Dash lights on, what are they trying to tell me?

[djsaluki]

Hey everyone,

So, my car is a piece of guff and I hate her. Last night driving home some of the dash lights came on, and I know that they are sending me some signal, that they actually mean something.

I was driving, and I noticed my interior lights were a tad bit dimmer than normal....not much. I was thinking....uh oh....alternator...(because my car wouldnt start for the first time ever, the previous day).

Then....three dash lighst came on, and stayed on, and I had no power steering. The lights are "RADIATOR" ..... "BRAKE" ..... "CHECK ENGINE"........they all went on full brigthness and are staying lit. Everything worked fine, and I made it home. So, I looked under the hood, which I have only basic beginner knowledge, and see one belt isnt moving, so something must be locked. My guess is....if I have a power steering pump then that's it. Otherwise I have no clue.....and I'm not even sure I want to fix this car anymore.

Does anyone know a link to where it describes the different signals/meanings of the dash lights, etc.

For example....if the "CHECK ENGINE" blinks four times after you start the car, doesnt that mean something? (Just an example, mine doesnt blink four times)

Thank you very much!!!!

 

[Geist]

That happened to me (in my cavalier) when my uncle 'fixed' my car, and forgot to tighten the tension on my serpentine belt back up... it wasn't catching like it should, so right as I was driving down the road.... all my lights came on, my engine's heat sky rocketed, I lost power steering, etc, etc....
My guess is something in that nature...

 

[djsaluki]

So how did you fix your problem??

I have the SAME symptoms....lost power steering, engine temperature went up, lights dimmed slightly...etc. I am fairly sure it isn't a dead alternator because my car still starts, so it's chargin the battery enough.

From looking at it, some belt isn't moving, so something is locked up. My car did have a 'whining' noise occasionally. Last year I had a friend check it out, because I thought it was the belts whining.....but he said it was the ball bearings on something else, such as an alternator. Well last night the whining was present....but usually once the car hits 3000rpm, it gets high pitch and goes away...yesterday it didnt want to, made some ugly pitch sounds, and then went away.....5 minutes later, the problems started.

SO anyways......did you just have to tighten the tension...or was it something worse for you?

 

[Zeppelin]

So how did you fix your problem??

I have the SAME symptoms....lost power steering, engine temperature went up, lights dimmed slightly...etc. I am fairly sure it isn't a dead alternator because my car still starts, so it's chargin the battery enough.

From looking at it, some belt isn't moving, so something is locked up. My car did have a 'whining' noise occasionally. Last year I had a friend check it out, because I thought it was the belts whining.....but he said it was the ball bearings on something else, such as an alternator. Well last night the whining was present....but usually once the car hits 3000rpm, it gets high pitch and goes away...yesterday it didnt want to, made some ugly pitch sounds, and then went away.....5 minutes later, the problems started.

SO anyways......did you just have to tighten the tension...or was it something worse for you?

Check the condition of your belts, if they're cracked, replace them. If they're not cracked, check tension. Push on the belt in between the pulleys (like this: "O===|===O" push at the verticle line) you should only get about a 1/2 inch of play up or down. If it's more than that, tighten the belt up. Spraying a little belt dressing on the belts might help too if the pulley is greasy.

 

[mavisky]

wow 5 posts and noone knows yet.

i got news for you, your alternator belt is probably no more. the alternator belt connects your crank to your alternator and your water pump, your water pump is connected to your power steering pump. so when you lose your alternator belt you instantly lose your alternator (lights may go dim), your water pump (your coolant temp rises), and your power steering pump (hard to steer). the belt that isn't moving is your power steering to water pump belt. without the alternator belt to turn the water pump, you have nothing to turn your power steering to water pump belt. get it fixed before you overheat the car.

replace your alternator belt and all will be right.

 

[djsaluki]

HAHA.....WOW.......I am impressed.

Your diagnosis seems to explain EVERYTHING. I was 'this close' to taking the car into a shop to see what the problem is....fix it...and then sell this car.

I will go buy a belt tomorrow morning and see if I am capable of changing it out, hopefully there is some diagram on vfaq.com. I hope that solves my problems.

I will update this post once I get that changed and see if it works.

Any idea if the dash lights are signaling something to me...or where I can find a "decoder cheat sheet" to know what they mean?

 

[Leitnin]

sorry, i was rushing off to class and didn't read which lights were on. the radiator light i don't recognize and the lights when its usually the alternator are brake check engine and i believe abs.

coupled with loss of power steering AND not loss of anything else, i would let the car idle when it is doing this and pop the hood and just check the belts. MAKE SURE YOU CHECK THE PULLEYS WHILE THE BELTS ARE OFF IF YOUR CHANGING THEM (sorry about the caps). if something isn't turning (water pump) while the belt is off, you need to look deeper.

as far as a cheat sheet for what the dash lights mean, its probably just an indication of which systems are having a problem.

your best bet is to pull the engine codes.

try this (may be code 21 for the temperature sensor but its good to check, especially if replacing the belts doesn't solve the problem)
http://www.vfaq.com/mods/wayback/BradBauer/electrical/code.html

 

[kyledykstra]

HAHA.....WOW.......I am impressed.

Your diagnosis seems to explain EVERYTHING. I was 'this close' to taking the car into a shop to see what the problem is....fix it...and then sell this car.

I will go buy a belt tomorrow morning and see if I am capable of changing it out, hopefully there is some diagram on vfaq.com. I hope that solves my problems.

I will update this post once I get that changed and see if it works.

Any idea if the dash lights are signaling something to me...or where I can find a "decoder cheat sheet" to know what they mean?

Alternator belt is pretty easy to replace, I've talked someone through it on AOL before. You take off the tire and splash shield, loosen a bolt on top of the alternator, move it until you fit the belt on, and then re-tension it back up. I don't think the VFAQ has pictures on alternator things anymore, but there's an alternator removal guide. My Haynes manual also has good pictures of what you need to loosen/tighten for alternator belt replacement, if you know someone with a Haynes (or shop manual) you're good to go.

 

[mavisky]

Alternator belt is pretty easy to replace, I've talked someone through it on AOL before. You take off the tire and splash shield, loosen a bolt on top of the alternator, move it until you fit the belt on, and then re-tension it back up. I don't think the VFAQ has pictures on alternator things anymore, but there's an alternator removal guide. My Haynes manual also has good pictures of what you need to loosen/tighten for alternator belt replacement, if you know someone with a Haynes (or shop manual) you're good to go.

i rarely need to remove the wheel or anything. there's only two bolts you really have to mess with, well 4 if you have the little arm on the side engine mount. if i were you i'd go out to advance auto parts or something and see if you can find the haynes manual for the 1g dsm. it'll walk you straight through it and many other repairs.