JKO_ZHP
07-22-2018, 06:06 PM
2005, auto/steptronic. Been getting average 25+MPG cruising on the highways for the better part of the year, both pre and post-limp mode.
Just 7,xxx miles away from 200,000 miles even....I'm determined to make it there - but limp mode keeps coming back.
First time it happened last week, car was cruising at around 80MPH, ~3K RPM. Red battery light flashed a couple times, then dash beeped once, all needles dipped to 0 for a brief second, then returned to what it was just seconds before, albeit much tougher to maintain speed. Rough deceleration/acceleration as gears go down/up.
The lights that came on were: yellow DSC, yellow Brake, yellow gear/cog indicator next to current gear, and SES.
Did a quick guess-and-check: found out that the transmission fluid was low, and very dirty - flushed & changed it, new filter kit.
Shifted much better afterwards, but the same limp mode lights came back on not long after (within a couple days) - did a voltage test and deemed it to be a failing alternator. Replaced it with a brand new Bosch (AL0816N). Previous one was a remanufactured one which was about two years old; about the same time they usually fail, based on what I've researched online - hence, the brand-new Bosch one this time around vs. another reman'd.
Drove perfectly fine for the last week - but today, while cruising around 80MPH again with RPM's in the 2.75-3.00K's, I turned on the radio. Not long after, same original symptoms appeared (flashing red battery light followed by the yellow lights, loss of power, etc.). Turned the car off, came back after an hour or so, drove 100% fine. Didn't turn on the radio this time, drove home just fine (over 60 miles cruising between 65-85MPH).
Did a search here and E46f. - it seems that the battery may be on it's way out; any other thoughts as to what could cause the above? I put in a 49-DL (Duralast; discontinued) myself about 4-5 years ago, which seemed like the approx. range for when it would lose enough juice to cause problems.
Any ideas? I'd throw in a new battery but not without knowing the other possibilities/non-battery issues first.
On a side note, entire cooling system has been replaced once already a year or so ago - but the coolant light came on just last week, and stays on. No leaks; temp. needle is always dead center, didn't even need to top off. Have Mishimoto upper & lower hoses, and the other 5 OE hoses/pipes on the way for replacement, along with a new OE expansion tank & thermostat as a precaution.
Thoughts would be appreciated...
Just 7,xxx miles away from 200,000 miles even....I'm determined to make it there - but limp mode keeps coming back.
First time it happened last week, car was cruising at around 80MPH, ~3K RPM. Red battery light flashed a couple times, then dash beeped once, all needles dipped to 0 for a brief second, then returned to what it was just seconds before, albeit much tougher to maintain speed. Rough deceleration/acceleration as gears go down/up.
The lights that came on were: yellow DSC, yellow Brake, yellow gear/cog indicator next to current gear, and SES.
Did a quick guess-and-check: found out that the transmission fluid was low, and very dirty - flushed & changed it, new filter kit.
Shifted much better afterwards, but the same limp mode lights came back on not long after (within a couple days) - did a voltage test and deemed it to be a failing alternator. Replaced it with a brand new Bosch (AL0816N). Previous one was a remanufactured one which was about two years old; about the same time they usually fail, based on what I've researched online - hence, the brand-new Bosch one this time around vs. another reman'd.
Drove perfectly fine for the last week - but today, while cruising around 80MPH again with RPM's in the 2.75-3.00K's, I turned on the radio. Not long after, same original symptoms appeared (flashing red battery light followed by the yellow lights, loss of power, etc.). Turned the car off, came back after an hour or so, drove 100% fine. Didn't turn on the radio this time, drove home just fine (over 60 miles cruising between 65-85MPH).
Did a search here and E46f. - it seems that the battery may be on it's way out; any other thoughts as to what could cause the above? I put in a 49-DL (Duralast; discontinued) myself about 4-5 years ago, which seemed like the approx. range for when it would lose enough juice to cause problems.
Any ideas? I'd throw in a new battery but not without knowing the other possibilities/non-battery issues first.
On a side note, entire cooling system has been replaced once already a year or so ago - but the coolant light came on just last week, and stays on. No leaks; temp. needle is always dead center, didn't even need to top off. Have Mishimoto upper & lower hoses, and the other 5 OE hoses/pipes on the way for replacement, along with a new OE expansion tank & thermostat as a precaution.
Thoughts would be appreciated...