dash lights?

[DougEFresh]

I was driving tonight and i pulled in to park and right before i shut the car off i noticed the low coolant light, the battery light, and the brake light all came on. I shut the car off and left came back to drive like ten minutes later and when i started the car they were all still on. Anyone have any ideas why all of the lights would come on at the same time. Could it be a bad ground, if so do you know which one and were it is located? thanks.

 

[1993eclipseGS]

When my alternator started to go, Those 3 lights came on. I replaced the alternator and they dissapeared.

Rob.

 

[BUCK]

Seems like that's one of the early clues of a dying ECU also.

 

[DougEFresh]

Well got my answer the alternator died tonight. I was wondering though could a alternator that was on its way out have been causing my car to not rev up and run really bad? I have been having issues with the car not wanting to rev at all and running really poorly for a few months and all of a sudden right before the alternator died it started running great better than it has ever run before. Is that possible?

 

[1993eclipseGS]

When my alternator went bad, I was on my way home. My car lost all it's umpf.. The lights all dimmed really low, each block they would get dimmer, the car started to hesitate when i'd step on the gas and everything. I made it home and the car went dead! After I replaced the alternator everything seemed fine again.

 

[DougEFresh]

Thats what it was doing right before it died but ive been having these issues for awhile but they have been intermitent. I was just wondering if the alternator was spiking could it have cause the car to run poorly while it was dying? Has anyone had that happen? Im just hoping when i replace the alternator the car stays running like it did tonight up until it died.

 

[1993eclipseGS]

If the alternator was goin dead/almost dead, It would definatly have an effect on the car. Mine lost power, Performance wise also. It was hesitating, it would backfire when i'd step on the gas from a stop. It didnt feel like the turbo was really there!

 

[BUCK]

I had my Bumper to Bumper guy look up the Highest Amp Mitsu Alternator that would fit a 1G:

- Max amperage 121 amps

- 100 amps at 3000rpm

- Max 1548 watts

- Manufacturer Ampere - Ampere P/N 21491

- Cost was about $150.00

- I run a 1 Farad Cap too with an El-Cheapo Battery that pushes a 500 Watt Sony Amp & head Unit no problems - no dimming, etc.

I put it on Car Ramps & come from underneath so no need to remove Fan - It's still a PITA...

Make sure you have NO Power Steering Fluid leaks dripping on your Alt - that will kill the Voltage Regulator in a Heartbeat & can toast your ECU...

 

[DougEFresh]

There were no leaks on it but when i looked at it today ,since im going to replace the alternator ,i think i see the problem. The person i bought the car from had painted the brackets on that side of the engine, well i guess he did it on the car because there is all silver paint inside the alternator. All the copper wiring inside is all silver painted, maybe thats what killed it.

 

[BUCK]

Yeah - the dumbass that had my 90 painted the freaking Intake & TB with that silver shit - Just be damn sure the little teeny O Ring at the ECU pressure Switch Connector on the front of the P/S Pump & the big ass O Rings on top are not leaking before you put the new Alt in because it's a mess swapping those O Rings out - It will kil an Alt quick - & can take out an ECU if the VR fails to high Voltage.

 

[DougEFresh]

OK now im totally confused, I installed the new alternator that works great good output no more dash lights but the car went back to running like crap! Please help!! Does anyone have any ideas on what could be wrong, bad alternator=runs good / good alternator=runs aweful im missing something?

 

[DougEFresh]

Anyone have any ideas on this? The problem isnt consistent so I dont think there is a broken part could my ecu be bad? If so would it be possible for it to be ok for awhile and then go bad again? If anyone has any idea why a car that was running bad would run good with a bad alternator then run bad again with a new one i could use the help because im getting seriously frustrated.

 

[BUCK]

Seems like that's one of the early clues of a dying ECU also.