How accurate is the FICM gauge on CTS?

[k.thed]

Just wondering how accurate the FICM gauge on the Insight CTS is? Recently, mine started going nuts about low voltage for about the first ten minutes of driving. Reading as low as 30.0V at some points when I first start the engine. But the thing is, my truck starts and runs perfectly! It never stumbles to start and it never takes excessive cranking to fire. Once I run it for about ten minutes, it starts showing 45-48V on the CTS again and it quiets down. Anyone know anything about this?


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[HeavyAssault]

My CTS will read the same as the Auto Enginuity. Runs 48-49V all the time.

[worldwide73]

Its very accurate on the CTS

[k.thed]

Originally Posted by worldwide73

Its very accurate on the CTS

Well maybe I've got problems on the horizon. My buddy had his FICM go out the other day and his truck was sounding wicked terrible. You could obviously tell it was on the ropes. But my truck sounds a million times better than his does, even after he got the FICM replaced. It never hesitates to start and it runs like a scalded dog all the time (knock on wood). I'm just wondering what would cause this issue suddenly. I've got zero symptoms of a bad FICM but my CTS seems to indicate differently?...


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[worldwide73]

I've tested the pins vs the cts and they are accurate. If it ever read 30 its bad. Maybe not completly but under load it is. It can do harm to other things in your engine bay if not fixed.

[k.thed]

Originally Posted by worldwide73

I've tested the pins vs the cts and they are accurate. If it ever read 30 its bad. Maybe not completly but under load it is. It can do harm to other things in your engine bay if not fixed.

And here I felt like I had a good solid truck with no problems...

This is making me cringe... I haven't noticed anyting. I would think that if that thing was on the way out (much like my friend's), I would definitely notice a problem. But my truck hasn't faultered at all. Is it possible for this issue to not have any side effects or symptoms?

[sbarbee54]

I had no signs of it going out on my truck, until one day it just cranked and never turned over. My truck ran like a champ even the last time I parked it before it would not start again.

[k.thed]

Originally Posted by sbarbee54

I had no signs of it going out on my truck, until one day it just cranked and never turned over. My truck ran like a champ even the last time I parked it before it would not start again.

That's fantastic...

[BlkSC]

OP, I had the same problem your having. Voltage reading 41-44V for the first 5-10 minutes, then coming up to 46-48V. I checked it back in November and it was fine but I finally decided to check it with a meter last weekend and it dropped down to 20V on startup and then read 40-44V. Called Swamps and the guy I talked to said he was surprised it was even running. The thing is, the only reason I tested it was because my CTS was reading that low voltage, otherwise the truck ran great. Needless to say, I just shipped my FICM to Swamps last week for the 58V rebuild.

[travisH3]

Mine ran fine, then it started to lope on cold starts then wouldn't start unless plugged in. It read 47-48 volts with ignition on and running but when I cranked it over she dipped below 40. So on there way out they definitely go unnoticed for a while. Weak batteries can wipe a ficm out real quick