Electrical issue

[Keith Taylor]

When the car is running the gauges will only work when the A/c or radio is off. Also the windows roll down really slow. Also stepping on brake causes gauges to quit and lights dim. The alternator and battery have both been tested and passed. What could this be? I am new to working on cars but learning.

 

[ttocs]

are you having problems starting the car? Are you running under drive pullies?

 

[Keith Taylor]

are you having problems starting the car? Are you running under drive pullies?

No problems starting and no under drive pullies.

 

[ttocs]

then the battery should be ok. start simple and check your grounds. By check I mean remove, clean the area and then tighten them back down nice and snug. If it isn't the first thing you check, it will be the last after a very frustrating time.

 

[evilcw311]

As Scott said, start with the grounds.

And a word to the wise, testing a battery doesn’t always show the truth. It’s a kid test with the battery holding still. If there’s a broken or shorted cell inside the battery it can act like the battery went dead instantly when being moved around with the car.


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[ttocs]

As Scott said, start with the grounds.

And a word to the wise, testing a battery doesn’t always show the truth. It’s a kid test with the battery holding still. If there’s a broken or shorted cell inside the battery it can act like the battery went dead instantly when being moved around with the car.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

exactly as he said, to really test the battery you need to charge it, let it sit for a couple of hours and then test it. I have seen batteries that vatozone took off the charger and slapped the tester on and it read good. 3 hrs later when I was home and it was hooked up to nothing it was loosing voltage. But this is why I asked if its starting. As long as its cranking strong then the battery should be ok.

 

[Keith Taylor]

Thanks guys, ordered multimeter and will start checking this weekend

 

[ttocs]

check your ground then while you wait.

 

[Keith Taylor]

then the battery should be ok. start simple and check your grounds. By check I mean remove, clean the area and then tighten them back down nice and snug. If it isn't the first thing you check, it will be the last after a very frustrating time.

Was checking ground wires and found this. It is on the passenger side close to the firewall. Any idea where it goes?

 

[ttocs]

nope. I don't think its stock. check it for voltage and trace to see where it goes.