All kinds of crazy things happened with the car this morning!! RESOLVED
#1
All kinds of crazy things happened with the car this morning!! RESOLVED
Hi! It has been some time since I posted anything...my baby was running perfectly. Monday morning, my car wouldn't crank, I hadn't driven it all weekend. This was the second Monday in a row this happened after sitting all weekend so we got the car a new battery. Wednesday night it was installed. Well....yesterday, i started smelling something in the cabin...sort of electrical. My husband took a look at it and couldn't find anything wrong.
This morning, about 3 miles out of my driveway, I noticed weird things starting: my radio went dead, my blinkers went dead, power steering went out, my car lost all its ability to accelerate, I got a "no trac" light on, and a "no asc" light on, and my abs light went on. The car had no driving power at all. I pulled over and called a friend. (hubby out of town). While waiting for my friend to pick me up since I was now stranded, my radio went back on so I decided to crank the car. It wouldn't crank. Any ideas? I will be having it towed home shortly.
This morning, about 3 miles out of my driveway, I noticed weird things starting: my radio went dead, my blinkers went dead, power steering went out, my car lost all its ability to accelerate, I got a "no trac" light on, and a "no asc" light on, and my abs light went on. The car had no driving power at all. I pulled over and called a friend. (hubby out of town). While waiting for my friend to pick me up since I was now stranded, my radio went back on so I decided to crank the car. It wouldn't crank. Any ideas? I will be having it towed home shortly.
Last edited by GGG; 10-24-2012 at 05:42 PM. Reason: Add 'RESOLVED' to thread title
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moonpetal38 (10-20-2012)
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moonpetal38 (10-20-2012)
#4
Power steering clue
The No TRAC, No ASC and ABS light are all elements related to a common cause; they are often found together. The radio, blinker and no crank situation is related to an electrical fault, probably the same one that is tripping the other warnings.
The "no driving power" is likely because the car has gone into Limp Home mode (you might see a Restricted Performance message come up, as well). This is a protection, not a problem, really.
To me, the loss of power steering is the most interesting part of your story, because that problem is not electrical in nature at all, but mechanical. It only goes out when the power steering pump stops turning...
One thing that ties a power steering failure to electrical issues is the serpentine belt that drives the alternator and power steering pump along with other things. Yours might be worn or slipping. (Remember the cabin smell? Hear any squeals?)
The serpentine belt is driven by the harmonic balancer which is pressed onto the crankshaft end. If it doesn't grab the shaft properly and turn at the correct speed the battery is not being charged sufficiently and as it drains down electrical things act up and ultimately power down entirely. Perhaps your balancer has been slipping and not providing a steady or sufficient charge. That could help explain your earlier battery problems. When it let loose entirely this last time you lost power steering and alternator output and simply ran the battery down to a no crank condition. After sitting a while the battery regenerated enough to run the radio but not start the car. Not to worry, this is an easy fix if it comes to that, I had mine retightened for $125 at a regular guy shop.
When you get the car back, charge the battery and see if it will start. If it does, look at the serpentine belt up front and see if it is moving. If it's not turning your problem is the harmonic balancer or some belt issue. If it is turning have someone check the alternator output to see if it is turning at the correct speed.
Regardless, you will want to give us whatever OBDII codes that have popped up. This might lead us in another direction entirely.
The "no driving power" is likely because the car has gone into Limp Home mode (you might see a Restricted Performance message come up, as well). This is a protection, not a problem, really.
To me, the loss of power steering is the most interesting part of your story, because that problem is not electrical in nature at all, but mechanical. It only goes out when the power steering pump stops turning...
One thing that ties a power steering failure to electrical issues is the serpentine belt that drives the alternator and power steering pump along with other things. Yours might be worn or slipping. (Remember the cabin smell? Hear any squeals?)
The serpentine belt is driven by the harmonic balancer which is pressed onto the crankshaft end. If it doesn't grab the shaft properly and turn at the correct speed the battery is not being charged sufficiently and as it drains down electrical things act up and ultimately power down entirely. Perhaps your balancer has been slipping and not providing a steady or sufficient charge. That could help explain your earlier battery problems. When it let loose entirely this last time you lost power steering and alternator output and simply ran the battery down to a no crank condition. After sitting a while the battery regenerated enough to run the radio but not start the car. Not to worry, this is an easy fix if it comes to that, I had mine retightened for $125 at a regular guy shop.
When you get the car back, charge the battery and see if it will start. If it does, look at the serpentine belt up front and see if it is moving. If it's not turning your problem is the harmonic balancer or some belt issue. If it is turning have someone check the alternator output to see if it is turning at the correct speed.
Regardless, you will want to give us whatever OBDII codes that have popped up. This might lead us in another direction entirely.
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moonpetal38 (10-20-2012)
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moonpetal38 (10-20-2012)
#6
Thank you all so much. Very impressive.Upon further examination, the serpentine belt seems fine. It looks like the alternator. My question is this....could installing a new battery kill an alternator? Perhaps the battery we got had too high of a voltage? Is this possible? Seems odd that the problems did not arise until the new battery was installed. Thanks again for ALL your help!!!!
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#8
I don't believe that the new battery had any affect on the alternator. It is more likely that the alternator was going bad, as evidenced by your Monday morning no start problem; the alternator was not keeping the old battery charged. So, the alternator was failing and died after your new battery was installed.
Spurlee's evaluation was very impressive and I believe right on the money. After reading your first post, I was certain the problem was electrical. Jags, all Jags, need good electrical power or they start doing all sorts of weird things. Whenever you see multiple different codes, it's likely to be caused by an electrical problem.
Mark
Spurlee's evaluation was very impressive and I believe right on the money. After reading your first post, I was certain the problem was electrical. Jags, all Jags, need good electrical power or they start doing all sorts of weird things. Whenever you see multiple different codes, it's likely to be caused by an electrical problem.
Mark
#10
#11
Thank you all so much. Very impressive.Upon further examination, the serpentine belt seems fine. It looks like the alternator. My question is this....could installing a new battery kill an alternator? Perhaps the battery we got had too high of a voltage? Is this possible? Seems odd that the problems did not arise until the new battery was installed. Thanks again for ALL your help!!!!
What did you do when you examined the serpentine belt? Did the engine start?
#12
This is the reason I installed WhiteXKR's RealGauge...
#13
The car will start after a long rest. He strongly believes that it is the alternator. I hope so. He is going to have it rebuilt...(or something like that) Monday for about $30 he hopes. Will keep you posted. Hubby has been reading everyone's posts and appreciates immensely everone's suggestions and help.
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moonpetal38 (10-24-2012)
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The car will start after a long rest. He strongly believes that it is the alternator. I hope so. He is going to have it rebuilt...(or something like that) Monday for about $30 he hopes. Will keep you posted. Hubby has been reading everyone's posts and appreciates immensely everone's suggestions and help.
Kudos to you for coming back and helping to close the thread as being resolved
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