Rain issues....

[Nick2gGST]

So i've noticed a few things when I drive in the rain ( i have no a/c the compressor dont work so that sucks but i digress)

One: When I'm driving my radio turns off and on and off and on and off...Checked the radio the wires are all connected very good and properly. What could this be?

Two: Some slowwww starting when it's raining out. It'll start right away but its sloww i turn the key and it's like rarrrr rarrrrrrr start.

I had an issue with the battery cable end for the power side so i chopped that off and replaced it with a good one. Seemed to work at first but now it's doing the same thing again, the connections to the terminal are good, no exposed wires or anything. Also at a red light (with my directional on) with every tick of the flasher it clicks up 100rpm and down.

help

 

[97gst_spyder]

Check your alt fuse under the hood the 100amp one. Mine did that and the fuse was blown. Also check all the alt connections and make sure there tight.

 

[paultheninja]

Check fuse's and make sure no water is leaking into the fuse box

 

[nuclearr]

You say its slow to start when its raining? If so does it do it when the car was parked in no rain and it is raning when starting? Or dose it do it after you have been driving in the rain and park the car?

 

[Nick2gGST]

No water in the fuse box at all..I looked at the fuses they physically look ok none of them are popped, but i don't have a test light nor any money to buy one . I painted over my fuse box stupid idea, So which fuse am I supposed to be looking at? Is it a fuse or a relay?

 

[Nick2gGST]

nuclearr not sure it's hard to tell because i've been driving everywhere lately .

 

[nuclearr]

You also could have a bad main power wire or ground wire bad. When they carode they can carode down the wire and carode internally. I mention this b/c you said you spliced your battery connector.

 

[Nick2gGST]

The wires actually look pretty nice the reason why i had to replace the connector was because it was cracked. Just replaced that last night...Maybe I have a weak battery? But even after I drive for a while it still does the weird idling when i put on the directional.

 

[97gst_spyder]

Is it only when you turn your blinkers on, that you have idle issues? You might have a short in the wiring somewhere.

 

[Nick2gGST]

I believe it's any electrical load applied. OH sometimes my abs light comes on dim too and goes away usually when i get to a higher rpm.

 

[97gst_spyder]

Do you have any aftermarket electronic items installed? As in alarms/radio/gauges?

 

[Nick2gGST]

just an alpine deck like i said above the wires are all corerctly done.

 

[Nick2gGST]

So today i was driving and came home, i kinda wot it from a red light one time which not like in a racing manor, only up to the speed limit...then all of a sudden All my gauge lights came on. my brake light, battery light and abs light as well as a light that looks like a sideways latter(what does that mean?) i pulled over and it was still running just weak, my lights dimmed and everything, it was a slow crank when i tried to restart it so I feel it may be the alternator (correct me if you think otherwise please) I checked the visibly able checking ones. None looked popped. The alternator looks fine. Connections to it look good and the tension on the belt looks good as well. Could that be the issue? maybe a bad diode? ALSO My main question...Could this be the reason why my abs light and radio keeps turning off and on?

 

[dsmtun3r98gst]

might be cus your battery is too weak. wuts the CCA on it?? and your right sumtimes when ## gauges turn on and it seems like ## car is about to die most of the time it means that ## alternator is gone or you might have a loose connection

 

[boostedjay32]

If something keeps on turning on and off you have a short somewhere...

 

[Nick2gGST]

the radio is the only thing that flickers connection to the batter is brand new i just replaced them after this issue started to see if that'd fix it...the batter was just on a charger at advance auto not too long ago..

 

[Rex2342]

So today i was driving and came home, i kinda wot it from a red light one time which not like in a racing manor, only up to the speed limit...then all of a sudden All my gauge lights came on. my brake light, battery light and abs light as well as a light that looks like a sideways latter(what does that mean?) i pulled over and it was still running just weak, my lights dimmed and everything, it was a slow crank when i tried to restart it so I feel it may be the alternator (correct me if you think otherwise please) I checked the visibly able checking ones. None looked popped. The alternator looks fine. Connections to it look good and the tension on the belt looks good as well. Could that be the issue? maybe a bad diode? ALSO My main question...Could this be the reason why my abs light and radio keeps turning off and on?

When my last alternator went bad my radio would shut on and off due to too much voltage. Don't have ABS so I'm not sure if that would trigger too. The regulator went bad and it was charging to nearly 18V It would also display symptoms similar to yours with the slow starting and dim lights occasionally. Get the alternator checked and if you have a volt gauge or AFC watch the voltage as you drive. It sounds to me like your alternator is going bad.

 

[Nick2gGST]

Thanks for the insight Rex, that's wicked helpful dude. Thank you..Anymore you can tell me about this? Do you know anything on average pricing?

 

[dsmtun3r98gst]

average price for an alternator is $120 to $160 with lifetime warranty for our cars, and for better start ups you might want to get a battery with high CCA if your looking for better start-ups

 

[Rex2342]

Thanks for the insight Rex, that's wicked helpful dude. Thank you..Anymore you can tell me about this? Do you know anything on average pricing?

Don't thank me until you figure it out but surel but I'm glad I could get you pointed in a decent direction. As far as pricing goes I'm not really sure. I get my parts at cost through the shop I work at and my last 2 were under warranty so it's been a while since I actually paid for one. If you're going to get a new one I would suggest looking into a factory Mitsu unit. The rebuilds from Napa, or Autozone are kinda hit or miss. I've had them last for a year or 2, I've ones last 2 weeks and I've had ones come in DOA. The factory Mitsu lasted 17 years

 

[Nick2gGST]

Is it hard to install it? I'm probably going to have to have a shop put it in since I have no way of doing it haha.

 

[Nick2gGST]

Wow...thats a long lasting alternator ...I don't run much on the load tho, just bare minimum.

 

[Rex2342]

Is it hard to install it? I'm probably going to have to have a shop put it in since I have no way of doing it haha.

They aren't that hard to do yourself. Get yours tested before you do anything though. No sense in spending money on something that may not even fix your problem.

 

[My1GLaser]

Like Rex said, its probably your alternator, but get it tested. I believe all those lights come on when the alt goes bad. If you want an upgrade and a cheaper solution to a mitsu alternator then search "Saturn Alternator."

It works great and can be gotten cheap at a pick n pull. I got one off ebay for $25 with a pigtail last year. Took about an hour or two for the install...unless you do all the other charging system upgrades "while you're down there." Like running new 4ga wires, extra grounds and the Sense wire mentioned in this thread. http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/cus...ernator-swap.html?highlight=saturn+alternator

 

[Nick2gGST]

Alright cool well I will see how things go tomorrow. I don't know about swapping to a saturn alt. Just because the wiring and whatever may not be worth it I really don't plan on any more electrical load to speak of.