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On my Element about a month ago I was driving with the A/C on 1 night and all of a sudden my battery light came on flickering and all, eventually late that night my car lost all power while I was driving down the road. My buddy jumped me and got 4 blocks down the road. The next day we get a refurb alternator and put it in. All was good for about 1 week and it started happening again, battery light flickering then lost all power with gauges and all lights on dash flickering. Took alternator back and got another thinking that was it, also bought a new battery. Again all good for about a week and again same sh@#. Finally went and bought a brand new alternator and now light still flickering and coming on, lost power to A/C and passenger side window, but driver side rolls down. Car stays somewhat charged now , but not running its at 12.3 volts and when I turn it on it drops to 12 – 12.1 when it should go up. Ive looked at all fuses none blown,remove A/C relays because I heard they can stick open and drain batteries,m removed factory amp, but still flickering. I was told possibly replace the multiplex. Does this sound like symptoms of a bad multiplex or anyone have any ideas?
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I’m still thinking it is a bad ELD. It could also be a bad multiplex. One or the other, perhaps both. Attached is a diagram from the factory service manual.
Well I broke down and took it to a shop and they figured it out in 4 hrs. Everything but the main grounds on the battery were loose down to engine mounts. Geniuses who rebuilt it didnt know how to tighten bolts down. Wire harnesses grounds straps to the grounds were all loose, so because of that it fried my passenger window motor and blower motor for air. Thanks for all who replied with answers – STAY DIRTY!!!!!!!
Glad you got things sorted out.
It would have been very helpful, though, if you had mentioned that someone had been under the hood and messed with the wiring harness before this electrical issue came up.
My understanding is the alternator should be putting out 13.8 VDC . And that is the voltage that should show at the battery , with the engine running ? Is this correct ?
Check the condition of all the grounds .
Check both battery cables , at both ends .
Check the condition where each batter clamp is terminated to its respective wire / cable . Look for corrosion that may have worked its way under the plastic cable insulation and deteriorated the wire . Up inside the insulation , where it is not visible .
Does the alternator have the voltage regulator inside the alternator or external to the alternator ?
God bless
WyrTo say check the connections is not saying enough. The positive cable goes to the starter, alternator and fuse block. The negative goes to the engine block and the body on the inner fender or firew etc. Check all ends to see if any are loose or corroded.
I know the battery in the element is small and there is no room to put in a larger unit in. My instinct is to install as many cold cranking amps aka CCA as possible.
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