So I get in my car to leave work @ 6:30, and I see the CD display 1:01. I find that odd since the radio is off. I set the time and drive home.

When I park at home, I noticed my trip odometer is 6.1 miles. That's the approximate distance from work to home. No, I didn't accidentally reset it, and the gauge read 40-something miles over lunch (4.5 hours earlier).

I later noticed that when the A/C kicks on, the battery takes a voltage hit down to 8-9, then recovers to ~13.

Not sure if it's related, but yesterday my low coolant indicator came on and stays on except for a short while after starting the engine. If I disconnect the sensor, the light goes out. Plugging it back in and the light comes back on. Checked the coolant level and it's good. Checked the level in the overflow and it's good. I have a 160* thermostat and autotap said my coolant temps were 216 this afternoon. Fans kick on at 185. Not sure where the other end of the sensor connector ends, but I think I'll try replacing that sensor. Do I just drain a bit of coolant from the petcock valve until the level gets below the sensor, then swap it out and refill?

So what could have happened 61 minutes before I left work to cause this?

TIA!

 

Sounds like you have a bad battery. Maybe take it and have it checked.

As far as the coolant sensor, yes that's how you do it. You could take it out and clean it then try it again before popping $40 for a new sensor. Sometimes that works.

 

What can I use to clean it with? Are you referring to cleaning the electrical contacts between the sensor and the wiring, or something else on the sensor?

 

Hmm, I just went to the car to fetch something and I turned the ignition to run to see what would happen. All the indicators and dome lights flickered off'n'on very fast before going out. I did it a second time and it appered that some sort of clicking noise was being generated from the glove-compartment area. The trip odometer was reset to zero and the clock was 1:00.

Tried starting the engine and it cranked over fine. When I've had battery problems in the past it would have real problems cranking over.

 

sounds haunted to me......

 

Take the sensor out and clean the part that sticks into the coolant with alcohol.

 

I had the battery and charging system tested @ Pep Boys. They claim both are OK. They gave me this print-out, and I watched them do the test:

BATTERY
RATED CCA: 650
OCV: 12.73V
LOAD V1: 10.89
RECOVERY V: 12.44
LOAD V2: 10.84
TEST NUMBER: 203
*GOOD BATTERY*
ALTERNATOR
REGULATOR VOLTS: 14.00V
PEAK CURRENT: 76.2A
*DIODE PATTERN IS GOOD*

The lights & instrument cluster glitched in the same manner this morning before leaving for the battery test. I noticed that the voltage gauge hung out at 0V while stuff flickered, and the needle eventually went up to ~9V.

Picked up the electrical cleaner and cleaned the exterior connections on the sensor. Dealership wanted $50 for a new one, so I thought I'd go back this week and get from a different guy at his cost. The light is less irritating than the Mr. Jekyll lighting.

Guess I'll drop it off at the dealer for the voltage issue.

 

man ur cars possessed lol

 

The poltergeist has gone away for the past two days, so I'm holding off on the dealer visit. The only thing I did was fiddle with the coolant connector and spray it out with electrical contact cleaner. Light remained on until the next time I started it then it went off. No more dancing lights either. Hell if I know.

That goes along with the erratic fuel level sender problem I've gotten every 36K miles. Guess I should look in the yellowpages under Exorcist

 

How old is the battery Jim? I still think that's where the problem is. If it's over 2 years old, it's due for a new one anyway. It could also just be a battery connection too. The only time I've ever heard of dash lights, odometer, radio and guages acting like that is when the battery needed to be replaced or the connections cleaned.

 

It'll be two years old on August 18th.

Did you know Jeff is installing a T2R and gears? Almost $400 to install one or both. Maybe I can do the same before September. Really hope I have them in time for the miniprix.

 

You guys crack me up. You're not gonna beat me by racking up mod points. But he is driving an auto LT1. He needs all the help he can get. It's kinda like I'm fighting a handicap kid for his lunch money.

I feel so guilty that I have the LS1 6 speed.

Also - Lower gears might actually hurt your autocross times. You won't be easily forgiven for stabbing the gas coming out of corners. You'll have to use a lot of finesse and self control to kepp from spinning. Plus you'll be shifting more too. That's gonna cause problems too. I think I got into 3rd gear for a second last time at Gainesville. As for normal monthly events, a lower gear would probably be okay to just leave it 2nd. I'd be very careful with 1st gear though. And I'm a big fan of 1st gear so I'm gonna keep the 3.42's.

I should have my Bilstiens by then too. My left front shock is blown bad right now(completely gone). I'm sure the right front isn't doing too good right now either. I doubt they'll cover them under warranty this time. The service rep said that the springs shouldn't void the suspension warranty before I put them on. We'll see what he says now. I think I'll take it in today and see.


BTW - I'd just replace the battery. It might have an intermittant short in it that testing won't find unless it's acting up at the time.

 

AwwW yea...stirring the pot That's it! I'm switching to GTR - at least you won't get as many points each month

Finesse is my middle name! (You did erase that tape of me doing a burnout in the middle of the Palm Bay course, right?)

I think the T2R would help compensate for the traction loss with just gears by themselves.

 

O.K. the 3:42's and T2R go in on Thursday. I'm not sure if they are going to help but we will see. Just remember that this handicaped kid expects the trophy hand delivered if he ever manages to kick your ***. Don't forget that this was your promise if I ever beat you.

 

Who did you decide to have install them?