Battery/brake light

[fishtrap]

I have been going through this forum for some time now and there are multiple entries that the battery and hand brake light coming on together, but no one as far as I have read, and may have missed it, that explains why it happens or what it's related to.
I'm to the point of adding an alternator somehow to this car after working on it for 11days and no closer to finding the problem.

[Willie Williford]

Do you have a monitor for the 12V battery? You can get one from Walmart that plugs into the "cigarette" lighter. Good for viewing while driving. They are inexpensive and are great for most problems related to the 12V power source.

A shop manual is a must when it comes to the electrical problems.
Also a good investment.

If I was close by I would assist, maybe someone in your area can be of assistance.

HTH
Willie

[fishtrap]

12v battery is new and DC/DC converter doesn't seem to be putting out. Speedometer hasn't been working, but every now and then want to try. 12v goes dead at night after 15-35 miles. Been working on it and running tests, even disconnect different things try to track it down. Last night disconnected the VSS but no difference. There has got to be a reason that the battery light and brake light come on together. They don't stay on all the time, they fade as the engine revs and sometimes the battery light alone flashes very fast.

[joecvt]

Try checking fuse number 4 under the dash. It is a 7.5 amp fuse that supplies power to the ELD, DC-DC converter, VSS and other things. But it fits your description of the problem perfectly. I was looking to buy an Insight that could not keep the battery charged, had IMA problems and speedometer showed 0 at all times as well as other problems. I tested out fuse 4 on one of the Insights I already owned and was able to duplicate the problem. I was able to discharge the 12v battery while running. Once I put the use back in, everything was fine. I purchased the other Insight with the problems for only $1,200 bucks with a lot of new / newer parts installed. Put in a new fuse and presto....Great deal!.....BTW, the fuse blew because of a loose upper cat shield broken off but hanging around by the lower sensor. The shield cut into the wire while driving and grounded out one of the seondary sensor heating circuit (+12v supplied by fuse 4)

Even if the fuse looks good, make sure that it is not loose or try swapping with fuse 5 (also a 7.5a) ...that one supplies power to the turn signal / hazard lights. A safe one to know if it working while in the driveway.

Hope that helps,

JoeCVT = Just your average CVT owner

[fishtrap]

Ok, thanks! I'll try that in just a little while and get back with you.

[fishtrap]

Where is that cat shield that you found?

[joecvt]

It is the normal piece of thin metal that covers most of the cat converter. It is used to protect items from heat. It is typically called a heat shield. The one on the $1,200 Insight had its attachment bolts (4 of them) all rusted off and it just drops down to the lower portion of the cat dangling. There is a hole in the heat shield for the upper sensor and the cat was still trapped from falling all the way off the car by the sensor wire. All it has to do is cut into the wire enough to make contact then touch body frame ground at the same time and the fuse will blow. However, yours may just be a loose connection (bad fuse or bad connection).

JoeCVT = Just your average CVT owner

[fishtrap]

Joe, if you were close by I would buy you lunch!!!! Took the fuse out, cleaned the contacts and put it a new fuse, old one tested fine. Everything is working and all the lights have gone out!!! 13 days I worked on this thing.
THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Willie Williford]

You shouldn't buy him lunch, give him your next born.
Sometimes it's the simplist things that creates all the headaches.

Willie

[aisbell]

I for one am happy to see joecvt active in this forum again after taking a break. He is a wealth of information and has been very helpful to many as he just demonstrated.