NEED HELP!! ABS Inop, Check Gauges!

[TheV6Bird]

I was driving, and all of a sudden the ABS Inop light came on along with the Check Gauges light. No SES light. I also noticed the voltmeter was in between 8 and 13, in the middle of the yellow zone. I don't know what a misfire is, so I don't know what the symptoms would be.

I also noticed that the starter seems to be turning over slower than it usually does when I start the car. I have to press the gas harder to get the car rolling at idle, but once up to speed it seems fine.

Is it the battery? Alternator? Cat conv? 1995 3.4 V6 A4, 95,360 miles. Help me please! :( [img]graemlins/crybaby.gif[/img]

[ October 14, 2002: Message edited by: TheV6Bird ]</p>

[nikkev]

Alternator is probably the culprit.In my '95, the ABS INOP and Check Guages light on together meant bad Alt.That's straight from the owner's manual.Good luck.
Kevin

PS
Get one with a lifetime warranty.Our cars eat those things!

[DTAdam]

Hey, I'm having the same problem I have a new alternator (3 months old) When my last one went the car didn't do this though. What I'm thinking is maybe the alternator belt is slipping, I'm going to try adjusting the belt tensioner(sp?) I'll post and tell you what happens.
Oh yeah, I changed plug wires and it seemed to fix everything for a few weeks, but it'sw happening again now. [img]graemlins/crybaby.gif[/img]

[TheV6Bird]

OK, checked the battery: dead. replaced it, and now the ABS Inop light is gone, but the Check Gauges light is still there. Also, on the highway, my trans didn't go into OD.

After the battery change, the OD went in, but the voltmeter is still at the yellow zone. Took it to Pontiac, and they said the alternator. I made an appt. for Wednesday. How could I install it myself? Tools? I've never done something that involved before. The only things I do by myself are oil changes and tire changes. Any instructions or pointers?

And which brand of alternator should I get? Any good ones? Sorry for all the ?s.

[ssbauer]

Do the alternator yourself. I did mine and I am not mechanically inclined. Very simple job!

Get a Haynes Repair Manual, worth every penny.

[rockotman]

If the engine is cooled down, the alternator r&r is a 15-20 minute job.

Remove the serp belt, disconnect the neg. term on the battery, three or four bolts on the alternator, the main wire, the small plug, and its out. Installation is just the reverse.

You should be able to do the whole job with a set of metric sockets and box wrenches (13mm or 1/2 inch, 14mm (9/16 12 point may also work), and if I recall correctly, 15mm), a decent 3/8" drive breaker bar (for relaxing the belt tensioner), a 10mm wrench for the main cable to the alt, and a 5/16" wrench for the battery cable.

[TheV6Bird]

Well, I got the alternator changed....at Pep Boys. Put a new one (not remanufactured) in with a lifetime warranty, and labor for $188. I think that's pretty damn good, especially since the Pontiac dealer wanted $240ish, a Chevy dealership said $300, and another Chevy dealership said $400+!!!

I wanted to install it by myself, but my dad said, "Hell no!". He doesn't trust me to do something like that, even though I told him about the CZ28.com V6ers and the FBV6.com crew giving me advice, and the fact that I have a Haynes manual. Oh well, he said he'd pay labor anyway, so I lucked out there.

Anyway, car runs fine now. Thank you very much guys! [img]smile.gif[/img]