Overheats, sluggish, low voltage and no brake

Tiny
PJ TARANGO
  • MEMBER
  • 2013 DODGE AVENGER
  • 3.6L
  • 6 CYL
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 185,000 MILES
Bought the vehicle listed above (SXT model) used and was aware stuff needed to be replaced sooner than later. First it overheats and took the engine cover off which helped installed a new thermostat and flushed the coolant system. Now I can drive in town and on highway but after a while the gauge reads high temperature to almost critical but never reaching critical. Oddly enough there's no rhyme or reason to it. When I stop accelerating sometimes it stops building heat or not. I can be accelerating and the gauge going up starts to go back to normal range.

Soon it wouldn't go over 50mph the 40 MPH to 30 MPH and uphill driving was going to a crawling 5 MPH. Similar incident with my Bonneville and new spark plugs solved it yet when driving at night it felt like the lights would slightly dim or lose power in a blink to gain it right back like nothing happened.

Two nights ago the battery light came on and pulled over. I turned everything off that I didn't need and it went away. Started driving again and didn't come on but it felt like I was sliding on ice. I had no brakes then randomly like someone pressed on the brakes I thought the transmission got stuck as I let my momentum decrease to a halt I turned off the car. Waited and the dash lights on ABS, T/C, and brake were on. OBD reader said P0562 system voltage low.

Car has no power now and it's a new battery with the alternator testing good. I'm guessing it's something electrical or with the grounding on the car but I have nothing to really to go on. Should mention one of the cartridge fuse that should be blank or empty has power on one end and the horn doesn't work. I don't know if it's TICM wiring. I'm new to Dodge so anything would help. Thank you
Monday, May 24th, 2021 AT 4:39 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,192 POSTS
Hi,

The temperature is a concern. However, let's first confirm the voltage is what it needs to be. Low voltage can cause all kinds of problems.

Even though the alt and battery are new, the alternator is regulated by the powertrain control module. The alternator can be good, the battery can be good, but the PCM can prevent them from working properly.

Here is what I need you to test. If you follow the link below, it explains how to test alternator output. Do this and let me know the results.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-alternator

I will watch for your reply.

Take care,

Joe
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Tuesday, May 25th, 2021 AT 9:12 PM

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