Low Voltage, sometimes
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Joined: Aug 2022
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Low Voltage, sometimes
Hey all, looking for some direction here. Sometimes when I turn the key to on I get either a charging system fault, or low voltage message. If I get the low voltage message the dash lights will be dim. The car will always start, however, although if the dash lights are dim it may shut off after a few seconds. But then if I turn the key again the dash lights usually light up bright and it runs no issues.
Battery is brand new, today. Replaced it just to be sure
Alternator shows 14.3 volts or so when running
I can see battery terminals to starter, everything looks clean and no issues. Car lives in garage and Alabama so no real bad weather. Obviously it has been cold lately
Im wondering if my ignition switch is going bad?
Thanks!
Battery is brand new, today. Replaced it just to be sure
Alternator shows 14.3 volts or so when running
I can see battery terminals to starter, everything looks clean and no issues. Car lives in garage and Alabama so no real bad weather. Obviously it has been cold lately
Im wondering if my ignition switch is going bad?
Thanks!
Last edited by Sojourner; Jan 11, 2025 at 03:00 PM.
Moderator, Tech Contributor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 15,631
Likes: 4,076
From: Cape Coral, Florida
You need to do a voltage drop check of up your charging system first…watch the video…if you are seeing 14.3 volts at the alternator what do you see at the battery when you have a load on the system…voltage drop will help you determine if its on the positive or negative side of the charging system…”looks good” is not good enough…you have to test !!..you can look at the ignition switch with the same test.
Moderator, Tech Contributor
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 15,631
Likes: 4,076
From: Cape Coral, Florida
To see if the circuit from the ignition switch that powers the IPC is bad place one lead of your DVOM on battery positive and if your lead is long enough place the other lead on IPC Fuse 19 at the IP fusebox with the engine running…you should see no more than 0.5 volts on your DVOM…if your DVOM just has needle probes throw them out and get some 4mm banana jack probes that you can use different tips on…alligator clips, back and piercing probes etc…that way its hands free operation !!
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,771
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From: Orlando Florida
That would be my first guess, and while it’s always better to diagnose before throwing new parts into the mix, I would have the best new switch I could find on hand before I pulled too many things apart. No sense in pulling the dash halfway apart to find a bad switch and then have to wait for a replacement. Just my .02¢
