2003 PT lighting issue

The issue seems to be common among the 2001-2005 models of PT Cruiser. Changing the battery (from other answers on other years with similar issues) seems to short out things like the lights and the stereo. Some suggestions for fixing it, if you can't find where the electrical wiring for the lights attaches to the battery/computer, to make sure the wires aren't frayed, the plastic housing isn't worn away, and the grounding wire hasn't been severed...then a mechanic should be able to find them for you.

Check the fuses and connections that power up your dash board. Your car manual will tell you the location of the fuses and what is for what.

If your car's overheating, make sure you have enough coolant in the system. While you're under the hood look for disconnected wires near dash then check your fuse box for broken fuses. Please check your coolant, little to no coolant = a new engine ~$5000!

It could be battery and i have seen new altinators go bad. take car to autozone and have them both checked.....please rate this post and good luck and hope info helps.

You may have a a/c voltage leak comming from the alternator..If its a rebuilt alternator sometimes you get a bad one ..But make sure all your connections are good ecspecially the small wires coming out the back ..These are the field and sensor wires..Plus make sure all your grounds on the vehicle are not broken or missing..You can have good voltage but it may have a drop going to the computer because of a ground and cause the light to come on

I had the same issue with my lincoln LS. You may need an alignment. Many shops off the service and the work is usually an hour or so. This will help with drift feelings and the wondering you mentioned.

Good luck and be safe

i might be a bad altinator but i would double check your battery. a bad battery will kill a new altinator. does the battery light stay on? if the battery light on the dash is not on you may have another problem...

Check all grounds ie motor to body ground strap connections for corossion, battery to motor ground, battery to body ground. You have to check under bolt to see if there is coeossion. Bad grounding can cause all sorts of electrical problems

if the charging circuit is low, then it appears that your alternator is going bad....

Battery terminals, when car is off, should read 12V+-.2V. When the car is running, terminals should read 13V-14V=-.2V

mine has been doing that too. my oil light comes on sometimes when i press my brakes too. and i have checked the oil over and over and its ok. mine has been overheating and i have heard thats a major problem with pt cruisers. mine is a 03.