Found a few during a search but as it was in the tech torque section, thought I'd move it in here.

No happy endings with the others in the past that I could find (Cept' one with a busted vacuum line) so I'll give it a shot here.....

I might need some help here from the collective brain that is AMC... !!!!

(02 TJ VR-X series 2 tippy auto)

Mine has been showing the TCL OFF light (Usually First to light up) and the CHECK ENGINE light shortly after. then they both stay on.

Seems to do it on hotter days (Basically 26+ degrees) especially when stuck in traffic. (Aircon etc)

Car does not change in the way it drives. all power is still there, doesn't shake or do anything except drive with these two lights.
Goes away when you turn it off and let it cool.. (Next day etc)

I've changed the TCL Vacuum Solenoid Valve ( It was buggered per the manual's inspection procedure)

I've checked and cleaned all the wiring, plugs and sensors that make up the ABS/TCL system. (That included a LOT of Ferrous buildup on the wheel sensors!!!

Blasted all vacuum lines with compressed air.
Still to no avail.


Even Mitso during the past two services haven't found anything.
(Or couldn't be buggered doing anything about it I'm thinking)

Comes up with code #73 and #72

I'm thinking the TCL ECU??

Has anyone else run into this problem??? What was the fix (Apart from burning it)
If you can help please post here or PM me....

Thanks in advance!!

Steve

A while back I was getting odd warning lights including the TCL Off light, Check Engine Light, ABS and SRS lights illuminating - largely the check engine and TCL Off. I too first noticed this on hot days, and it occurred normally when cornering.

A few trips to mitsu blaming it on the insulation of after market head unit blah blah blah ... I asked them to check the alternator (they didn't) and the problem still occurred.

My alternator was failing intermittently. Something to do with voltage drops that caused the TCL computer etc to say they had failed.

Mitsi were able to remove the alternator and have it refurbished at their cost for stuffing me around.
It wasn't a complete failure ... one small component of the alternator was a bit fritzy and hence not doing its job.

Thankyou so much for that Preacher Man..

The Alternator is definitely not a item I would have even considered looking at........

How many K's did yours have when this happened.. (If you remember)

Mine has 105,000k's ATM

Again.. Thankyou

Steve

Mine was about 85,000 ex government fleet though so I wouldn't expect it to have been that well looked after.

Unfortunately not a warranty job.

The mechanics at Mitsi were stumped and from what I understand 'alternators don't go intermittently, they just go!'
Except as in the case of mine the rest is history.
There's a few other members who reported similar things, hence why I got mitsi to specifically look at the alternator.

Question for you ... when the crhistmas lights light up on the dash, does your air con fan also switch off? Because in the later days, all electrics were going funny, including the fan stopping as soon as the faults started to show.

Also, the other thing that threw mitsi's is that the MUT was only showing the error codes for TCL and ABS as per the flashing lights on teh dash. At no point did the diagnostics actually pick up on the Alternator.

For the alternator to be removed, sent off for repairs and refitted, I think I was without vehicle for 3 days. Definitely not a job I'd be wanting to do myself.

Mine was about 85,000 ex government fleet though so I wouldn't expect it to have been that well looked after.

Unfortunately not a warranty job.

The mechanics at Mitsi were stumped and from what I understand 'alternators don't go intermittently, they just go!'
Except as in the case of mine the rest is history.
There's a few other members who reported similar things, hence why I got mitsi to specifically look at the alternator.

Question for you ... when the crhistmas lights light up on the dash, does your air con fan also switch off? Because in the later days, all electrics were going funny, including the fan stopping as soon as the faults started to show.

Also, the other thing that threw mitsi's is that the MUT was only showing the error codes for TCL and ABS as per the flashing lights on teh dash. At no point did the diagnostics actually pick up on the Alternator.

For the alternator to be removed, sent off for repairs and refitted, I think I was without vehicle for 3 days. Definitely not a job I'd be wanting to do myself.

Hmmm. cheers for the info....
I'm going to have a look at the wiring to the alternator tomorrow sometime to double check all the connections and possibly the chance there may be some corrosion etc. If it needs to be sent off I can remove and install but can't overhaul... (could but getting the bits inside is a lot harder as my old auto elec retired and no-one will sell me parts... (Used to fix all my own starters)

I have heard alternators go intermittently... in the case with modern cars they can send the electronics a little loopy, just didn't think the Magna would be so sensitive.

When mine comes up nothing else happens... just the TCL off light and Engine light come on. Though it seems to happen a lot more with the aircon on (Then again... it's hotter on those days... ) Never happens in winter only when warm to hot.
It started last summer....
doing my own fault codes it's showing ECU faults but it has shown TPS faults, ABS faults- (Wheel sensor)
Hmmm come to think of it... what you've said makes heaps more sense.

