CEL flashes 15 times battery light goes out then limp mode
 

Per above I can't figure out what's going on. No apparent vac leak (sprayed break cleaner around tubes). I can hear clicking from PCM 15 times when I start the car. Then battery light goes out and tach quits working and I'm in limp mode.

Have to get to work and have a kid in college.

Please help.

Re: CEL flashes 15 times battery light goes out then limp mode
 

any engine codes? ask an auto store to read it for free.

Re: CEL flashes 15 times battery light goes out then limp mode
 

ECM won't communicate with reader. However CEL has been on with o2 code for a while. Wouldn't go away after replacing up and downstream o2 sensors.

Drove to mechanic (1hr drive) in limp mode and when I got there the alternator read at 12 when it was at 14+ yesterday.

Fired it up after work to go home since mechanic didn't get to it today (very hot day today) all systems normal except bat light on. Soon ECM relay clicked, CEL came on. After repeating this a couple of times bat light went out CEL stayed on and went into limp mode with tach and temp gauge dead.

I'm beginning to think there's a short. Wouldn't that drain the alt reading sporadically and potentially send system to limp mode?

How do you find shorts amongst all these wires?

Re: CEL flashes 15 times battery light goes out then limp mode
 

Did you ever figure it out? My car is having the same issue

Re: CEL flashes 15 times battery light goes out then limp mode
 

that was 12 years ago...
Go buy a $20 scanner and see what the code is