What is the red lightning bolt on my dash light??

CRD Joe · **Posted:** Sat Jun 22, 2013 1:14 pm

Ok, Im having a hard time finding this information out. Yesterday I got a flashing red lightning bolt dash light. As soon as I turned the truck off and restarted it it went away.

Can any of you tell me what this is supposed to mean? So far Ive got 98,000 miles with no trouble with the truck. Id rather not start having trouble now.

Thanks all.

Tom

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Sat Jun 22, 2013 1:30 pm

my owners manual says the lightning bolt is the Electronic Throttle Control - and yes we really have one - it's part of the EGR system - chokes the intake enough to allow exhaust gases in.

original ones had plastic gears that stripped out.

flash7210 · **Posted:** Sat Jun 22, 2013 2:51 pm

Actually, it has nothing to do with the EGR.
The electronic throttle is the position sensor on the accelerator pedal.
Remember, the CRD is "drive by wire." No throttle cable.

msilbernagel · **Posted:** Sat Jun 22, 2013 2:54 pm

You can get that CEL on occasion by 'power braking - pressing the accelerator while your left foot is still riding the brake.

If you start getting that code and your foot isn't on the brake, perhaps the brake switch or TPS is getting flaky?

Mark

jlgail4309 · **Posted:** Sat Jun 22, 2013 3:01 pm

Thats how I got the light bolt was from gas and brake at the same time. It don't like that. It will go into limp mode if you do it heavy.

CRDsyeruncle · **Joined:** Fri May 10, 2013 10:03 pm **Posts:** 71

The red lightning bolt with two vertical bars on each side? It's an electrical warning light, relating to alternator charge drop. Could be your first sign of alternator failure. If you do experience alternator failure, you might have 5-10 minutes of driving on your deep cycle. Get the sucker diagnosed at your local alternator shoppe. Your ECU will do systematic shutdown as you lose power (from experience). Good luck.

DOC4444 · **Posted:** Sat Jun 22, 2013 5:53 pm

If it is not from pressing brake and fuel delivery pedal simultaneously, it is something significant that is wrong that is not obviously related. Email GDE. I cannot remember what it is.

DOC

Hexus · **Posted:** Sat Jun 22, 2013 7:30 pm

Believe it or not, that symbol could also mean the temperature sensor on the back of your thermostat has either gone bad or is unplugged.

Is your Jeep idling rough, does it spike up to about 2k rpm when it starts?

Last time I had the thunderbolt that was what I had forgot to plug in.

It also came on when my alternator crapped out.

WolverineFW · **Posted:** Sun Jun 23, 2013 7:46 pm

msilbernagel wrote:

You can get that CEL on occasion by 'power braking - pressing the accelerator while your left foot is still riding the brake.

If you start getting that code and your foot isn't on the brake, perhaps the brake switch or TPS is getting flaky?

Mark

He has the GDE tune though and Keith disabled this annoyance in the tune I believe.

DOC4444 · **Posted:** Sun Jun 23, 2013 8:18 pm

I have triggered this a few times myself as I am a left foot braker and have had GDE tunes since the first prototypes.

I have not had an update in over a year, so it could be a tweak Keith has added recently.

DOC

ATXKJ · **Posted:** Sun Jun 23, 2013 8:52 pm

flash7210 wrote:

Actually, it has nothing to do with the EGR.
The electronic throttle is the position sensor on the accelerator pedal.
Remember, the CRD is "drive by wire." No throttle cable.

That makes too much sense
(or I could have just been confused)

but I think you're right

CRD Joe · **Posted:** Sun Jun 23, 2013 10:35 pm

Well, my EGR has been unplugged the entire time the truck has been running. I wonder what level this is talking about? I supposed it could be my alternator. Is there a test for that IF Im only getting one dash lightning bolt???

ukliberty · **Posted:** Mon Jun 24, 2013 2:44 pm

My Lib started to fault with the same light yesterday! it drives as normal without giving a fault code?

I'm concerned its only done 42,000 miles and its going to cost me packet to put right!?

the unit is giving out a low pitch buzz plus the usual noise it makes when positioning before starting and after switching off.

once unplugged the buzzing stops and brings the engine symbol light on! it does stop buzzing when the cycle has stopped after turning the ignition off! its booked into the dealer tomorrow, unless you guys have any ideas!!!!!!

Regards

Auberon · **Posted:** Wed Jun 26, 2013 7:58 am

A couple of things I recall about this:
In the dim distant past I remembered it being linked to glow plugs - go figure even though it has been correctly described as ETC....Electronic Throttle Control.
I got it a few times and found it was not deeply embedded - cleared after engine off & restart....
Always appeared well after starting and running till normal operating temp was reached....
If it helps: The sensor at the pedal is a Hall effect device that conveys Voltage to the ECU.
The symbol is one of those stoopid universal pictograms allegedly easier to work out than words :roll:

- it says that there is an electrically controlled do-dad (butterfly) in a duct.

This may be useful:
I use AutoEnginutiy (fully enhanced) and could never pull a related fault code even when I did not switch off the motor....until....
I eventually got a message that I had a faulty No 1 glow plug and I replaced all of them with Etecnos.
After changing out the original glowplugs to Etecnos the light hasn't appeared.

ukliberty · **Posted:** Thu Jun 27, 2013 5:42 pm

Hi Thanks for the info

Sure enough after a morning at the dealer, 1 new glow plug (no3) the air mass sensor being de-coked and a bill for £285 pounds, $427 us dollars or $456 Aussie dollars she is fixed, fingers crossed.

Should have remembered!

No lack of power! ETC light on! = Glow Plug! I've already replaced 1 & 2. no 3 is a witch to get to so I let them do it! and I suppose i'll do number 4 when the light comes on again!

Ahhhh Jeep

:banghead:

jrsavoie · **Posted:** Sat Jul 12, 2014 12:04 pm

I have the lightening bolt dash light coming on.

It is accompanied by revving without acceleration - like the transmission is slipping. When accelerating at about 65 mph the tach went to 3 grand and the Jeep did not accelerate speed

The Jeep has 140,000 miles on it. The Engine is a new factory crate. GDE tune.

European torque converter

flash7210 · **Posted:** Sat Jul 12, 2014 1:09 pm

Absolutely something wrong with your transmission.
Either your torque converter is trashed or one (or both) of your overdrive clutches is worn out and slipping.

Does it do this constantly?

You should take it to a transmission shop for a proper diagnosis.

jrsavoie · **Posted:** Sat Jul 12, 2014 2:12 pm

It does not do it constantly. Sometimes it accelerates fine

I am wondering if the odd acceleration and the light are unrelated issues

flash7210 · **Posted:** Sat Jul 12, 2014 6:37 pm

If the transmission does not always behave that way then it's probably not the TC, clutch packs, or other mechanical device.
Might be a problem with the transmission solenoid pack.
Have you checked the fluid level?

At 65 mph the transmission shouldn't be downshifting. Unless maybe you floored it while going uphill.

jrsavoie · **Posted:** Sat Jul 12, 2014 6:48 pm

It has done it to me now at lower speeds as well around 45 mph. My wife said it has done it to her several times at those speeds. We do not often drive at higher speeds.

It was not down shifting at the higher speeds. It just felt like the transmission was slipping. The RPM's went up and there didn't feel to be any direct connection to the rear wheels. I used resume on the cruise and it did not seem to slip at the higher speeds, but did seem to slip once about 45 mph.

What is the red lightning bolt on my dash light??

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