on my 85 trans am, i replaced the battery last week and now i am getting a code 53 when i flash the diagnostic light and the voltage on the guage fluctuates between 13 and 18 volts code 53 says High voltage at battery OR High voltage at exhaust gas recirculation valve OR Voltage reference error, could the battery just be bad or is it more likely its the alternator?
thanks

 

On the tree it shows regulator . Now right before that it says amp check.My guess would be the voltage regulator in the Alt.Clear the code and try again.If it was flow exaust gas you would get a crank sensor warning in the tree.If you replaced the battery within a close CCA there is no reason for a draw as the run capacitor would keep even flow to the return unit.My guess is bad alt or bad ground.You want to be careful with that spike as if the amps are high they can fry your ECM.

 

thank you, i cleared the codes and it came back so i replaced the alternator, easy fix, all is well