I just came up with an error code 44 on my 1997 Neon. According to the manual, it says that "Battery temperature sender unit voltage out of range." All I've found on my searches so far on this problem, leads to a resistor in the pcm that adjusts the field current to the alternator, and the only way to fix this problem is to replace the pcm.

The car is a 1997, with 154,000 miles, and the alternator is original. I was not receiving any low voltage codes, and I put a multimeter up to the car and am indicating 13.5 volts at idle with or without the headlights on. (The dashboard indicator light for low voltage is on though.) Slightly higher when the engine is revved, maybe 13.6-13.7 volts.

I know the pcm is expensive and I really don't want to put that kind of money into the car. Is this problem livable for a while, if so how long? Has anyone had a similar problem with advice? Could the alternator still be going bad? Any info / advice would be appreciated.

 

Do you get a check engine light? or just your Alt Light.

There is a Battery temperature under neath most Batterys in the Neons - mine is a 96 Neon and it does not have the sensor - how ever when I pull my codes it always gives me a warning on it.

Greg

 

Both lights are on. A shop told me that the sensor really doesn't affect the charging voltage, that by replacing the sensor, only the service engine soon light will go out. But the funny thing is that both lights came on simultaneously, out of the blue. He said I would have to replace the alternator too, but what info I found online says that the temperature sensor has something to do with the field voltage to the alternator. I know how to turn a wrench and know my way around most aspects of a car, even a lot of the new sensor/electronics, but this battery temperature situation just seems goofy.

 

Now that is frickin' stupid, a temperature sensor for a battery. What is this automotive industry coming to. I would get an oil pressure and a volt gauge, these are not on the Neons and they are very important items. With a volt gauge you would be able to tell if something is going wrong before it leaves you stranded and broke down. You can get a volt gauge that simply plugs into the cigarette lighter socket that will get the job done, I got one from Jegs. Here is a link to the gauge at their website, it's at the bottom listed under voltmeter gauges and there are three, the one I'm talking about is in the middle and costs $42.99: http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerc...56&prmenbr=361