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Forums - General - Any Mechanics around?

Driving to work I noticed my battery light AND my parking brake light were on, and as I drove they flickered (not blinked) flickered as if I went over a bump the light would flicker type of thing.

Then my airbag light lit up for a couple min then went off, then later it came back on, then off, etc

Then my check engine light came on, this stayed on solid (probably 30 min or so after I noticed my battery/parking brake lights)

Eventually I came to a stop light, hit the brake then boom car went dead, try to start it back up and get the clicking sound as if battery is dead.

Thinking Alternator or possibly problem with the electrical system?

Car is a 2008 Chevy Aveo with 75,000 KM



Unicorns ARE real - They are just fat, grey and called Rhinos

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Definitely an electrical issue.  First portion sounds like a loose fuse (check the cluster fuse just to be sure) or a bad ground.  Second portion sounds like an alternator or battery issue.  I don't know enough about the car's electrical system to tell you any more.

Check all the wiring around the battery and alternator.



I would agree with tarhill.



I was thinking wiring, as the lights flickered when I was driving, going over uneven pavement, etc.. just not sure why the airbag light came on... thought that was odd... Don't suppose you know if the check engine light will come on if the battery gets below a certain charge %?



Unicorns ARE real - They are just fat, grey and called Rhinos

Tanstalas said:

I was thinking wiring, as the lights flickered when I was driving, going over uneven pavement, etc.. just not sure why the airbag light came on... thought that was odd... Don't suppose you know if the check engine light will come on if the battery gets below a certain charge %?


Most likely, nothing's actually wrong with any of the systems that had their light come on.  There is one fuse for the entire cluster (that's all those lights on the dash).  If it's loose, you'd see all that stuff flashing on and off.  If you had a bad ground for the cluster, the same thing would happen.  If one of the wires was nearly shot, you'd be the same thing.  The fact that your whole car turned off, followed by your being unable to start the car sounds like the issue is located closer to the battery.  I can't tell you more than that without pouring over some electrical diagrams for the car.



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tarheel91 said:
Tanstalas said:

I was thinking wiring, as the lights flickered when I was driving, going over uneven pavement, etc.. just not sure why the airbag light came on... thought that was odd... Don't suppose you know if the check engine light will come on if the battery gets below a certain charge %?


Most likely, nothing's actually wrong with any of the systems that had their light come on.  There is one fuse for the entire cluster (that's all those lights on the dash).  If it's loose, you'd see all that stuff flashing on and off.  If you had a bad ground for the cluster, the same thing would happen.  If one of the wires was nearly shot, you'd be the same thing.  The fact that your whole car turned off, followed by your being unable to start the car sounds like the issue is located closer to the battery.  I can't tell you more than that without pouring over some electrical diagrams for the car.

Well, here is to hoping it is a bad fuse then :)



Unicorns ARE real - They are just fat, grey and called Rhinos

Yup... so, Alternator, $550 for the part labour, was quoted almost $800 on the phone before taxes, fun fun



Unicorns ARE real - They are just fat, grey and called Rhinos

Tanstalas said:

Yup... so, Alternator, $550 for the part labour, was quoted almost $800 on the phone before taxes, fun fun



shit dude. wheres the alternator on that car? If its in the clear then you and a buddy should be able to change it. Check Napa and autozone for prices and warranties. Just changed one on my dad's ford for $120 and it has a lifetime warranty.



Already been changed and paid the $900 :P

Though the airbag light is still on, thinking that when the voltage got low it triggered that warning light and they didn't clear the code.. or at least that's what I hope it is

And Last month I had to replace a throttle body, there were no aftermarket parks for my car since it is too new, so was stuck getting the ACDelco one, this time, since my car was 100km away from home, Id idn't even shop around, just told them to fix it



Unicorns ARE real - They are just fat, grey and called Rhinos