weird electrical issues over 220 degrees
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Joined: Feb 2008
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weird electrical issues over 220 degrees
Hello,
I need help with my 97 6 speed. It only has 28k.
Anytime the car goes over 220 degrees (never over heats always stops at 240) the car does weird things electrically.
Sometimes I lose all of my memory stuff, sometimes the tire service monitoring turns back on by itself, sometimes the gas gauge stops working, etc.
All of these things go away after the car has cooled itself back down below 220 and is restarted.
I have no idea where to start or what to look for, so any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Greg
I need help with my 97 6 speed. It only has 28k.
Anytime the car goes over 220 degrees (never over heats always stops at 240) the car does weird things electrically.
Sometimes I lose all of my memory stuff, sometimes the tire service monitoring turns back on by itself, sometimes the gas gauge stops working, etc.
All of these things go away after the car has cooled itself back down below 220 and is restarted.
I have no idea where to start or what to look for, so any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Greg
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,933
Likes: 30
From: San Rafael CA
Weird ...... 
Some thoughts .....
1) Have you set your DIC to show battery voltage when over 220 degrees ????? Is the voltage fluctuating and.or dropping below about 12.5 volts ??? It sure sounds like you are getting low voltage and different parts of the car are reacting "badly" to the low voltage.
2) How old is the battery .... maybe it is borderline and the draw of the HIGH speed cooling fans (each has a 30 amp fuse so they draw A LOT) coming on is dropping battery voltage too low.
3) Have you checked the battery connections ... a heavy draw and a bad connection could lead to low voltage in the car.
4) Also check the connections from the alternator that go to the starter and then to the POSITIVE battery terminal ..... CAUTION those connections are HOT at all times unless you disconnect the battery ... so be careful of them.
That's my wild azz guess ... the cooling fans kicking into HIGH are pulling down your car's voltage.
Some thoughts .....
1) Have you set your DIC to show battery voltage when over 220 degrees ????? Is the voltage fluctuating and.or dropping below about 12.5 volts ??? It sure sounds like you are getting low voltage and different parts of the car are reacting "badly" to the low voltage.
2) How old is the battery .... maybe it is borderline and the draw of the HIGH speed cooling fans (each has a 30 amp fuse so they draw A LOT) coming on is dropping battery voltage too low.
3) Have you checked the battery connections ... a heavy draw and a bad connection could lead to low voltage in the car.
4) Also check the connections from the alternator that go to the starter and then to the POSITIVE battery terminal ..... CAUTION those connections are HOT at all times unless you disconnect the battery ... so be careful of them.
That's my wild azz guess ... the cooling fans kicking into HIGH are pulling down your car's voltage.
Pro
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 735
Likes: 7
From: Bucks County Pa
Electrical Problems
Weird ......
Some thoughts .....
1) Have you set your DIC to show battery voltage when over 220 degrees ????? Is the voltage fluctuating and.or dropping below about 12.5 volts ??? It sure sounds like you are getting low voltage and different parts of the car are reacting "badly" to the low voltage.
2) How old is the battery .... maybe it is borderline and the draw of the HIGH speed cooling fans (each has a 30 amp fuse so they draw A LOT) coming on is dropping battery voltage too low.
3) Have you checked the battery connections ... a heavy draw and a bad connection could lead to low voltage in the car.
4) Also check the connections from the alternator that go to the starter and then to the POSITIVE battery terminal ..... CAUTION those connections are HOT at all times unless you disconnect the battery ... so be careful of them.
That's my wild azz guess ... the cooling fans kicking into HIGH are pulling down your car's voltage.
Some thoughts .....
1) Have you set your DIC to show battery voltage when over 220 degrees ????? Is the voltage fluctuating and.or dropping below about 12.5 volts ??? It sure sounds like you are getting low voltage and different parts of the car are reacting "badly" to the low voltage.
2) How old is the battery .... maybe it is borderline and the draw of the HIGH speed cooling fans (each has a 30 amp fuse so they draw A LOT) coming on is dropping battery voltage too low.
3) Have you checked the battery connections ... a heavy draw and a bad connection could lead to low voltage in the car.
4) Also check the connections from the alternator that go to the starter and then to the POSITIVE battery terminal ..... CAUTION those connections are HOT at all times unless you disconnect the battery ... so be careful of them.
That's my wild azz guess ... the cooling fans kicking into HIGH are pulling down your car's voltage.
Good Luck
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
Thanks guys those are all great suggestions. I am going to replace my battery.
I had a 2000 c5 and I remember that the battery filled the whole battery tray.
The one that came in my 97 when I bought it barely fills up half of the tray. So my guess is it that even though it is new it just doesn't have the power to run everything under a large load.
I will also clean the connections you guys suggested as well.
Great advice and thanks again.
I had a 2000 c5 and I remember that the battery filled the whole battery tray.
The one that came in my 97 when I bought it barely fills up half of the tray. So my guess is it that even though it is new it just doesn't have the power to run everything under a large load.
I will also clean the connections you guys suggested as well.
Great advice and thanks again.
