HELP!!! Flickering guages can't get OBDII codes!!!

marc9976 · **Joined:** Sat Nov 11, 2006 7:08 am **Posts:** 65

My libby has been acting up recently, dead battery a couple mornings...came out today and had a friend help jump it...after taking my foot off the gas, it died! Had power, tried again same...as soon as he unhooked the jumpers, my guages start flickering and jumping...I go to checker to have the altenator checked(battery is new and checked out ok) They can't test it...guy said something about DC being notorious for regulating voltage with the COMPUTER??? Is this guy nuts or do I possibly need a new computer??? And how do I get either of these checked out w/o driving my libby??? I was also unable to retrive OBDII codes. The self test function seemed to work but no codes at the end, just blinking engine light. No codes at all when trying the key activated code thing...Any suggestions??? :?:

marc9976 · **Joined:** Sat Nov 11, 2006 7:08 am **Posts:** 65

...sorry, this is an 03 liberty sport, 3.7...

marc9976 · **Joined:** Sat Nov 11, 2006 7:08 am **Posts:** 65

Alright, I found a shop in town that could actually test my alternator...how that was a problem in a city as big as Denver is beyond me...It's charging at 10v and they want $250 for a new 160 amp model! Thank god for ebay, new Denso 160 amp alternator, $139.99! Hopefully this solves the problem...

If you need a new one or want to upgrade to 160a from 130a or 136a, this is a great price...check it out

http://stores.ebay.com/CALIFORNIA-ALTER ... ND-STARTER

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Wed May 30, 2007 9:03 am

Great link! I've been wanting a 160A unit for the longest time now.

marc9976 · **Joined:** Sat Nov 11, 2006 7:08 am **Posts:** 65

Funny how my little 300 watt amp makes my headlights dim with the 136 amp that was in there. I am hoping that will go away too!

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Sat Jun 02, 2007 2:34 am

marc9976 wrote:

Funny how my little 300 watt amp makes my headlights dim with the 136 amp that was in there. I am hoping that will go away too!

Your amp power wire is not big enough(try a bigger gauge of wire),I have no problems with my 750watt amp(4 gauge wire) with the stock alternator,doesn't matter anyway since it's hooked to the battery and I have a Optima yellow top.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sat Jun 02, 2007 10:24 am

My 400watt amp would dim my lights if i had the headlights and the foglights on. If I just had the headlights on it was fine. I have 4 guage wire..

I ended up putting a cap on my amp and that fixed everything.

marc9976 · **Joined:** Sat Nov 11, 2006 7:08 am **Posts:** 65

Well, i have a 6ga wire at the moment, gotta upgrede that. I'm adding top lights so a bigger alternator is a must. Also, i have an aftermarket intake so there's room for a 2nd battery...Any ideas on that mod???

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sat Jun 02, 2007 12:48 pm

Ohh, its normal for the Jeep to die when you let off the gas when a battery has gone dead. Computer needs to relearn everything.

marc9976 · **Joined:** Sat Nov 11, 2006 7:08 am **Posts:** 65

...yes but when the battery is not dead, it's not normal. I have reset the ECU several times for various reasons, ie. new intake...Alternator will be in soon!

marc9976 · **Joined:** Sat Nov 11, 2006 7:08 am **Posts:** 65

BAD NEWS!!! I replaced the alternator, started er' up and the guages are still flickering and jumping around, little white smoke from the exhaust??? And then some crackling and popping noises from behind the guage cluster...Not looking good for my libby...It's in the shop now to find out what's wrong...This is completely new in my experience, anyone even heard of such problems from a jeep??? That new JK is looking pretty nice right now...

valvestem · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 222

[quote="\guages are still flickering and jumping around

[/quote]

Have you thought about the multi-function switch, this usually is the cause of flickering dash lights.

marc9976 · **Joined:** Sat Nov 11, 2006 7:08 am **Posts:** 65

Multi function switch??? Where is that exactly? Funny, I had the Libby towed to the dealer, dealer could not reproduce the problem! Maybe after sitting fo r 3 days, something reset itself...Anyway, after a new alternator, battery and the trip to the garage with "nothing wrong", my Libby is running better than it ever has. I have noticed an increase in power, electronics seem to be working better...lights seem brighter, stereo sounds better...and i am getting much better mileage now! Almost 20mpg on the highway, it was closer to 14 last month...Things seem good now so I'm crossing my fingers :shock:

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Tue Jun 19, 2007 7:46 am

The Multifunction switch is actually the assemlby with the blinker / wiper control (stalks) on it. Since the light switch rotates and moves forwards / backwards it's easy for the contacts to wear out and stop working in certain positions. This is most commonly the problem for the flickering gages.

marc9976 · **Joined:** Sat Nov 11, 2006 7:08 am **Posts:** 65

Ah yes, i am familliar with that problem however, not in this vehicle. It wasn't that type of flicker, the needles were actually jumping all over and the lights were coming on and off randomly! I've never seen that before. I just hope it doesn't happen again :roll:

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Tue Jun 19, 2007 12:19 pm

Ah, in that case - I don't have any good answer. (Power surge?)

WoodysKJ · **Posted:** Tue Jun 19, 2007 3:07 pm

So Marc,

What did you do to "Fix" this? I have an 07 and an 02 and I have noticed the interior lights and dash lights and guages flicker in the 02. Just thought it was a computer fart.

Is this something i need to be really worried about? Possibly a recall i have not been notified about?

marc9976 · **Joined:** Sat Nov 11, 2006 7:08 am **Posts:** 65

Honestly, I have no idea what happened. Even the dealer said they could not duplicate the problem... Quick recap...
-dead battery, sat over night.
-tried to jump, started and died several times
-guages jump and flicker when foot on gas, and disconnect jumper cables
-sat for 2 weeks
-replace batterty, same
-alternator tested charging at 10 volts, diodes good
-replace alternator, same
-towed to dealer, sat for 3 days with no battery connected
-dealer can't reproduce problem
-I get Jeep back, runs better, getting much improved mileage, lights seem brighter, stereo sounds better...Dealer says they did nothing but replace my already new battery!
-WTF???

So, I am enjoying my Libby again. Back to the Hills :wink:

WoodysKJ · **Posted:** Wed Jun 20, 2007 10:31 am

Keep me posted, VERY interested in this. Maybe get an mpeg of it as it is doing it and post it?

Lots of trouble i know but...

good luck.

Eddo · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1214

marc9976 wrote:

Honestly, I have no idea what happened. Even the dealer said they could not duplicate the problem... Quick recap...
-dead battery, sat over night.
-tried to jump, started and died several times
-guages jump and flicker when foot on gas, and disconnect jumper cables
-sat for 2 weeks
-replace batterty, same
-alternator tested charging at 10 volts, diodes good
-replace alternator, same
-towed to dealer, sat for 3 days with no battery connected
-dealer can't reproduce problem
-I get Jeep back, runs better, getting much improved mileage, lights seem brighter, stereo sounds better...Dealer says they did nothing but replace my already new battery!
-WTF???

So, I am enjoying my Libby again. Back to the Hills :wink:

Had similar problems also. A bad battery will cause all of what you decribed. Gauges flickering, wouldn't run even after a long jump, low alterator voltagets, etc. Replaced battery and haven't had a problem since. Could have been a bad replacement battery. A battery with a bad cell will cause all those problems.

HELP!!! Flickering guages can't get OBDII codes!!!

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