Help! Charge system fault - lights lickering, etc.
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 80
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From: Flo Mo TX
Help! Charge system fault - lights fickering, etc.
My '04 has had the "charge system fault" message showing on the dash when I first turn on the ignition key for about a month, and the door locks started locking and unlocking whenever they felt like it... and the lights started coming on and going off intermittently - they flicker, and they come on and stay on for a few minutes, then go off, then come back on. Not the headlights, just the parking lights, fog lights, back-up light. The lights don't behave like this while driving, but the door locks will click click click. It's haunted! I put a new battery in the car about two weeks ago, and all of this seems to stop for about 4 days, then started doing it again. Is this a bad alternator? Do I have an electrical drain? What do y'all think? Oh yeah, my CD changer in the truck quit working, too. Thanks in advance for your thoughts and advice.
Last edited by TexasKidd; Jun 17, 2009 at 09:46 PM. Reason: mispelling
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Joined: Apr 2006
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From: Alton Illinois
sounds like it could be a short in the wires passing through the accordion tubes in the doors. there seems to be a problem with one of the wires in the tube slipping out of its insulation and rubbing the inside of the passage. i guess it could be anything from a bad battery or loose battery cables to a bad ground but the solution should start with battery, cables, door jams and then grounds, in my mechanically challenged opinion
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 80
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From: Flo Mo TX
Yeah, I was in a hurry - had to get momma situated. I took it to a mechanic in Grapevine, TX (this will be the last time) and he called me about 2:00 to say he couldn't figure it out. So I took it to the Chev dealer close by - should have done that in the beginning. The diagnosis: In the driver side door - a door locking module that also controls some of the lights coming on when you unlock your car with the remote. I should have thought of this. Good news, new part and labor to install was about $400. Made my day!
