jswan415
New Member
2015 Limited EL
My wife started getting a check charging system code while driving more and more frequently and sooner and sooner after start up. After running in the ET diagnostics mode I could see the volts dip down below 12 and sometimes come back up or stay down around 12. It looks like the battery terminals have some funky aftermarket workarounds from the used car dealer we bought from. The roughly 16" positive battery cable leg that runs to the fuse box has a lock washer on it that looks like a different metal and there appears to be some corrosion in that battery cable (pics below pointing out lock washer and corrosion). I'm wondering if the dissimilar metal caused corrosion and there's extra resistance/heat, etc. In that leg causing the voltage drop. The problem went away after i pulled everything off and cleaned all the terminals and cables and has since returned about 4 months later. I lost my voltmeter so I haven't been able to test everything more in depth. I'm wondering if I can replace the positive terminal and that 16"ish cable to the fuse box. Does that all sound appropriate? Anything g else i might be missing or should look at as well? The battery is good and I'd like to address the wiring before attacking a new alternator.
My wife started getting a check charging system code while driving more and more frequently and sooner and sooner after start up. After running in the ET diagnostics mode I could see the volts dip down below 12 and sometimes come back up or stay down around 12. It looks like the battery terminals have some funky aftermarket workarounds from the used car dealer we bought from. The roughly 16" positive battery cable leg that runs to the fuse box has a lock washer on it that looks like a different metal and there appears to be some corrosion in that battery cable (pics below pointing out lock washer and corrosion). I'm wondering if the dissimilar metal caused corrosion and there's extra resistance/heat, etc. In that leg causing the voltage drop. The problem went away after i pulled everything off and cleaned all the terminals and cables and has since returned about 4 months later. I lost my voltmeter so I haven't been able to test everything more in depth. I'm wondering if I can replace the positive terminal and that 16"ish cable to the fuse box. Does that all sound appropriate? Anything g else i might be missing or should look at as well? The battery is good and I'd like to address the wiring before attacking a new alternator.
