newsboy

I would try swapping in a good battery first, one that tests at 12.6-12.8 and see if this helps. As you probably have read, the "Christmas Tree" or perhaps in your case "Christmas Bulb" can be caused by many different electrical issues.

Indycam

christmas tree = all the lights on the dash come on while you are driving .

"Perhaps that has something to do with it ... ?"
Clean it up real good and then see if it gets better .

jox

The battery is definitely reacting to the engine speed ... It's at ~14-15 volts around 2000 rpms.

Maybe the alternator is about to give up but haven't just yet ....

MisterRisky

It makes me wonder if it is producing voltage but low amperage or something like that.

I'm driving my Ford Explorer around with a replacement alternator in the back seat. Its making a "bearing failing" noises, but, apparently, I like taking risks. Thus the name, I guess.

jox

"bearing failing noises" and "blip blip sounds" .... There really should be more words in the english language for different acoustics

In other news, I just prepared the missus that she might have to come and tow me and drove around the neighborhood for about 30 minutes with everything electric that I could think of ON. (Not only do my neighbors hate me, they think I am mental going around in circles, blasting the stereo with my full beams on)

Once I got back, the battery was still the same ...

Indycam

Has the battery ever gone dead on this car ?
If not , it sounds like your alternator is charging the battery .

Indycam

I made myself an adapter that lets me plug my dvm into the cigarette lighter .

jox

I've only had the car since February so I can't say, but it doesn't look very old.

dutchcrunch

cant you just go to some battery place and have the system tested. like here we have autozone, the y will do it for free.

"jump in the zone" you know the rest

lmazzoli

Make sure you check all of your grounds. There could be slight corrosion between one of the ring terminals and the body or other location causing the electrical system to do some wacky things. I had to take mine off and lightly sand both sides of the terminals, washers, nuts, and body to make sure there is a good ground. I found the ground coming directly off of the battery to the body had quite a bit of oxidation, but I also did many of the other ground locations. After I cleaned them all I covered them in a light coating of grease. Just my .02.

JasonAndreas

They're actually available for $194.83 + $30 core exchange from Sunset Imports.

dutchcrunch

Hello Jox,


how many kilometer/ miles on car ???

jox

Gonna check all the grounds today and try to get rid of all the corrosion before I invest in new parts

The car has ~74K miles!

MisterRisky

That is a VERY good idea.