Thanks so much again for the tip off..... much appreciated!!

Steve

Blackbird, did you sort out this issue as I have the same problem in my 2000 TH sport (tripy auto)?

Nah, Can't be buggered, now it's cooler it doesn't do it anymore... when I can get my hands on another alternator when things warm up I'll have a crack.

Like I said before it doen't change the way it drives at all... just these two lights come on.

If you have a crack and fix it please post back!


Steve

if it helps, these 2 lights came on for 2 trips after driving in flooded roads. Next time i turned the engine on, they were showing. after driving around for a bit, they turned off the next time i started it up.

Just letting ya know :)

I had an auto leci plug it in and no codes were thrown up, he said (which I still haven't done) was to just check the where the ABS plugs in (?, haven't ever really checked) there's probably just a build up of crap there

I had the same problem. It's the TCL solanoids (whatever they call it) on the fire wall, $150 brand new from mitsu for both, or u can get them from the wreckers for $25

cheers

Check ya TCL solenoid..

SuFz :ninja:

Mine is back to doing this. Only after a very long drive and only when it is a hot day. I have also been having a small resistance just off idle position with the throttle at highway speeds.
I took the TPS out when I removed my throttle body and changed the rocker gaskets. I didn't have the issue before then, I imagine the two could be related. I have a spare TPS here, So I may change them over and see how I go.

Mike

Mine was doing this about 2 weeks ago (thread will still be close by). Turned out to be a bad earth at the distributor. Maybe check that out too guys!

There is no earth anywhere near the dist, still dont know what the dealer was on about here

The symptom is classic TCL solonoid issue, will generally play up more in heat. Cools down, car gets re started, TCL system does its check and all good. Every so often the TCL will do another check and find that no response and on comes TCL and engine light

Sticky throttle, remove the intake pipe, give the TB even a quick clean on both sides of the throttle plate and all should be good.

I don't know then Mal, but they fixed it for minimum cost.

I tried swapping over the tcl solenoids and that didn't fix anything, even after resetting codes.

And my lights came on regardless of temperature. They would come on immediately when starting the car too.

Just to add to this, would the cause be the same if it's TCL Off and Anti Break lights (no CEL)?? This has happened to me 3 time, once on start up and twice when idle. Shut off and restart made them disappear and it hasn't happened again recentently. Figured this thread might be appropriate to find an answer :D

I have a TH Verada at work doing the TCL OFF and CEL doesnt do it when i drive it ive driven it over a week to chase it up and then when a customer drives it BAMM it back on grrrrr we had it checked 3 times nothing

That is 99% of the time the solonoids

That is 99% of the time the solonoids

Because no-one else has said it, and I always read your advice like It's Gospel.
Thanks mate for your advice here.... Not many know Magna's like you do....
Cheers!!
Steve

Just to add to this, would the cause be the same if it's TCL Off and Anti Break lights (no CEL)?? This has happened to me 3 time, once on start up and twice when idle. Shut off and restart made them disappear and it hasn't happened again recentently. Figured this thread might be appropriate to find an answer :D

So can someone confirm that this solenoid thing would be the same for my issue??? (No stupid responses please!) Also is this something I can change myself? And where can I find it?

Danuta, you need to get a scan done, can be other issues as well but this is most of the time the cause, generally if the ABS control unit is playing up you will get the ABS light as well, if is only the engine light and the TCL light is usually the solonoid

It is located high up on the fire wall next to the LHS strut tower

Just happened to me this evening shortly after washing my car. Engine and TCL light came one, first time it has happened in the 3 years I've had the car. After a 20 minute highway drie I got home, I restarted the car and only the TCL light came on. I don't think its a big issue anyway. It drove fine, and the weather is not too hot where I live.

Can anyone tell me does this need to be repaired for a RWC? When I bought Vera the SA dealer put 3 moths reg on it so I could drive it home to Melb and give me some time to get it RW.

My 2000 KH is doing the same thing - i just assumed it was either a split hose or the solenoid.
Given that my electrics are also being screwy, I'm thinking it could be my alternator now. At idle I don't get 13+V unless I give the throttle a blip to get the revs up over 1300, then I get a 13+V reading. I am assuming this is to get the alternator working enough to activate the voltage regulator. Is this normal behaviour?

Given my rocker covers leak like a sieve and have coated everything below them in oil, its a fair bet the alternator isn't liking life...

Needs to be fixed for RWC, any warnign lights no matter what they are will generally fail a car here in Vic as they would in most places

You should simply scan the car to get an accurate idea of the issue

Needs to be fixed for RWC, any warnign lights no matter what they are will generally fail a car here in Vic as they would in most places

You should simply scan the car to get an accurate idea of the issue

Thanks Mal I thought as much.