Author Topic: More Electrical Gremlins!! (Read 6235 times)

318isle · « **on:** March 17, 2006, 11:09:04 PM »

Okay, I replaced my alternator and had my battery charged, also installed an A/C.
Now here's the problem.
On my way home my Anti Lock Brake, and CEL came on. Everytime it came on my radio would go off, no problems driving at first. Then the lights would get really bright and everytime it did that the car would sputter and want to die out. Fortunately I made it home and the lights went out, then came back on again. I turned the engine off, and now it won't start.
I tested the battery and it shows 10.55 volts and I attached the Peak tool and got code 36 = Control Unit.
Question, what is the Control Unit?

Any insight to this problem is greatly appreciated.
Thank you.

kowalski · « **Reply #1 on:** March 18, 2006, 03:19:10 AM »

could be your regulatore for your alt. that really sounds like it too me because your battery is dead, the sputtering. and the fact that you ahve a new alternator. you might have a loose connection somewhere, im not really sure what consists of the regulator as i put a chevy 150 amp alt in my car, and it has in internal regulator...

Febi Guibo · « **Reply #2 on:** March 18, 2006, 05:59:26 AM »

hey, he has a new alternator the the regulator is built in...

I'm sure some other folks will have ideas, but my best take in order of probability:

- some kind of fault in the charging circuit, bad ground etc.
- loose connection to the cluster or something cluster related
- loose connection to the ECU, or ecu faulty (unlikely)

If you can get the car to run from a jump start, I would make sure the charging system is working... have somebody rev the car to around 1500 rpm, all the lights radio off and put a multimeter (on DCV) to the battery terminals... should read about 13.5-14 volts, but not much higher.

check the ground wire coming off the back of the alternator. even if the alternator was replaced, that ground wire may not have been.

If it is your control unit (I think your fault code means *either* the control unit failed *or* the test itself failed)... so:

could be a bad connection from the instrument cluster. I know that when the cluster is disconnected, the car will run and drive, but the battery will not charge. If you haven't removed the cluster to check the three plug connections and to make sure the computer board inside is ok, now might be a good time.

more of a long shot would be some kind of loose connection to the ECU itself... open up your glovebox, remove the plastic panel above it, and there is a silver bosch ECU bolted into a bracket. unbolt the bracket and make sure the giant electrical connector is tight, there is also a smaller 2 wire plug to check.

ak96ss · « **Reply #3 on:** March 18, 2006, 03:36:49 PM »

From left field here, but I seem to recall reading somewhere that problems with the SI board can also manifest as charging issues.... Am I misremembering this, or does someone know about this?

ak96ss · « **Reply #4 on:** March 18, 2006, 03:37:20 PM »

And we're still waiting for pics of that GM alternator...

Febi Guibo · « **Reply #5 on:** March 18, 2006, 03:51:23 PM »

sorry guys, I was unclear earlier:
(lemme rephrase what I said (badly) above)

without the cluster and SI board, the car will run and drive, but the charging circuit will not complete;

- the car will be running off the battery only, and
- the alternator will NOT be charging the battery

so, I think it could very well be the cluster and/or SI board. Let us know what's what. I also have an SI board I can loan you to test for sure.

sorry I was a little unclear above.

and yeah, the people demand pics of kowalski's gigantor-sized alternator. lol

318isle · « **Reply #6 on:** March 18, 2006, 08:24:17 PM »

I'm going to check out the alternator first and eliminate that first, and check all ground wiring. Then I'll do the cluster thing, I took it out once long ago to fix my odo, and it was such a pita I broke of one of the mounting ears, however super glue to the rescue!
Thanks for the leads and info guys I'll let you know what I come up with.

kowalski · « **Reply #7 on:** March 18, 2006, 08:40:22 PM »

good new, i got my computer today so alt. pics will be up shortly for those of you waiting:D

as for the SI board, yes it will cause your system not to charge, i had mine out for a week, and my car kept leaving me stranded for that very reason (before the alt. conversion).

Febi Guibo · « **Reply #8 on:** March 18, 2006, 09:37:56 PM »

hey man, I've got a good 'dashboard support' (the thing with the ears) here... you will have to transfer over your clear plexiglass cover... you can have it for postage if you want, just lemme know.

318isle · « **Reply #9 on:** March 23, 2006, 12:50:27 AM »

Okay, here is the update to my Electrical Gremlins!
The problem was....(drum roll) a loose ground wire! :mad:

Febi Guibo & kowalski were correct in their overseas diagnosis!!

Mahalo!

Febi Guibo · « **Reply #10 on:** March 23, 2006, 04:29:34 AM »

congrats man... you can sleep better now! post some pics of your ride!!!

318isle · « **Reply #11 on:** March 24, 2006, 12:25:31 AM »

Quote from: Febi Guibo

congrats man... you can sleep better now! post some pics of your ride!!!

No, you really don't want to see my ride believe me!
It looks like those White Back Gorillas. My clear coat is peeling on the hood, roof and trunk area.
It would be a fine example of, "if you don't take care of your car this is what it'll look like" model.

Author Topic: More Electrical Gremlins!! (Read 6235 times)

318isle

318isle

318isle

318isle