Good morning,

This very, very cold morning I started up my truck. Initially my red battery light stayed on a little long (it has done this two prior very cold mornings as well, then gone away) - then my three amigos flashed - then my M and S (and my lights on the shift stick) started flashing. I drove to get gas (5 km away, my gas light was on) and restarted - M and S still flashing. So I drove a little further on the highway this time and back and restarted - M and S still flashing. The truck seems to be working normally...I think...however the book says I need to 'urgently' seek help for a possible electrical fault in the automatic gear box (that's what I remember from reading it earlier anyway)...do you suppose it's just the cold? What could I get my mechanic to check? Any advice please.

Thanks!

 

You need to make sure your cables are clean/tight and same for the ground straps. Then have someone test your running voltage, should be 13.6 to 14.4 volts.
Let us know what you find.

 

Yep. Sounds like battery is one the way out maybe as well. Lots of parts stores will do a free test of battery and charging system.

 

If you did have a tranny issue, you should be showing a 700 to 800 tranny fault code number.

 

Ok, will do - the battery was new two years ago and the alternator was rebuilt at that time too.

 

Let us know what your running voltage is?

 

UPDATE from mechanic:

Running voltage 13.4V - 13.6V

Battery measured 11.8V

Battery failed load test several times - thinks it's a bad cell - wants to replace battery

He was able to read tranny code: 1562: voltage too low - limp mode?

He wants to get to the ECU to check the voltage while running after he replaces the battery if there's still an issue he feels it could be a connection to the ECU

New batteries from him:
-850 CCA $271
-735 CCA $193

I can also get the Optima Yellowtop for around $250 locally - I do plan to run a winch in the future

Thoughts?

 

I run Yellow Tops and swear by them, usual life, for me, has been around 7 years.

 

I ended up going with the 735 CCA at $193 solely for short term financial reasons - it's the battery that was in there and was on a prorated warranty so I also got $62 (non-transferable) credit towards the replacement. The battery is an ACDelco ACD3478 - oddly enough I cannot find much info online about it.

The new battery (above) seems to have cured the issue on the M and S flashing and tranny code - no lights or codes yet anyway.

I might look at Costco to see what they have for another short term battery option, although I don't know if I can return this new one and the Costco one would have to be less than $130 to make it worth it.

I'd like to go to dual Yellowtops sometime in the future - they are so expensive in Canada! National 4WD has them for $250. I've heard I should have over 800 CCA and 120 reserve minutes for my winch...

Still lots of other issues I'm working through - thanks for your continued help!