blinking 'check guages' light 91 LeBarob

Been a long time since I worked on that model, but normally when the check gauge lite turns on, it wants you to do just that...CHECK THE GAUGES. What makes you think its a alternator problem? When you have all the accessories running at idle that's putting a load on the engine. Have you checked the oil level or even oil pressure? That's a gauge.

Just a thought Glenn Beasley Chrysler Tech

Oil seems to be fine on the dipstick, but no guage. I have voltmeter and temp only as guages. The voltmeter seems to be mid-scale, and the temp guage is generally always 1/4 scale.

I figured alternator since it seems to blink whenever there is an electrical change. For example, when the radiator fan begins to turn on, the link will blink. When the AC compressor cycles, the light will blink. At idle, with many accessories on, even the cycling of the turn signal will cause a faint blink of the check guages light.

You are a Chrysler Tech that commented that you do not see many of these; I wish my local Chrysler dealer would work on this car, they always treated me right.

Thanks for the reply,

Bill maxpower wrote:

What you described sounds like the voltage goal has dropped below specs. A good alternator output test and battery test should be done. Have you asked you local dealer to work on it?

Glenn

Thanks again for your reply.

I had the car at the local dealer two years ago for the famous 3.0V6 oil leak problems. They did a great job at a fair price. When I picked up the car, the service manager said the car was getting old, and MOPAR parts are starting to become scarce, and I should start looking for an independant mechanic to work on the car.

I may take the alternator off this weekend and have it bench tested at AutoZone. I just do not like their cheap rebuilt parts.

Take care,

Bill maxpower wrote:

combination of

That's one of the biggest reasons why we don't see them anymore. Most parts are not available thru Chrysler and we cant warranty after market parts, they will not stand behind the part and labor for 12/12. If im not mistaken that vehicle had a circuit board that was behind the dash that made that lite go on. If the circuit board failed it would make the lite turn on as the accessories were turned on. You may want to look into it more. Just a thought

Glenn

There used to be a regular poster named *spikey* that had a 1991 Le Baron convert. He ran a website that had lots of useful information regarding typical problems and repairs with this vehicle. At the time, he was a student at Arizona State.

If anyone knows if he still has a website up somewhere, it was very useful.

-KM

Hi...

Ken

Well, I do not know what to do next. AutoZone tested the alternator, and it passed the load test and diode test. I guess I'll lte a shop look at it next week. Thanks for all of the advice, and have a nice day, Bill

The alt may have tested out good. The engine controller is what determines the output of the alternator by trying to maintain a certain voltage goal by grounding the field circuit of the alternator. Did you check to see if there were any fault codes stored?

I just checked the fault codes tonight; 12 and 55.

Again, I put on the high beams, fan blower to high, hazard flashers on, etc. Voltage at the battery is 14.0V.

Put the car in drive, and the battery voltage is 13.3V, an dthe check guages light comes on.

Should I just try a rebuilt alternator?

Thanks aga> "billccm" wrote in

messagenews: snipped-for-privacy@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...

good. The engine controller is what determines

messagenews: snipped-for-privacy@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...

information

out good. The engine controller is what determines

An alternator would be a waste, I wish I could answer your question. I still think on that year/model there is a circuit board behind the cluster that controls that lite. If I remember tomorrow when I go to work I will see if there are still books around for that model. In the mean time you may want to have a scan test done on the BCM to see if there are any fault codes.

Glenn

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information

out good. The engine controller is what determines

Forget about the BCM thing

Glenn

You know, the light was on on my way home from work, and I pulled into an auto parts store for a charging test. They rolled out their machine, and tested the system. The "diode pattern" was good, and the charging system showed 97 amps available. The battery tested good with "95% predicted life" left.

Now I am wondering if it is an oil sender unit, or low oil pressure? I do not hear lifter noise, but it seems that three conditions must exsist to turn on this light:

If I shift to N, the light will go off, if I gently raise the idle with the gas, the light will go off.

I'm taking tha car into a shop tomorrow, against my better judgement. It has been my experience that Chrysler products are actually more reliable the further you keep thme from the shop.

Thanks again for your time, Glenn.

Bill

messagenews: snipped-for-privacy@m7g2000cwm.googlegroups.com...

inmessagenews: snipped-for-privacy@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...

good. The engine controller is what determines

about the BCM thing

messagenews: snipped-for-privacy@m7g2000cwm.googlegroups.com...

inmessagenews: snipped-for-privacy@h48g2000cwc.googlegroups.com...

straightforward.

testedout good. The engine controller is what determines

text -Forget about the BCM thing

I think that is what my first reply was. Checking oil pressure/replace oil sending unit

Glenn

Glenn, you were right on the money. Tonight I put the car up on ramps, and noticed that the connector to the oil sender was soaked in oil. When I unpluged the connector to the oil sender, OIL SQUIRTED OUT. The oil sender was leaking badly out it's connectors.

Local Checker had one in stock for $25.49 tax included.

A little advice, remove the oil filter first before tackling this sensor; I arced the wrench across the starter; lots of sparks. With the oil filter out of the way, it is a 1 minute swap.

Drove the car around for almost 17 miles tonight, in traffic. NO IDIOT LIGHTS!

Glad I can keep my trusty LeBaron!

Thank you for your time; you are an asset to this newsgroup. I wish ther was something I could do for you, kind sir.

Bill

maxpower wrote:

Well im getting ready to go on a golf trip for a week in about 20 min. I do need a new golf cart, my irons haven't been doing well on the fairways either...a new set of those would be nice. No seriously, Im glad you got it fixed. it is a fairly easy repair and a common one too. I see it all the time. Just make sure you take the connector apart or the lite could come back on.

Glenn