ETC + Battery issue yesterday

papadocskj · **Posted:** Mon Jun 22, 2015 12:44 pm

So yesterday I decided to go exploring through the eldorado forest through polluck pines with the wife and dog. Unfortunately though we were inturupted by flashing lights. The battery light came on which I know from previous experiences to usually be alternator issues. And along side that the electronic throttle control light came on. So after pulling over and shutting ignition the car wouldn't start again(my fault cause I knew it wouldn't due to the battery light). After multie attempts to flag someone down and an hour or so later a motorist pulled over and jumped the car. It started up. He left and when I attempted to put the car in drive all the lights started flashing and acting wierd. And the car shut down again. I then called my cousin to come jump start the car since it was getting late and fewer vehicles were passing by. My cousin showed up and we jump started the car this time I left the cables on for about 5-7 minutes. Since then no lights came on again and it had no issues. Any ideas of what might have happened?? In my frustration while being stranded I did end up ordering an alternator with a decoupler pulley.

papadocskj · **Posted:** Tue Jun 23, 2015 9:10 pm

So ill take it that no one has any idea what might have happened for the Libby to act up the way it did? Nor as to why today on acceleration it lost all power and when I re starts it up there was major vibration. It shut off and after third restart it ran ok??
Any one? It be a lot of help that way I know how to tackle this issue.

flash7210 · **Posted:** Tue Jun 23, 2015 9:19 pm

Sounds like it could be a...
bad alternator
bad battery
bad battery connections
or all the above

The "major vibration" could be a sensor problem related to low voltage.

papadocskj · **Posted:** Tue Jun 23, 2015 9:28 pm

Thank you. Hopefully it's just that. Ill be changing the alternator tomorrow.

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Tue Jun 23, 2015 10:06 pm

I would take it to one of the parts stores and have the battery load tested....
Possible bad cell maybe or dirty connections?
Strange that the problem kinda healed itself... a bad battery or alternator usually stay bad once they have a problem...
Keep up posted as to what you find... :wink:

papadocskj · **Posted:** Tue Jun 23, 2015 10:27 pm

So I just came back from a shop which tested my alternator and battery and they both passed...

Would a bad egr valve cause any of this? Especially the bad vibration. And loss of power as well as engine shutting off?

I just recieved weeks1+2 kit so I should be installing them by end of week

barley00 · **Posted:** Thu Sep 01, 2016 12:42 pm

I had the very same sounding problem this morning. When I went out to go to work (note: raining out), turned the key, engine turned over a few times and went dead. Jumped it with my wife's car and it started. When I got back to it after removing the cables both the battery light and ETC (flashing) light were on. Looked at the manual and it said to cycle the key, tried that but there wasn't response to the key turn, jumped it again, it started and no dash lights. Drove about 6 miles and it started acting up, ETC light flashing, battery light on, radio going on and off, general low power with wipers and Windows, other dash lights going on and off. Finally, about 12 miles in I came to a stop and she died. Jumped again, it started then proceeded to stall, getting it towed. Does seem reminiscent of the last time the alternator went but also seems different in that it restarted and went down the road for a bit. Any thoughts on this much appreciated.

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Thu Sep 01, 2016 3:23 pm

These vehicles with all their electronics do not like LOW voltages and can act very strangely indeed when you try and operate one in that condition... :roll:

I would have the charging system tested for proper operation, output voltages, etc... and have the battery load tested to check its current condition...

joe_ · **Posted:** Fri Sep 02, 2016 1:30 pm

I've had weird low battery/dead battery symptoms on a different vehicle in the past that would seem to go away on their own after a few tries turning the key, accompanied by an intermittent battery light on the dash when driving afterwards. Turned out to be a loose connection at one of the battery posts. I'd check connections around the battery and along the major cables.

WWDiesel · **Posted:** Fri Sep 02, 2016 5:03 pm

joe_ wrote:

I've had weird low battery/dead battery symptoms on a different vehicle in the past that would seem to go away on their own after a few tries turning the key, accompanied by an intermittent battery light on the dash when driving afterwards. Turned out to be a loose connection at one of the battery posts. I'd check connections around the battery and along the major cables.

X2, loose or bad cable connections = bad or strange things!!!! :roll:

barley00 · **Posted:** Mon Sep 05, 2016 7:35 am

barley00 wrote:

I had the very same sounding problem this morning. When I went out to go to work (note: raining out), turned the key, engine turned over a few times and went dead. Jumped it with my wife's car and it started. When I got back to it after removing the cables both the battery light and ETC (flashing) light were on. Looked at the manual and it said to cycle the key, tried that but there wasn't response to the key turn, jumped it again, it started and no dash lights. Drove about 6 miles and it started acting up, ETC light flashing, battery light on, radio going on and off, general low power with wipers and Windows, other dash lights going on and off. Finally, about 12 miles in I came to a stop and she died. Jumped again, it started then proceeded to stall, getting it towed. Does seem reminiscent of the last time the alternator went but also seems different in that it restarted and went down the road for a bit. Any thoughts on this much appreciated.

Turns out it was my alternator...pleasantly surprised since I just replaced the darn thing 2 years ago. Didn't act the same this time, felt sure it was something worse...

ETC + Battery issue yesterday

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