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idiot lights

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Old Apr 23, 2008 | 07:42 PM
  #1  
plainwhiteZ's Avatar
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From: Castro Valley, Ca
idiot lights

what does it mean when your fuel and door lights come on but your doors are closed and you have a half tank of gas?
Old Apr 23, 2008 | 07:48 PM
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tonsoffun300zx's Avatar
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you might want to check your ecu
Old Apr 23, 2008 | 07:52 PM
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I read in another post that it could be indicative of alternator issues. Im pretty sure my alternator is about to go out again, third one in 2 months. At first I thought it was just crappy parts from kregen, but if this is the third one I was wondering if the lights are a sign that there is somthing else wrong that keps burning up my alternators.
Old Apr 23, 2008 | 07:53 PM
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get the alt. tested at autozone then go from there
Old Apr 23, 2008 | 07:54 PM
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Im so freakin tired of pulling my alt.
Old Apr 23, 2008 | 07:56 PM
  #6  
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where is castro valley anyways? and is it your dd?
Old Apr 23, 2008 | 07:59 PM
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Castro valley is in the east bay between hayward and san leandro.

dd?
Old Apr 23, 2008 | 08:03 PM
  #8  
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daily driver.
Old Apr 23, 2008 | 08:05 PM
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plainwhiteZ's Avatar
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ah yes, it is. sorry about that.
Old Apr 23, 2008 | 08:35 PM
  #10  
snwbrderphat540's Avatar
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Originally Posted by tonsoffun300zx
you might want to check your ecu
NOOB! those lights ARENT hooked to the ecu in any way.
Old Apr 23, 2008 | 11:24 PM
  #11  
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I have the same issue. It could be a ground, but it's kind of random, and does seem to happen with the more load I put on the system. I have an aftermarket headunit, speakers, and some autometer gauges hooked up in my ZXT. So I make sure everything is turned off before I turn my car off in the chance that maybe it won't give enough charge to do the battery.
Old Apr 24, 2008 | 02:23 PM
  #12  
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ok, dont know why the lioghts come on but I found out that if I play with and push on the positive connection on the back of the alternator then They go off and my battery starts charging again. AAAAARGH! I hate crap alternators.
Old May 8, 2008 | 03:08 PM
  #13  
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Have you done anything else with this? Like replaced the alternator or anything? I'm beginning to wonder if I'm having the same problem. I've done a voltmeter test across the battery terminals while running and have very little voltage, barely 12 volts.
Old May 9, 2008 | 11:59 AM
  #14  
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From: Castro Valley, Ca
yeah. I replaced the alt a couple of times. Thought it might be somthing else that was wrong but it was just crappy kregan parts. I know I shouldn't have subjected my z to such shoddy work but Its my daily driver and I was low on cash.

with a decent alt in it. it is finnaly running strong.
Old May 9, 2008 | 12:01 PM
  #15  
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turns out al the connections in the back of the alt were just half a**ed. sorry for the language. Had to take it apart and lock them down to get a good connection for both terminals. live and ground.
Old May 9, 2008 | 04:37 PM
  #16  
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But the little connector on the back of the alternator doesn't matter. The plastic one I mean? I think the car can run with that disconnected with no problems if I'm not mistaken. I think that's only for the idiot lights/alternator warning, right? I'll have to probably do the same with my alternator.
Old May 14, 2008 | 03:31 PM
  #17  
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yeah, I dunno about the plastic one. it was fine, I just plugged it in. your probably right about not needing it. It was just the terminals. The metal screws coming out the back.

Everything works fine now and I'm glad its over. My charging problems took me through 1 battery 1 fusible link and 3 alternators.

Last edited by plainwhiteZ; May 14, 2008 at 03:35 PM.
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