Please Help!!! Car sputters, idle drops when Head Lights are turned on...

[97ClipseDSM]

Yes i searched but didnt find what i was exactly looking for. Ok i have this weird problem. Just today it was kind of dark outside so I was showing one of my buddys my engine bay, i went ahead and started the car up with the hood open and out of nowhere the car started idling real low, sputtering, like it wanted to die. I immediately shut the car off, checked for loose hoses, clamps, etc...but nothing. So I then started the car up, turned the head lights on, and the car started idling real bad again, so i shut the lights off and the idles went back up, turned it on again and idle dropped and wanted to die. Car runs great with the headlights off but as soon as they are turned on, poor idle and the sputtering starts. Ive already replaced the battery today thinking it might have been a bad battery but its still doing the same thing. Im thinking alternator, but what do you guys think is a possibility here. I have a 98GSX with 58k miles on it now. Just recently, my headlight fuse 40A blew so i repalced it and the battery light went away. But now I have this problem with the poor idle, sputtering when I turn the head lights on, any ideas??

 

[97ClipseDSM]

Well I snapped 2 pictures of the fuses, the green fuse (head light) is the one that has blown before, I dont know why the new one looks miscolored (burnt) compared to the other ones as well as a different shape. I dunno why but im starting to wonder if that green fuse is one of my problems.

 

[97ClipseDSM]

anyone???!

 

[PropXprt]

Pull the alternator off and get it tested at one of the local parts stores. I have had similiar symptoms before and it turned out to be the alternator.

 

[97ClipseDSM]

Pull the alternator off and get it tested at one of the local parts stores. I have had similiar symptoms before and it turned out to be the alternator.

I took my car to Advance Auto to have the alternator checked, well the results dont seem too good. While the battery is great, the alternator volts are only 11.9 at 2,000 RPM's. I thought the normal volts were around 13-14. I mean this sucks, a 50k mile alternator already to sh!t. I dunno what the actual cause is right now but im going to try to find out.

 

[PropXprt]

Call up your local alternator/battery specialty stores and find out how much they will charge you to rebuild it. Shouldn't cost you to much.

 

[iiiwildfireiii]

I just had the same issue. Replaced the alternator and the issue went away. Mine lasted 67,000 miles.

 

[97ClipseDSM]

Alright I got an update. I replaced the alternator today with one that I had tested out good and it still did the same thing, without headlights the car idled fine and voltage at idle was anywhere between 13.6-14.1, and 13.6+ during cruise. However, once the headlights were turned on, the idle was real crappy like almost wanting to die, and the car was sputtering almost. I looked at my Air/Fuel gauge again and it started reading all the way from stoich to Rich..a Green line across like just stalled there. So this made me have suspicioun about the Air/Fuel gauge. My friend helped me install the gauge last month and apparently connected the red and blue guage wires to the cigaretter lighter bulb wires as the power source. I disconnected them and started the car up, turned the head lights on, and the problem went away. This is so strange, I have tried turning the headlights on and off but the car is no longer sputtering and crappy idle like before. It is running very smooth.

However I still have one issue that Im not sure if its an issue. When i first start the car up when its cold, the battery volts read 14.1 or so on my S-AFC II, and once full warmed up, it drops and stays around 13.6-13.7 at idle. Then when I turn my head lights on, the volts drop to around 12.6-12.9 but a second later they go back at 13.6 and when im cruising with the head lights on they will stay around 13.6-13.8. I dont know if this is normal or what? So far, my car is running good ever since i removed the air/fuel gauge connection to the cig lighter bulb wires. Come to think of it, the Air/Fuel gauge only got power once the parking/head lights were turned on since the cig lighter light only turned on when parking/headlights turned on. I dunno if this was the issue, but since i have removed it, I havnt had a idle problem or a sputtering problem at all.


Any ideas??

 

[97ClipseDSM]

Does anybody have any ideas or suggestions for the above symptoms ^^^^^

Thanks

 

[joe]

wire the S-AFC II to the cigarette lighter not the lights

 

[KingAWD]

im having the exact issue right now except its, my K40 alarm that is wired to the cig lighter. could it be it's causing an extra draw on current? I haven't used my car full time in about a 1 year, but it's got a good battery. any update on this situation?

 

[BigBeans]

My friend helped me install the gauge last month and apparently connected the red and blue guage wires to the cigaretter lighter bulb wires as the power source. I disconnected them and started the car up, turned the head lights on, and the problem went away. This is so strange, I have tried turning the headlights on and off but the car is no longer sputtering and crappy idle like before. It is running very smooth.

Come to think of it, the Air/Fuel gauge only got power once the parking/head lights were turned on since the cig lighter light only turned on when parking/headlights turned on. I dunno if this was the issue, but since i have removed it, I havnt had a idle problem or a sputtering problem at all.

Did you read the thread?