Not 1, not 2, but 3! 97 Sunfire 2.4, alert lights

[ThePrairieProphet]

So this is a continuation of my alternator thread. As stated I just changed the alternator, and for a few days of driving (probably between 150-250 km) everything was fine. Then the battery light started coming on again. It goes on for awhile, then off, then on, and so on in that fashion. My battery is good, my posts are clean. Today, driving to work something new happens. My battery light comes on, and then so does my abs light. Weird. Later in the day, leaving my brother's house, this happens again. And is if that's not enough, now my parking brake light has come on. What's my problem!!?!?

[mike_05_sunfire]

I am not too sure about the battery light but as for the abs light and the park brake light coming on, I would check the condition of your brakes. I have seen these lights come on as a warning that you will soon need to be changing brake pads.

Cheers

[ThePrairieProphet]

boourns, though i think the other lights might be directly related to the battery one. i'm gonna try charging my battery first off, and check my brake fluid as well. if my battery is weak due to the alternator not charging it, i wouldn't be surprised if it would kick up other sensors over time as well. so far my fan still seems to be working, as well as lights and all other electrical though, so i guess we'll see. as i mentioned the battery's still good. thanks for the tip though, i'll check that out. anyone else?

[ThePrairieProphet]

update:

i charged my battery, and wouldn't you know it, my car wouldn't start this morn....

wtf?

i'm gonna take the alternator off and get it tested, and i'm probably gonna buy a new battery to see what's up. if either of those things fix the problem, hoofrickinray. if not, then i KNOW i've got some sort of wiring or computer problem.

[|WYG|SS]

check the sides of the battery the shor sides not the long sides. if they are bulged then ur battery is dead. then buy a new one and try it.

[ThePrairieProphet]

another update, tried another battery, which started my car, but upon running a few minutes, battery light pops on again. this battery is only a few months old and runs fine a minivan from my household. so i have noticed a bit of a battery issue i have to deal with, i sanded uneven the connection plates and it's not properly taking a charge, an even sanding/grinding and some washers will fix that. but that doesn't solve the original problem. i'm gonna have this new alternator checked off the vehicle, i didn't want to as it's a pain to jimmy out, but oh well. if it's fine that means it definitely has to be a wiring problem.

what kind of wiring problem, i have no idea. but thinking today, here are the clues i have to go on:

1.) initial problem was fixed by increasing my rpms. with the other battery i put in today, when the problem appeared i'd rev over 3000 and the battery light would disappear, then magically reappear once i let it back down to idle.

2.) there is a drain on the battery, even when the car is not running. hence how my perfectly charged battery from yesterday managed to be completely dead this morning.

so that tells me that not only is the battery NOT charging, it is also draining somewhere. i unhooked my subwoofer power amp power wire, so that is definitely not the problem.

this one's really stumping me and i am not really wanting to buckle down and take it to a shop for a few reasons. i like fixing things myself, shops cost outrageous sums of money, and are only open during times that i'm busy at work. and my car guy's been eons getting back to me, he's a busy guy too. if any of yous can ask around, would be most helpful.

[muff34]

battery drain check to see if trunk light or glove compartment light is staying on. not likely but who knows you may get lucky

[ThePrairieProphet]

possible, but i've left interior lights on all night without an extreme drain like that. my roommate was telling me he had a bad alternator once that would draw from the battery when the car wasn't running. This was on a cutlass, he'd go out and check his car in the morning and the alternator would be hot, so I guess I'll just hope that's the problem. I got the alternator off last night (a lot easier this time, those magnetic telescoping grabby dealies are sure handy for a clutz like me who drops sockets and everything else under the sun down into the engine) so now I'll test it today at Part Source. If it's good, then I know my problem is wiring, and god help me....

[ThePrairieProphet]

update: the new alternator was pooched. so i've got another, but i'm thinking, perhaps bad wiring pooched it. the way my luck goes, that's entirely likely. anyone know how to do a test on the wiring?

[muff34]

aaahhhhhhh maybe your stereo equipment is putting to much demand on your alt and is taking it out . ????

[ThePrairieProphet]

hopefully final update:

I talked to my car guy before i put the new alternator in, he said he checked the wiring schematic, and there shouldn't be anything that even if damaged would cause something like that to happen, and most like just a bum alternator i bought. apparently this happens from time to time he said, and i suppose that's the sort of luck i would have.

there's a primary ground goes to the engine block, and a secondary ground that goes to the plate under the battery. that secondary one was corroded, so i cleaned it up as well before i put the new alternator in.

the stereo thing is a good possibility, so i left my subs unhooked for the time being, i'm going to inspect my lines and essentially just reinstall my subs before i hook them back up, make sure all my power and grounds are good, because i know that can mess things up.

Today when i put the alternator in, i ran it for about 20 minutes, then took it down to Part Source so they could test the alternator while in the car. Everything checked out, so that tells me my wiring should be good, leaving two possibilities: the stereo, or a bum alternator i had before.

for anyone who ever has this problem, there ya go. from all the advice i've got about it, watch your grounds, a poor ground can mess up your electrical somethin' fierce.

thanks for all the help peoples.