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2G Battery and brake light flashing(not flickering) +CEL

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Dawson159

5+ Year Contributor
164
16
Nov 13, 2017
Billings, Montana
After driving my very spirited on Friday night the brake and battery light started to flash(not flicker) I know that means my alternator is going out because it has happened twice already:ohdamn: anyway when I would go to neutral and slow down so it would idle down the cel would come on and the idle would drop and start surging then if I started moving it would go off. It also randomly goes off if I let it sit and idle for a bit but it will eventually come back. I started the car to go home thinking I need ANOTHER new alternator but the lights were gone and didn’t come back the whole way home. Now tonight I was driving kinda hard and they came back again.
Has anyone else has this problem?
 
Sounds like there may be some wiring issues, poor connections or partially severed wires. Could lead to the intermittency of the issue. Were the previously replaced alternators actually bad?
 
Sounds like there may be some wiring issues, poor connections or partially severed wires. Could lead to the intermittency of the issue. Were the previously replaced alternators actually bad?
Not sure never had the bad alternators tested, just replaced them and the car charged fine again, could be something grounding out? There’s definitely a relay going off in the dash somewhere which has to do with the cel cuz it clicks when it goes on and off
 
Tough to say, what condition is the wiring on the car in? Might try running a new feed wire from the alternator to the fuse box.

Prolly should start with some voltage drop tests between underhood and interior.
 
How's the battery? Does the car start with no problems? I would have the battery tested if not. How about battery terminals any corrosion/ rust? Also check the plug on the alternator make sure its not coming loose or pins coming out, as well as the bolt holding the 12v supply (white) wire on to make sure its tight, and wire is secure in the terminal (Also check for corrosion/ rust on that wire, it may not be sending correct voltage).
 
Simply put a volt meter across the battery when its running, rev it up and see if it drops or changes a lot, if it doesn't maintain 13v to 14v then you need an alternator or your drive system is bad (belts slipping, crankshaft pulley is separating internally), the clicking is likely your mpi relay dropping out from low voltage.
 
Ok so I just got back from vacation and i went to take it for a drive and this time only the cel came on no brake and battery flashing so definitely a short/ecu issue became of the repetitive mpi relay clicking,
I pulled my Ecu and it looks fine no leakage that I can see, what would be the next most logical thing to test/check?
 
Update: went and had my alternator bench tested and it’s good so that’s a factor checked off
 
Ok I ordered a new mpi relay and it will be here in 2-3 days, the mpi relay is getting REALLY hot like can’t keep your finger on it for more than 5 seconds hot, so I’m almost sure that it’s either a bad ground or the mpi relay itself so which grounds should I check?
 
Ok I replaced the efi/mpi relay and its still doing it. I’m totally lost at this point is there any advice anyone can give me?
:(:(:(
 
So the battery is good, the alternator is good, and the relays are good. I image the plug on the alternator is good and not wiggling. Since it seems to be a voltage issue since its at low RPMs then it's safe to say that it's still a voltage supply issue. Something has to be loose or corroded. Is the alternator fuse in the underhood fuse box good (corroded fuse/ terminals)? What about the alternator relay/ diode (Some have it, some don't, should be where the oem boost control solenoid is)? Are the cables from the alternator to the fuse box tight on both ends and clean? If you have a multi meter, while the car is idling start probing, see if you find a voltage drop. (Should be at 14-14.8 volts running) Start at the white wire on the alternator, then the white wire at the fuse box, follow the circuit. How about the grounds, from battery to chassis (black/ yellow wire), are those clean and tight?
 
Just alittle info I have had alternators bench tested that checked out u can actually see the voltage coming into the ecu I think it's one of the smaller of the 4 plugs I believe a green wire not 100 percent on that and then turn ur heaights on and maybe your blower motor and see the voltage drop out completely I had this happen on mine and the alternator was the culprit even tho it charged the battery
 
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