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Red lightning bolt of deth

4runner said:
Heard a new one today.
Guy had alternator shunting to ground causing the red lightning bolt...alt bench tested good. But once replaced, all was well.
Disco the alt, start and run...can accelerate to 4k...using 1" of pedal travel...remaining 4" of pedal travel does nothing, stays at 4k.
Click to expand...
Did you try to drive it with the alternator unhooked? Typically modern vehicles won’t let you rev in park over a certain rpm regardless of throttle position. It’s a minivan engine. All my Chryco vans with that engine will definitely not rev above 4K in park or neutral
 
Looks like I have something new to try.
 
He hasn't stopped by, yet.
I'm still trying to get the tank back in.
 
OK, down to 3 permanent codes, evap small leak, catalyst efficiency bank 1, and catalyst efficiency bank 2.

I have the local jeep dealer about to replace the clockspring for free, that hopefully should eliminate all my issues...
 
Progress is good. So what was done to fix the other issues?
 
we reset all codes using a Kingbolen scanner, only tje SAS(steering angle sensor) code came back with the red lightning bolt, this is the clockspring issue. still waiting for the dealer to call saying part has arrived and giving us a date for the repair.

the evap leak code, we are searching to find a leak, the catalyst efficiency issue is due to a lack of cats, but still running all O2 sensors...
 
still waiting for the clockspring to arrive...
 
So you are having problems and getting a cat code? Have you thought maybe the Cats are plugged?
 
i have no cats, empty tubes, but I still have all 4 O2 sensors...
 
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just got notified that the parts have arrived, now to drop off the red bastard and hope this fixes the red lightning bolt of deth...making an appt to drop it off.

appt set for 16th at 830AM

supposedly 3 hours.
 
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OK, after sitting in the waiting room for 3 hours, assured everything was good...I got about 150 feet away from the dealer...


At least the horn works
 

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OMG...this is like autism auto repair

Clear the codes, drive it, what comes up?

Get a scanner, get a manual, and take the first code by number and work the problem. Check obvious stuff like bad connections, dirty connections, power and ground distribution, anything that will fuck up VREF, etc.

Saying it has 17 codes, no cats, taking stabs at everything under the sun, having a so called expert look at it, then hating the truck because it's useless is not a great diagnostic strategy.
 
OK, Ive been trying to work each code one at a time.
another member here suggested the ClockSpring TSB to have that replaced for free. I did that today. that fixed the horn and all buttons on the steering wheel.

it did NOT fix the airbag light on the dash. I just read a code on my KingBolen scanner saying "seat belt pretensioner" and just watched a couple videos showing that there is a wire inside the seatbelt receiver(between seat and center console) that may be damaged that causes the airbag to malfunction and turns on that light.

also, I am continuing to get the red lightning bolt of deth along with traction control light(occasionally the CEL) while the engine is running.

I have tried to clear all codes with the scanner, but the SRS light immediately comes back. I plan to check the seatbelt for broken/damaged wires next.

as for the lightning bolt...the car will continue to drive as normal with either high idle or rough idle issues. turning the key off and back on resets this light.
 
This is currently the only code I have, but Im sure the Steering Angle Sensor code will be back(that's the lightning bolt, for the moment)...
 

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These are the codes Im down to.
Drivers side seatbelt barfed out these balls a long time ago to lock the belt, thats keeping the airbag lamp on.
The lack of cats is causing the lean code causing CEL lamp.
How can I lie to the ECM about lack of cats.
The EVAP leak is causing the red lightning bolt of deth, I will be smoke testing it tomorrow for leaks.
 

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4runner said:
The lack of cats is causing the lean code causing CEL lamp.
How can I lie to the ECM about lack of cats.
Click to expand...
Probably not what you want to hear, but put the cats back. Easiest solution and you don't have to worry about any tricks to work around them not being present.
 
Missing cats don't make lean codes unless you've simply got them hacked out and nothing behind the upstream oxygen sensors. The vacuum leak (not an EVAP leak) is your lean problem. The lightning bolt is a warning light for the electronic throttle body, if you've got a big fat vacuum leak the etb can't accurately meter air and maintain a good idle.

Smoke the intake manifold and I'll bet you'll find the plenum gasket leaking, if not, put a PCV valve in and see if that doesn't fix it.
 
five minutes ago I found a vacuum leak at the passenger side rear area of the intake manifold...new gasket tomorrow and try to get it installed.



Oreillys brake clean FTW
 
ok, I removed the upper intake manifold and replaced the rubber seals...the rear passenger one was cooked...in order to get the upper manifold off I had to remove the metal pipe that goes from the exhaust manifold to the upper intake manifold for the EGR. SURPRISE! the gasket at the exhaust end of the pipe was blown out and the bolts were loose, so I decided to replace that and the rubber ring at the intake manifold end.
now that it is all back together, engine idles smoother, no weird noise, NO CEL and NO RED lightning bolt of DETH!

so right now...i have a new drivers seatbelt coming to replace the one that had the balls shot out and rusted/shorted out...this is causing the airbag lamp to illuminate...hopefully this fixes the airbag lamp issue.

still trying to fix the low tire issue...ive found that someone has reset the lamp threshold to 7psi, but the scanner reads all 5 tires reporting at 33-35 psi. not figured out how to make my KingBolen K7 scanner change the threshold to make the light stay off...Ive accidentally change it to 8psi, but the lamp stays on. i will keep messing with that.

been an awesome journey to find out how these bitches function(like a female), so if you know why pizza boxes are square, pizzas are round, and we eat them in triangles, you know the secret to the universe.

i want to thank all of you for helping me.


and now, the red 2011 Jeep JK 3.8 auto is now for sale, since I already bought a new Jeep JKU...LOL
 
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