Odd problem...battery died out of nowhere...replaced and now timing? is weird

[TheWanderer]

OK, heres the thing...I went to work today, picked up my paycheck...after cashing it i stopped at autozone to pick up brake pads for my car...Keep in mind that I had driven the car for about 2 hours of and on before this...So I come out of autozone 5 minutes later and go to start my car...it cranks 2 times and then loses all power...no dash lights, no seat belts, nothing...So first guess was the battery...went inside and got them to come out and test it...Dead, as I though...So i figured I'd have them jump me...They hooked up their jumper battery, and I had power to my lights, etc....Tried to turn the car over, nothing....starter worked, but it wouldnt crank...So i figure, pull the battery and have them charge it...

Anyway, after pulling the battery and seeing how bad the corrosion on it was (the car sat for 5 months with the battery connected before I bought it) I decided to get a new one...So, after an hour late for work and $60 later, I put the new one in, started the car, but right after I started it, the RPMs went up to 100 then down to 200-300 and the car wanted to stall...did this for about 10 seconds and then was fine...idled at around 750-1000...so out of curiousity, i shut the car off and started it again...same thing this time only not as bad...Would this be related to the timing being off or the TPS going out? FYI, this issue happened with the clutch fully engaged, and with it completely out, both times

My thoughts are a combo of both, because before the battery died, my idle RPMs sate around 500-600.....a bit on the low side. Also, since the install of the new battery (hence the reason I am thinking TPS) when I downshift to first, the car drops to a low idle, around 250-300, and wants to stall...Also does it when I first start out in reverse and 1st gear...

Anyone have any thoughts on this? what would drain the battery so bad that it goes completely dead in a matter of seconds? I dont believe the alternator is bad, since the guy I bought the car off of replaced it recently...I did however clean the contacts on the battery cables...That should have helped...

Any info/thoughts/suggestions are greatly appreciated...

Thanks in advance,

Brian

 

[silver bullit]

Bad connection on batteries or lose wire somewhere.

 

[DSMopar]

Ya.... batteries don't just up and die the voltage curve isn't that steep. Sounds like you have corrosion/connection issues.

 

[PitBullDsm]

I would test the alternator (disconnect the battery while the engine is running). As for the rough idle, when you disconnect the battery for a period of time, the ECU resets. It was idling rough because the ECU was trying to configure the proper idle speeds. Let it idle for about 15 min, turn it off for an hour, and when you come back it will be fine.

 

[ninesixtwo]

I would test the alternator (disconnect the battery while the engine is running). As for the rough idle, when your battery died, it reset the ECU. It was idling rough because the ECU is trying to configure the proper idle speeds. Let it idle for about 15 min, turn it off for an hour, and when you come back it will be fine.

eee no, don't do this ^^^

 

[PitBullDsm]

eee no, don't do this ^^^

eee why not?

 

[ninesixtwo]

"Warning: Never disconnect a battery cable while the engine is running to "test" the alternator. Doing so can cause high voltage spikes that can damage the alternator as well as other electronics."

http://www.aa1car.com/library/2003/us20310.htm

 

[PitBullDsm]

Yeah, he's right...don't disconnect the battery. You should test your alternator for sure, though, even if it was replaced recently. It would be the most likely cause.

 

[TheWanderer]

Ok, now for an update from my end: Battery issue is resolved, turns out my old battery was just bad.

As for my idling issue, it hasnt gotten any better...

Heres the deal with the idling: I went to work this morning and started the car...was idling fine/started fine before I left. Got back to the terminal, started my car (10 hours later) And it revved up to 2k on the tach and idled there....turned the car off and restarted it, and the tach dropped to 1500 and idled there...Is this the ECU still recalibrating or do I have another issue?

I also noticed that I am getting a tapping noise from under the center of my valve cover...From what I know about this, its normally due to bad gas/wrong octane. What I'm wondering though is this: with my idling issue and the tapping, could this be related to the timing belt?

 

[moto x]

If you unhook the battery while the car is running it will send varering voltage from your alternator through you car computer and could possibly fry something.

 

[PitBullDsm]

Heres the deal with the idling: I went to work this morning and started the car...was idling fine/started fine before I left. Got back to the terminal, started my car (10 hours later) And it revved up to 2k on the tach and idled there....turned the car off and restarted it, and the tach dropped to 1500 and idled there...Is this the ECU still recalibrating or do I have another issue?

After hooking up the new battery, did you let it idle for a good 15-20 min? If not, try disconnecting it again (with the car off), wait 5-10 min to reset the ECU, THEN let it idle. I'm not certain how much idle time it takes, but I ussually let it idle for a bit, turn it off, come back about an hour later, and it's set. If that doesn't solve the problem, then I would say you have another issue to deal with.

 

[TheWanderer]

It idled for a good half an hour this morning....had to warm the fluid in the trans up (typical 2nd gear grind when cold) plus it was a chilly 30 degrees when I stepped out of the house.... and ran just fine at 750 to 800 rpm... why it shot up to 1500-2000 this evening after sitting for 10 hours, i have no clue....my thoughts are timing belt, etc as well as maybe the TPS? Havent been able to get ahold of the previous owner to see if the timing belt was changedat 60k or not...

If I dont get ahold of the previous owner, I think I'm going to try the original owner (I am only the 3rd owner surprisingly...97k on the car, gotta love it) and see what kind of info he has for me