry, i may have damaged the inside fins. non-the-less i found one local, just have to make sure i have the same plug.
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New alternator, battery light is still on. It's a reman'd 100amp for a 92-94 sc300 round plug. Not sure what else would cause the light to stay on.
I'll check the wires, I know that the ring connections on the power out is kinda crappy and one of the wires seems in bad shape, it wouldn't surprise me the previous owner redid the those wires and used to small of gauge.
Would a blown alternator fuse cause the light to stay on? I guess that doesn't make sense if the car still runs, however I know my lights weren't staying kn
I'll check the wires, I know that the ring connections on the power out is kinda crappy and one of the wires seems in bad shape, it wouldn't surprise me the previous owner redid the those wires and used to small of gauge.
Would a blown alternator fuse cause the light to stay on? I guess that doesn't make sense if the car still runs, however I know my lights weren't staying kn
Last edited by bryan767; 07-08-12 at 04:19 PM.
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any other ideas? drove to work, didnt notice any issues with headlights on, radio on, a/c on, and windshield wipers on.. yet the light remains on.
im starting to think it has something to do with the wiring because the light would intermittently turn on as i hit small rumble bumps in the road. the light started staying on longer and longer as i passed over more bumps over the passing days. it would usually turn off if i drove long distance, now its staying on all the time with a new alternator..
edit:
found this wiring diagram that i was looking for
charging 95sc.pdf
i can almost bet i have a frayed/shorted wire on the back of the three prong round plug.
im starting to think it has something to do with the wiring because the light would intermittently turn on as i hit small rumble bumps in the road. the light started staying on longer and longer as i passed over more bumps over the passing days. it would usually turn off if i drove long distance, now its staying on all the time with a new alternator..
edit:
found this wiring diagram that i was looking for
charging 95sc.pdf
i can almost bet i have a frayed/shorted wire on the back of the three prong round plug.
Last edited by bryan767; 07-09-12 at 06:34 AM.
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Update: the yellow dummy light wire some how broke, I remember noticing a yellow wiring hanging low when I did my steering rack but forgot. I went to the plug and chased it back to where it goes into the harness, only two of the original three wires were at the end. I'll be fixing this, this weekend I believe. However I did need an alternator. It just so happened that both broke at the same time
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Found this for more info on the circuitry
http://www.lextreme.com/alternator.html
i believe the 7.5amp IGN fuse is not blown because my car runs, im thinking i used it to power my fans though and i think they are drawing to much power and giving off a false signal? not really sure, ill try messing around with the fuses down there and make sure its not a higher rated fuse then 7.5 other then that, it has to be a wire thats loose or torn.
the wire i connected yesterday didnt do anything to the car, i just noticed it was cut..
http://www.lextreme.com/alternator.html
i believe the 7.5amp IGN fuse is not blown because my car runs, im thinking i used it to power my fans though and i think they are drawing to much power and giving off a false signal? not really sure, ill try messing around with the fuses down there and make sure its not a higher rated fuse then 7.5 other then that, it has to be a wire thats loose or torn.
the wire i connected yesterday didnt do anything to the car, i just noticed it was cut..
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So my fans tapped relay power is infact coming from the 7.5 fuse, but it has a 15 amp fuse. and somehow one of the fans died that I just replaced. I'm thinking the fuse had something to do with this. I'll be unwiring this botch job and running the fans to the ignitor 12v switchable for the signal source for my relay and put a 7.5 fuse back inplace of the 15amp fuse
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so, my issue was the wiring going from the pin in the alternator plug to the fuse block that lights up the light. alternator is charging and battery is perfect.
atleast thats fixed now... but i have a flashing o/d light now! the gremlins in this car dont want to come out!
atleast thats fixed now... but i have a flashing o/d light now! the gremlins in this car dont want to come out!
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