Slightly OT

[John O]

Guys...I'm looking for some quick advice here. My wife just called me, her
'02 Isuzu Rodeo is having a conniption. Story: coldest day of the year this
morning. When she starts it up, the left blinker is stuck on, even though
the lever is is the normal place. Interior dash lights don't work.

So, she drives about 30 miles (to daughter's orthodontist) and now it won't
shift out of park so she can come home. It starts fine, headlights work,
etc.

Clues?

-John O

 

[Dean]

Guys...I'm looking for some quick advice here. My wife just called me, her
'02 Isuzu Rodeo is having a conniption. Story: coldest day of the year this
morning. When she starts it up, the left blinker is stuck on, even though
the lever is is the normal place. Interior dash lights don't work.

So, she drives about 30 miles (to daughter's orthodontist) and now it won't
shift out of park so she can come home. It starts fine, headlights work,
etc.

Clues?

-John O

Is the blinker still stuck on? Interior dash lights still not working?

If it won't shift out of park the solenoid lock isn't disengaging when
she presses the brake pedal. If the blinker and dash lights are still
buggered then I would suspect an electrical problem. Perhaps a relay
is frozen (if it is reeeeally cold) or a contact is welded somewhere.
I doubt it is frozen, because it should have warmed up substantially in
a 30 mile drive.

I would have her check the fuses. If that doesn't turn anything up,
then I hope you have Triple-A.

 

[John O]

Is the blinker still stuck on? Interior dash lights still not working?

If it won't shift out of park the solenoid lock isn't disengaging when
she presses the brake pedal. If the blinker and dash lights are still
buggered then I would suspect an electrical problem. Perhaps a relay
is frozen (if it is reeeeally cold) or a contact is welded somewhere.
I doubt it is frozen, because it should have warmed up substantially in
a 30 mile drive.

I would have her check the fuses. If that doesn't turn anything up,
then I hope you have Triple-A.

Thanks Dean. Yep, AAA got me out of this one. At least, they're not stuck at
the orthodontist, which would be a bad place to be stuck. ;-)

The symtoms remained, and the Rodeo is at our local mechanic now. I'm hoping
for a relay at this point, because the alternatives...

-John O