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Started By
Message
Quirky Automotive Electrical Issues Update: Battery Replaced. Issues persist.
Posted on 7/10/25 at 11:01 am
Posted on 7/10/25 at 11:01 am
Over the past couple of weeks, I've experienced several electrical oddities with my 2008 Mustang GT. Some occurring more frequently than others.
1. Wiper fluid sprayer no longer works.
2. A/C cut fan cut off or dropped really low, but then went back to normal when I put it on the Max AC setting. (Happened a couple of times)
3. Indicator ding that my headlights were on went off when the lights weren't on. (Only happened once.)
4. Right turn signal blinking fast like it's out. It isn't out. (Happens intermittently)
5. Satellite radio goes out for a second and dumps me back to terrestrial. (Newest quirk happend a couple of times yesterday. No issues this morning)
I'm not the best when it comes to electrical issues, but it seems all of these things happening around the same time would indicate a common cause, no? Both the battery and the alternator are under 2 years old. Any suggestions?
Update: I tested it at AutoZone where they said the battery was fully charged, but it was bad. I replaced it, and everything was good for 5 minutes or so before the symptoms started up again, plus a couple of new ones. After the satellite cut out, now the radio is turning completely off, and one of my speakers will pop pretty loud when it does. I also noticed my charging gauge spiking a bit. I turned my radio and A/C off, but it was still running a bit high.
1. Wiper fluid sprayer no longer works.
2. A/C cut fan cut off or dropped really low, but then went back to normal when I put it on the Max AC setting. (Happened a couple of times)
3. Indicator ding that my headlights were on went off when the lights weren't on. (Only happened once.)
4. Right turn signal blinking fast like it's out. It isn't out. (Happens intermittently)
5. Satellite radio goes out for a second and dumps me back to terrestrial. (Newest quirk happend a couple of times yesterday. No issues this morning)
I'm not the best when it comes to electrical issues, but it seems all of these things happening around the same time would indicate a common cause, no? Both the battery and the alternator are under 2 years old. Any suggestions?
Update: I tested it at AutoZone where they said the battery was fully charged, but it was bad. I replaced it, and everything was good for 5 minutes or so before the symptoms started up again, plus a couple of new ones. After the satellite cut out, now the radio is turning completely off, and one of my speakers will pop pretty loud when it does. I also noticed my charging gauge spiking a bit. I turned my radio and A/C off, but it was still running a bit high.
This post was edited on 7/10/25 at 9:08 pm
12
Posted on 7/10/25 at 11:07 am to facher08
2. the AC blower motor switch is going bad. Simple fix
4. The turn signal relay flasher is bad. Simple fix.
4. The turn signal relay flasher is bad. Simple fix.
Posted on 7/10/25 at 11:07 am to facher08
I'm by no means a mechanic but a lot of electrical problems I've had result from a grounding issue.
I had another issue with the wiring harness being damaged from the car being low which caused a bunch of freaky issues that took months to diagnose before an easy fix.
I had another issue with the wiring harness being damaged from the car being low which caused a bunch of freaky issues that took months to diagnose before an easy fix.
Posted on 7/10/25 at 11:08 am to facher08
Check for loose wires, check battery cables, above all, check the ground cable. Then check fuses.
Posted on 7/10/25 at 11:10 am to Monday
quote:
a lot of electrical problems I've had result from a grounding issue.
That’s one of the things to check first.
Posted on 7/10/25 at 11:12 am to facher08
At night (or dark) how are the interior lights\ overhead lights reacting when just the ignition is on . Are they dimming out or acting funny?
Posted on 7/10/25 at 11:16 am to Monday
quote:
I'm by no means a mechanic but a lot of electrical problems I've had result from a grounding issue.
Yep. Multiple, seemingly unrelated, electrical issues are almost always a grounding issue.
Posted on 7/10/25 at 11:18 am to facher08
quote:
I'm not the best when it comes to electrical issues, but it seems all of these things happening around the same time would indicate a common cause, no?
You got a car ghost. Need to visit Marie Laveau to get that fixed.
Posted on 7/10/25 at 11:22 am to sqerty
quote:
At night (or dark) how are the interior lights\ overhead lights reacting when just the ignition is on . Are they dimming out or acting funny?
Nothing noticeable.
Posted on 7/10/25 at 11:40 am to facher08
Loose connections, faulty ground, alternator control...lots of possibilities. Most newer vehicles have alternators that vary the voltage on demand, CAFE and all, and will cycle between 14V and closer to 16V at times. This is pretty tough on electrical systems but OEMs don't care if you burn out more bulbs, fuses, and relays.
Posted on 7/10/25 at 11:54 am to facher08
2. Sounds like a blower motor resistor. They can be in an easy place to change or a pain in the arse.
Posted on 7/10/25 at 11:55 am to facher08
1. Check the fuse for the wiper sprayer pump. Or you may have to change the pump.
Posted on 7/10/25 at 12:06 pm to facher08
Test your battery. Battery voltage issues can cause all kinds of other problems.
Posted on 7/10/25 at 12:20 pm to BiggerBear
quote:
Test your battery. Battery voltage issues can cause all kinds of other problems
This was my first thought as well. Modern cars experience all kinds of freaky shite when the battery is going out. First thing I would do is change the battery.
Posted on 7/10/25 at 12:25 pm to facher08
I bet it's a bad ground. Maybe a motor/trans to frame.
Posted on 7/10/25 at 12:38 pm to BigBinBR
quote:
Yep. Multiple, seemingly unrelated, electrical issues are almost always a grounding issue.
Or am alternator going bad. This is usually short lived and the car dies but all sorts of weird stuff will happen when the running voltage gets too low.
Posted on 7/10/25 at 12:41 pm to Spankum
quote:
Modern cars experience all kinds of freaky shite when the battery is going out. First thing I would do is change the battery.
It's usually the battery or a ground.
Since everything is so integrated on a modern car, voltage drop on one component during cranking can cause issues elsewhere that seem impossible to correlate.
If the battery is over 2 years old and weird gremlins start happening, it's often not a coincidence.
Posted on 7/10/25 at 12:45 pm to DownshiftAndFloorIt
I pulled my hair out over several issues on my previous vehicle only to learn the battery was getting old and needed replacing. Wasted a lot of time just to change a battery. Start there.
Posted on 7/10/25 at 1:31 pm to Paul Redeker
quote:
I pulled my hair out over several issues on my previous vehicle only to learn the battery was getting old and needed replacing. Wasted a lot of time just to change a battery. Start there.
Vote #3 for this.
Then check grounding straps. Check them thoroughly. Should be at least one from engine to body, then others. Check Mustang forums to find them.
Then start in with the simple fixes above.
Posted on 7/10/25 at 2:42 pm to TigerHornII
This.
Check the actual strap. Even if the bolt is tight, if its corroded or frayed it can still cause issues
Check the actual strap. Even if the bolt is tight, if its corroded or frayed it can still cause issues
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