bad ground? or Alt?

[98mitsubishigst]

I just recently replace my battery because it would loose power in less than 5 minutes without car running.

Now; i was on way home from work last night and i went to high beam someone and it totally cut the car off for a split second.. Literally a split second and jumps right back on..

Sometimes if its a bad one (1 second long) it'll throw a check engine code for like 5 seconds... sometimes when i push the brake down it does it too..

Also, the head unit will die and turn back on too a lot..


**Update, it also happens during the day without any lights on, or fan switch on,...

If i flicker the high beams it stalls the car but then it instantly comes right back on..

Any opinions?

 

[6damian6]

First get a voltmeter and check what volts you have at the battery. Then start your car and check again, it should got up to high 13's low 14's, if it does then you know alternator is working.

I suspect though that you have a lose power connection to something. Start your car and go in the engine bay and start pulling/pushing on parts of the harness where they go to the fuse panel/battery/alternator, then go inside by the ecu and do the same thing. Forgot to say a bad ground will do it also, so check those two at the - side of the battery also and by the ecu, a easy way to do those is to check it with a voltmeter setup for continuity *beep*, you'll know right away if you have a good cable.

 

[SkyGrowsCold]

I would start by cleaning all the grounds until they shine than move onto looking for any damaged wires that may be causing your electrical drain. Sometimes you can gently pull on a cable end and "feel" for a break in the wire. If that doesn't help you can pull the alternator and get that tested. Electrial problems are the worst but hopfully a little search around your battery and alternator wiring you'll find something.

 

[Artago]

Probably a loose or carbonized battery connection at the terminal. Pull the terminal and wire brush it and the battery contact, see if that helps.

 

[turbodude]

+1 on checking all your battery terminals and also all your chassis grounds. Good chance that's your culprit right there.

 

[98mitsubishigst]

My terminals on the battery are a week old haha. and tight as hell..

I know i need to get myself a volt meter.. But my lights aren't any dimmer, the lights flicker on low beam, then high beam kills the car for a second...

 

[6damian6]

The high beams shut your car off because of the extra draw on the system, same as turning on you defroster or pressing your brake pedal or turning up the radio........you have a + wire most likely that cant keep up with that kind of current and then you get less voltage to the rest of the car including the ecu and mpi relay, then your car shuts off. You have to find the weak/brittle/torn/loose cable and replace it

 

[Nasty Dream]

Sounds like the alternator: wasn't capable of charging your battery; turning on lights, pressing brakes takes all it's got (and more).

You can get the alternator tested at some auto parts stores for free (call around).


Only thing I can think of for the CEL coming on is because not enough power going to spark or fuel pump... or ECU, hell I don't know.

 

[98mitsubishigst]

The high beams shut your car off because of the extra draw on the system, same as turning on you defroster or pressing your brake pedal or turning up the radio........you have a + wire most likely that cant keep up with that kind of current and then you get less voltage to the rest of the car including the ecu and mpi relay, then your car shuts off. You have to find the weak/brittle/torn/loose cable and replace it

DING DING DING, we have a winner!

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The harness was just BARLY touching the terminal... it had fallen through and had a just a few little strings of wire sitting against it.

 

[miguelmcv]

I don't think is your Alternator.

I am more towards the Wires.

Check all the Wires, Cleans and sand if is possible all the connection spots, where the tranny and cable meets, where the chassis and cable meets and finally the Battery terminals.

Make a good, good, good clean and check for the cables to be in good working conditions.

If you have bad cables, or bad contact, Then it definitely can cause your problem.

 

[6damian6]

DING DING DING, we have a winner!

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The harness was just BARLY touching the terminal... it had fallen through and had a just a few little strings of wire sitting against it.

Where my money at??

Im sure it feels nice finding the problem, happy boosting!

 

[redpit]

After you get the terminals fixed. You my want to use some type terminal pertectant on them because those types of terminals ends cause all sorts of problems and excessive draws . that will have chasing your tail again ,trying to find a problem. i personally stick with the marine terminal ends. you can still repair the cable end back to stock with shrink wrap, plus 1 copper end loop , attach, cripple, shrink wrap wire to copper loop . i'am always see people that say the wires are secure or that no corrsion biuld up is present. that dark gray or black color is carbon , that creates resistance. charging problems and no starts. those terminal ends are known for that.

 

[quiksilver20004]

Let us know if that fixed your issue. Also for reference, just because and alternator is putting out high 13 to 14 volts does not mean that it is working correctly, voltage is no where near as much of an indicator as amperage. IF you still have a problem after you fix the terminal then you may want to look into the voltage regulator on your alternator.