Strange Electrical Problem
pcasciola
12-09-2005, 08:57 PM
A few weeks ago, my wife's 2000 Jeep GC was having problems. I found that the negative battery cable end was corroded and was loose on the battery terminal. I took it off, cleaned it with a wire brush and tightened it back down.
Since then, the Jeep has had these really weird intermittent electrical problems, where I'll be driving down the road and all the electric will cut out for a second, the engine stutters and sometimes stalls out. Then all the gauges start jumping all around and all the lights on the dash stay on solid, until I shut it off and start it up again. Last time it happened, it was exactly as I turned the windshield wipers on, and one other time right as I turned on the radio. Sometimes when the RPMs go up the problem goes away without shutting off the car. Once, I turned the key off, and the gauges continued to jump all over the place until I disconnected the battery.
I'm thinking the loose battery connection may have done something to the computer, so I was thinking of replacing that, and maybe the alternator and ignition switch. I'm sure it could be a million different things, but is there anything else anyone can think of that could be wrong?
Since then, the Jeep has had these really weird intermittent electrical problems, where I'll be driving down the road and all the electric will cut out for a second, the engine stutters and sometimes stalls out. Then all the gauges start jumping all around and all the lights on the dash stay on solid, until I shut it off and start it up again. Last time it happened, it was exactly as I turned the windshield wipers on, and one other time right as I turned on the radio. Sometimes when the RPMs go up the problem goes away without shutting off the car. Once, I turned the key off, and the gauges continued to jump all over the place until I disconnected the battery.
I'm thinking the loose battery connection may have done something to the computer, so I was thinking of replacing that, and maybe the alternator and ignition switch. I'm sure it could be a million different things, but is there anything else anyone can think of that could be wrong?
Bob D.
12-10-2005, 01:41 AM
Grand Cherokees are notoriously sensitive to voltage and current fluctuations caused by bad battery connections (usually at the posts)
Even batteries that will still start your Jeep but are failing but can cause erratic function of the electrical system such as random intermittent operation.
Before you start swapping out parts I would change the battery with one that is new or known to be good, as in borrowing one from your other car or friend.
Even batteries that will still start your Jeep but are failing but can cause erratic function of the electrical system such as random intermittent operation.
Before you start swapping out parts I would change the battery with one that is new or known to be good, as in borrowing one from your other car or friend.
pcasciola
01-13-2006, 08:52 AM
Thanks Bob!!!!
That was it. The battery seemed fine, but I guess you don't notice it cranking slower and slower as it ages, because once I put the new Interstate battery in it cranked about twice as fast and has been solid for almost a month now with no electrical problems whatsoever. A friend of mine had a good battery tester, and as soon as he put a load on it it dropped to around 9-10V, so apparently it was not putting out enough voltage to keep the computer happy.
That was it. The battery seemed fine, but I guess you don't notice it cranking slower and slower as it ages, because once I put the new Interstate battery in it cranked about twice as fast and has been solid for almost a month now with no electrical problems whatsoever. A friend of mine had a good battery tester, and as soon as he put a load on it it dropped to around 9-10V, so apparently it was not putting out enough voltage to keep the computer happy.
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