Attention: TDR Forum Junkies Here is a copy of my final entry in a post where I had ABS trouble. I figure replacing the batteries is something everyone will do so please read this before you change batteries.
You know how when something happens after you do something it is almost always caused by what you did?
Well try putting in some physically smaller batteries, like the Optimas. How could this affect the ABS and then the turn signals and flashers? I'll tell you, there is a wiring harness that runs under the drivers side battery box and if it is not firmly in the corner your battery hold down bold can pierce it and short out all sorts of things like the F-L ABS sensor and the turn signal circuit.
Imagine the first snow of the year, dark out, major metro traffic dangers, and ABS brake idiot lights both on and now no turn signals. Yes, its Monday morning and shaping up to be a real interesting week I thought, as I powered the window down to hand signal.
Dealer got me in right away (Score a Major one for Forest Lake Chrysler). The tech narrowed it down to a short and was going to bypass it. I drank my umteenth cup of coffee while I considered what he was going to do. I went out to chat and I wondered out loud if there was a short to ground and shouldn't I be concerned the harness was compromised? He went over the basic layout of the harness routing and I said, "its the battery bolt!". I had thought about it hitting the inner fender when I installed the batteries but didn't consider a wiring harness. The batteries are shorter and the bolt pierced the harness.
Shorten the bolt!
You know how when something happens after you do something it is almost always caused by what you did?
Well try putting in some physically smaller batteries, like the Optimas. How could this affect the ABS and then the turn signals and flashers? I'll tell you, there is a wiring harness that runs under the drivers side battery box and if it is not firmly in the corner your battery hold down bold can pierce it and short out all sorts of things like the F-L ABS sensor and the turn signal circuit.
Imagine the first snow of the year, dark out, major metro traffic dangers, and ABS brake idiot lights both on and now no turn signals. Yes, its Monday morning and shaping up to be a real interesting week I thought, as I powered the window down to hand signal.
Dealer got me in right away (Score a Major one for Forest Lake Chrysler). The tech narrowed it down to a short and was going to bypass it. I drank my umteenth cup of coffee while I considered what he was going to do. I went out to chat and I wondered out loud if there was a short to ground and shouldn't I be concerned the harness was compromised? He went over the basic layout of the harness routing and I said, "its the battery bolt!". I had thought about it hitting the inner fender when I installed the batteries but didn't consider a wiring harness. The batteries are shorter and the bolt pierced the harness.
Shorten the bolt!
- I drained almost 3/4 of a beer can of excess electrolyte out of it. The right side was fine
I would have never known if the overfilled battery was on the right side till it was too late of course. Yes I checked both levels and periodically check the charge with a refractometer (oooh ahhhh) it was a nice going away present from my last place of employment.
