problem.. and more problems.

[90LaZeRrst]

i can get some 7 mm ngks at napa for 40 bux. Why doesnt this sound right.. I ran into a load of problems today. It was "running" like a champ last night... but that was last night

Today, i had filled up the tank with some ol SA 92 octane. Drove around.. pushin my stock boost a bit.. Havin a good old time by myself on CR42.. I went to qpr.. got some parts for my car ( tensioners, balance shaft belt, GOOD alternator peice, and front motor mount). When i went to leave.. the damn thing wouldnt start

So mike busts out the lil car starter thing and she fired up.. reved it so it would stay alive.. drove it home.. let it cool off.. parked it.. Put the alternator peice in.. went to bring the GF home and she wouldnt boost right. the stock guage says 7psi ( i know its not accurate). I kept trying a little here and there.. I dropped her off. On the way home, i was a little more fearless.

I knew my buddy was meeting me so if the car broke, at least id have a ride. So i kept tryin to boost it.. 3.. 4.. maybe 5 gears.. Then i went and stopped at the store.. let it run while i was in there. Came out, went on the road and i couldnt get past 3k or it would BOG LIKE HELL. ( not fuel cut type). Then i noticed all of my lights flickering with my blinkers.. The radio was flippin out, turning on n off.. etc. I struggled to get home and i finally did.

I parked in the drive way, let it cool off.. went in and opened up the garage door. The ####er wouldnt start. I could just hear the selinoid clickin fast as hell when i turned the key. The windshield wippers would barely move etc.

I have gotten 1 opinion on what the possible issues are, and i would like to gain some more before i go off buyin parts with the last of my paycheck. Any accurate scenerios would be appreciated. Sorry for all of the details, i just didnt want to miss anything.

-josh

 

[DiabloRT]

Battery & Alternator.


If the battery is old.....replace it......because you will need to do so soon anyway. If it newer....take to some where and have it charged and test. If it tests ok, have it recharged and slap it back in the car.


With the battery back in....start it up and use a voltmeter to check the voltage at the battery with the car running. It should read atleast 13.2v at idle. Take the RPMs up to about 2200 and see if your in the high 13s or low 14s. If you are....thats good. If its only in the 12v range with the car running.....then the alternator is shot.

If it does read in the 13 to 14v range....you should still have the charging system tested to ensure that the alternator is putting out enough amps. That could be another problem.

Autozone, can charge your battery, test your battery, and recharge it if it is good ....for free. Then you can bring the car back to the store for a charging system/ test....which they do for free as well.....they just wheel the machine out to your car and hook up to the battery.

 

[Ottoman]

I second what DiabloRT said...

i had similar problems in my car before as well..turned out it was the alternator

on a side note:

try and check to see all teh wires to the terminals, are connected properly and not loose, also u can try "hitting" the alternator with a steel pipe or bar.. sometimes it can "revive" it temporarily...
if not of that makes a diff. with the volt test...
then it's propably either the carbon brushes or the actual copper windings inside the alternoator...

good luck and don't worry too much about it, it's nothing too serious...

 

[GhostSpooLrTK]

My car never did the lights or no starting problems...

but I also had the problem where it wasnt boosting right, andi thought it might be my intake was clogged up or something.

anyways, at first it seemed like it was fixed after I ran some fuel injecter cleaner through the system.

then couple days later it started barely making 4-5k RPM, like I mean this was me trying with all hell on my back to make 5kRPM, and the car wouldnt go over 80-90mph.

but my turbo seemed to be spooling all the way, but felt like the engine wasnt.

next thing i knew i had engine knock now doh

hope you can fix it.


as far as not starting

-----

my 94 DL had the same problem, it would start sometimes and be fine, then i would drive somewhere and it wouldnt start when i went to leave (SHIT!) heheh

Play with your battery terminal and make sure the terminals are very clean and getting a good connection (this would sometimes let the car start)

But i would look into your Starter Celenoid, thats what i had to replace.

I would turn the key and all i would hear is the snapping of the thing trying to start. Sometimes it would, sometimes it wouldnt but if i jump started it , it would turn over.

 

[steveVR4]

Ecu

 

[Zeppelin]

Take it to Autozone and have them run a check. They can check the battery and alternator with their BAER unit. It is pretty accurate.

One thing to check would be corrosion on the battery terminals too. If they're corroded, clean them with some baking soda and water with a toothbrush. Make sure the connections are good and tight too. Check your ground wire too, if that's loose at the body it could cause some electrical problems too. If it looks bad, replace it.