2G 97 GS-T barely stays on, weak idle after battery replacement

[Junzu]

Sorry for repeat posts was recommended I start new thread. Before I replaced old battery, car had no power at all and wouldn't turn on. KEY NOTE: Day before, drove, shut engine off and immediately turned key again. No power at all. Car started very weakly 5 hours later. Only replaced bad starter wire 2 days ago.
Today, replaced battery since starter and alternator were good. Got power and car turns on but barely stays running. Doesn't need gas at idle (only needed when jumping old battery) but barely stays on, dies easily. As of later today is able to idle without dying although weakly at slightly below 1rpm. Avg idle is around 1? Not sure but reg idle not weak. Thinking it could be TPS which is loose

Suggestions were that it could be o2 sensors, even fuel pump, although may be smaller problem. Not sure how to diagnose between so many issues it could be, thought it could just be TPS.

NO Check engine. Thought it was related to battery at first because of battery placement... previous owner did not tie down battery w/ bracket and wires a little messy.

When I unplug TPS car stays running

 

[pauleyman]

What do you mean tps is loose?
If you lost all battery power you also reset ecu including fuel trims. If there are other problems or possibly just wear and tear you may see it get better over the course of a day, which it seems you did.
What you probably need now is real objective data. Stock idle is 750. If it's at 750 but choppy you may have other issues. Vacuum leaks. Old spark plugs and wires etc. More issues may be revealed when you note how the car drives at part throttle and wide open throttle. How does it drive?
Again we can help you but I advise some objective data first. Then we will get to objectively testing and eliminating issues one by one. Luckily all the common problems are documented so we usually go there first and elimate them easily.

Soo....how does the car drive?

 

[Junzu]

What do you mean tps is loose?
If you lost all battery power you also reset ecu including fuel trims. If there are other problems or possibly just wear and tear you may see it get better over the course of a day, which it seems you did.
What you probably need now is real objective data. Stock idle is 750. If it's at 750 but choppy you may have other issues. Vacuum leaks. Old spark plugs and wires etc. More issues may be revealed when you note how the car drives at part throttle and wide open throttle. How does it drive?
Again we can help you but I advise some objective data first. Then we will get to objectively testing and eliminating issues one by one. Luckily all the common problems are documented so we usually go there first and elimate them easily.

Soo....how does the car drive?

I mean that the wires are loose. I live on a bit of an angle and don't trust driving it cuz if it cuts out again I cannot make it back up my street. It's a very choppy idle at around 750, I put in new NGK copper plugs and wires

 

[pauleyman]

I would check for vacuum/boost leaks.how does the car drive otherwise?

Or at least does it rev freely and smoothly?

 

[Junzu]

See my other comment I can't get it back up my street if it dies out again, it does rev alright no issues there

Or at least does it rev freely and smoothly?

 

[pauleyman]

What was it doing leading up to this and did you make any very recent changes? ANY changes.

 

[Junzu]

What was it doing leading up to this and did you make any very recent changes? ANY changes.

Died on me with power about 3 nights ago, towed home and friend helped me discover it was bad starter wire, replaced wire. A day or two after I replaced wire it lost power... yesterday. Drove it for an hour yesterday, got home shut it off, immediately started it again and completely no power. Tried again 5 hours later started but weak idle then died, weak idle again. Today Wouldn't turn on no power this morning, replaced battery. To give good timeline IN SHORT new plugs over the weekend and new starter wire mon or Tuesday

 

[pauleyman]

Starter wire wouldn't make a car die.
Check your alternator output. Do you own a digital volt meter?

 

[Junzu]

Starter wire wouldn't make a car die.
Check your alternator output. Do you own a digital volt meter?

Yes alternator was good, are u sure? Not doubting just wondering, I called a shop that knows me well and I asked about it and they said that would do it, also one of the things that helped me check it

 

[pauleyman]

Any dash lights? Starter turns over weakly? Have you had to jump start? Any noises? Did you actually check voltage output? Did you check the alt fuse? Did you check and clean battery connections?
This all sounds like voltage issues to me.

 

[Junzu]

Any dash lights? Starter turns over weakly? Have you had to jump start? Any noises? Did you actually check voltage output? Did you check the alt fuse? Did you check and clean battery connections?
This all sounds like voltage issues to me.

Dude that's a ton of questions to answer at once no dash lights starter clicks, yes I've had to jump it before replaced battery but wouldn't stay on unless I gave it gas, No weird noises and yes to the rest. Old battery was definitely bad

 

[pauleyman]

Ok...now we're getting somewhere.
You need to clarify " lost power" . Whole car electrically dead? Dimming lights? Motor died?
What exactly do you mean?

I don't understand this statement either

Died on me with power

 

[Junzu]

Ok...now we're getting somewhere.
You need to clarify " lost power" . Whole car electrically dead? Dimming lights? Motor died?
What exactly do you mean?

I don't understand this statement either

Died on me with power

Lost power means no power at all, none. To anything
Died with power means engine wouldn't start but lights, dash, radio, interior lights etc all alive

 

[pauleyman]

So what is voltage when car is running? If you're losing power after a new battery your problem seems to be electrical. You said you did check the 100 amp alt fuse?

 

[Junzu]

So what is voltage when car is running? If you're losing power after a new battery your problem seems to be electrical. You said you did check the 100 amp alt fuse?

Voltage on battery is around 13.5 and I checked wire to fuse box but did not pull the 100fuse it looks bolted in

 

[pauleyman]

Check your grounds at the battery. Did you forget to attach one at firewall or starter?

 

[Junzu]

Check your grounds at the battery. Did you forget to attach one at firewall or starter?

No did not all good there

 

[pauleyman]

Think about it. Car electrically dying after new battery. Doesn't make sense. Check the underside of the hood. Make sure new battery isn't grounding out.

 

[Junzu]

Think about it. Car electrically dying after new battery. Doesn't make sense. Check the underside of the hood. Make sure new battery isn't grounding out.

Yeah this has me stumped. No chance it could be the tps?? Also I thought of that too and there is no evidence of that although car has not been driven or on much today

 

[pauleyman]

I don't know why you would jump to that. You have no codes and nothing I see suggests that. What wires are loose anyway.

If you want to rule out tps then test it and test the harness. Don't guess at it.

 

[AWD-Tony]

Can you post a picture of the battery area? Was the car fine before you replaced the battery?

 

[Junzu]

Can you post a picture of the battery area? Was the car fine before you replaced the battery?

No I replaced the battery because it was bad and the car would not start or have power, here is a pic as u can see no brackets previous owner was dumbass and removed them but battery does not appear to have grounded off on anything

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[#95GS-EX]

Pretty sure its your alternator.

 

[Junzu]

Pretty sure its your alternator.

Tested alternator and came up fine, plus a few days ago car wouldn't start right after being on, gave it 5 hours and turned over albeit weakly

 

[pauleyman]

Tested how? If you checked voltage at the alternator I would check wiring all the way back to the battery and pull that bolted in fuse and check it. NOT a visual inspection. Check this with a meter. I would check you ground with a meter also. The battery is also not secured.