Mystery warning light
03-15-2002, 08:49 PM
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Mystery warning light
I seem to be having many minor problems cropping up within a short space of time lately, but here's another.
I've noticed that whenever I take my car through the carwash (which I've had to do a few times with this on/off winter weather), about halfway through the central warning light comes on. Occasionally, it also comes on when I've just started the car and am first moving. In all cases, I can turn it back out, indicating that it's not a setious problem. Someone suggested replacing the negative battery strap will take care of some gremlims, and I'm going to do just that. My problem is that since no other warning lights come on, I can't tell exactly what the problem is. Am I going to have to start tracking through the electrical system to find out, or should I wait until I replace the ground strap. Essentially, I'm at a complete loss, though water (carwashes, rainy weather) does seem to bring it about more often.
Flint, '84 Euro-S, A/T
I've noticed that whenever I take my car through the carwash (which I've had to do a few times with this on/off winter weather), about halfway through the central warning light comes on. Occasionally, it also comes on when I've just started the car and am first moving. In all cases, I can turn it back out, indicating that it's not a setious problem. Someone suggested replacing the negative battery strap will take care of some gremlims, and I'm going to do just that. My problem is that since no other warning lights come on, I can't tell exactly what the problem is. Am I going to have to start tracking through the electrical system to find out, or should I wait until I replace the ground strap. Essentially, I'm at a complete loss, though water (carwashes, rainy weather) does seem to bring it about more often.
Flint, '84 Euro-S, A/T
03-15-2002, 09:12 PM
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Just a guess - your hood seals are shot, permitting water to enter the multiplug connector located next to the 'hot point' on the right (passenger) side of the engine compartment. Most major system indicators are routed through this connector.
This could be causing a mild short, resulting in the system warning light.
This could be causing a mild short, resulting in the system warning light.
03-15-2002, 11:11 PM
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Or....
Are you choosing the 'undercar' wash option?
Might check your ground straps from the engine to body are in good condition.
Just a thought......
Are you choosing the 'undercar' wash option?
Might check your ground straps from the engine to body are in good condition.
Just a thought......
03-16-2002, 03:11 AM
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It could be...
Well, I'm going to take a stab, though I think the notion of water getting into a connector...
[What are you doing, taking a shark through the car wash! Wash it by hand at home.....]
...is probably likely, but you should check your instrument panel's warning lights against the owners manual to make sure all of them are lighting up. Perhaps one is burned out... or funkalated in such a way that only when you get the cartilaginous fish wet does it exhibit a problem.
Normy-
Well, I'm going to take a stab, though I think the notion of water getting into a connector...
[What are you doing, taking a shark through the car wash! Wash it by hand at home.....]
...is probably likely, but you should check your instrument panel's warning lights against the owners manual to make sure all of them are lighting up. Perhaps one is burned out... or funkalated in such a way that only when you get the cartilaginous fish wet does it exhibit a problem.
Normy-
03-16-2002, 08:52 PM
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I have thought about taking the pod apart and just replacing all the bulbs, though it seems of late that so many weird things have been going out (HVAC blower--fixed that twice--rear window wiper, horn) I was hoping that there was something common that may cause these seemingly unrelated systems to blip.
Normally, I would wash my car by hand, but every time I plan to, the temperature drops about thirty points and/or snows. And I actually don't choose the undercar wash option, I just pick the basic rinse/dry option to get the winter grime off.
Normally, I would wash my car by hand, but every time I plan to, the temperature drops about thirty points and/or snows. And I actually don't choose the undercar wash option, I just pick the basic rinse/dry option to get the winter grime off.