Electrical Demon!

[ekips009]

Ok Here is my cars life story... I bought it in arizona (major Project Car) and when i brought it back home i started to work on its many problems... but the major/most recent is i was driving and went to flash my high beams to get someones attention and all the electrical shut down tach shuts off and the car sputters like it wants to die, but it only happens when im in gear (1-5) and the the high beams get flashed! But when you let off the high beams everything works agian... then i was just driving to work this morning (it was still dark out) and i had my normal lights on so i decided to try my high beams and they worked so i left them on 5min later i was still driving and noticed my airbag light came on along with my tac shutting off again... so i gave the engine a quick rev (about 3k) and i didnt notice it but my lights were extremly dim.. and when i reved the engine the got 10x brighter and stayed like that along with the airbag light sutting off and my tach working again... PLEASE any ideas or comments would be appreciated!!!
Thanks

 

[TOONAH]

Hi!
Ok, here is my analysis of what you posted. Electrical issues when you turn on main beam head lights.
That equals about 12 Amps of current draw. This load is supplied by your battery which is acting like a big capacitor on the output of your alternator.
Things to test:
1. Voltage spikes on your Alternator 12V output = failing rectifier diode pack or slip ring
worn dirty.
2. Battery charging to at least 13VDC under load. Not? Shorting cell in battery or # 1.
2. (a) Make sure belt is not slipping at lower rpm's.
3. Take both to Autozone for free test.
4. Intermittent connection in a connector causing a partial short. Possibly in headlight wiring. Try running a temporary 10 gauge hot wire to your headlights from battery. Just splice it in parallel to factory hot wire. Does problem re-occur?
5. Check all ground connections to chassis.
6. Check all fuse seatings.
7. Check connectors at Computer (ECM).
What is unique is that in 5th gear, your Rpm's are lowest for cruise speed.
So it sounds like an alternator problem or connection problem. Check and clean all connections to alternator.
Good luck.

 

[ekips009]

Alright thanks for the reply! i will check that list out...
Feel free to post anymore ideas!

 

[ekips009]

Hi!
Ok, here is my analysis of what you posted. Electrical issues when you turn on main beam head lights.
That equals about 12 Amps of current draw. This load is supplied by your battery which is acting like a big capacitor on the output of your alternator.
Things to test:
1. Voltage spikes on your Alternator 12V output = failing rectifier diode pack or slip ring
worn dirty.
2. Battery charging to at least 13VDC under load. Not? Shorting cell in battery or # 1.
2. (a) Make sure belt is not slipping at lower rpm's.
3. Take both to Autozone for free test.
4. Intermittent connection in a connector causing a partial short. Possibly in headlight wiring. Try running a temporary 10 gauge hot wire to your headlights from battery. Just splice it in parallel to factory hot wire. Does problem re-occur?
5. Check all ground connections to chassis.
6. Check all fuse seatings.
7. Check connectors at Computer (ECM).
What is unique is that in 5th gear, your Rpm's are lowest for cruise speed.
So it sounds like an alternator problem or connection problem. Check and clean all connections to alternator.
Good luck.

So here is the story
#1 Good
#2 Charging around 18v
A. Belt is tight... is there a better way to check for slipping?
#3 Taking battery in tomorrow...
#4 ??? so just make a constant from my battery to my headlight? so its allways on... the problem is its my high beam that messes up so run two wires???
#5 Grounds good
#6 Fuse seats good
#7 i have spent more time with my dash torn apart than i have driving the thing... and i didnt notice any connections off...

Alternator connections are good...
Thanks so much for your time!

 

[luv2rallye]

18V is too high for alt charging output. What is it with headlights on?

 

[ekips009]

OOPS sorry i guys i was misleading you... i read my meter wrong... so its bad news
W/o car running 12v
W/car running 11.5v??
W/car running and headlights (low&high) 11v

So then thats my alternator right? but would an alternator cause that many problems? i mean a car wouldnt run without 12v right? (i do have one of those cheap neddle voltameters but im pretty shure that was the reading!)

 

[Colt4G63 also]

Yeah its the alternator. 11.5 is too low. When the engine is under load it requires more power from the electrical system; when you put the beams on it sucks even more juice. Charging voltage should be around 14V give or take a half volt. to answer your final question YES it will cause all the symptoms you described.

 

[ekips009]

Sweet thanks for your time!

 

[ekips009]

Alright well here is the deal i tested the alternator and the battery, and they both checked out but the only thing i really changed was a made another ground to the frame... hoping that it would solve some problems because mabey it is a grounding issue after all... so if you guys/girls have any more revelations please let me know!