2000 Concorde LXi – Bazaar Electrical Behavior

Discussion in 'Concorde' started by jaygreg, May 29, 2009.

  1. jaygreg

    jaygreg Guest

    Car has 102,000 miles. Belts haven’t been changed yet; possible root
    cause. Here’s the behavior:

    Four days ago, dashboard lit up like a Christmas tree after pulling
    from a parking lot where the car had been idling for 10 minutes. Can’t
    remember if air conditioner was on but the symptoms disappeared by
    themselves in short order. Can’t remember if I turned the car on then
    off.

    Earlier today, after driving about 15 minutes, dash lit up on a super
    highway; ABS, Traction Off, Battery, maybe Oil. I pulled into a
    station and shut it down fro 5 minutes. Air and radio had been on.
    Shut both off, restarted, and completed the 20 minutes remaining of my
    trip without incident.

    On the return trip – without air but with radio on – to a station near
    home without incident. Upon pulling from station with radio on (no
    air), my ABS and Traction Off lights lit. I continued but when I
    attempted to switch to high beams, the engine raced. Repeated when I
    attempted same the second time. By the time I arrived home (5
    minutes), I noticed the overhead console lights had zeroed out (all
    dashes) except for the temperature… which remained accurate.

    Could sure use a clue or two here.
     
    jaygreg, May 29, 2009
    #1
  2. Hi!
    Are there loose or corroded connections to the battery, especially the
    ground?

    I've seen many a vehicle go bonkers when the battery terminals were loose,
    and even some digital instrument panels that acted, shall we say, "spaced
    out".

    William
     
    William R. Walsh, May 29, 2009
    #2
  3. jaygreg

    jaygreg Guest

    Don't know but I'll check in the AM.
     
    jaygreg, May 29, 2009
    #3
  4. jaygreg

    Bill Putney Guest

    Check connections at the battery as William said - corrosion wreaks
    havoc on the battery terminals, but also check the positive and negative
    jump posts - especially the positive one - these are not the connections
    at the battery - these are the posts that you would use to jump start
    the car - the positive one especially is known for becoming loose.

    Also the battery may be dying - a common failure mode for the batteries
    is to develop intermittent shorts, and what you describe is how the car
    acts when that happens. Is this maybe the original battery? If so,
    that is very likely the problem, and I'd replace the battery anyway even
    if it's not the problem because you're definitely on borrowed time with
    it (but if it is the original battery, it very likely is the problem).
     
    Bill Putney, May 29, 2009
    #4
  5. jaygreg

    jaygreg Guest

    Battery will be two years old in October (you told me to replace it on
    another issue back then, I believe, Bill). Checking that is gonna' be
    more involved than I have time for today so I'm borrowing a car and
    will check it out tomorrow. Man... all this to check a battery! :)
     
    jaygreg, May 29, 2009
    #5
  6. jaygreg

    Steve Stone Guest

    Heck.. the Hubble telescope batteries lasted for 19 years.
    You would think Chrysler could do better !!! <grin>

    Steve
     
    Steve Stone, May 30, 2009
    #6
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