[RESOLVED] Electrical Gremlin

[IntrigdIrishGuy]

Ok, this is my first new thread, and I am at about my wits end. I have a 1997 GSX, in generally very good condition. However, I have been having an odd power drain of some sort, coupled with some new electrical symptoms.

1) I currently have a check engine light (MAP sensor needs to be replaced) and when near idle, the turn signal will cause the check engine light to pulse due to its draw.

2) yesterday and once today, I turned on the car, pulled away, and it felt like the entire electrical system was shorting out, cycling in and out. When the revs died down to idle, the car shut off. I was trying to keep revs up at around 1500-2000 to keep moving, however, when it cycled, it made a clicking noise, and the revs dropped significantly.


Already replaced: about a month and a half ago I replaced the battery due to a similar issue occuring, and that solved the cycling/clicking/ dieing off problem at the time. The Blinking check engine light issue started after that. About three days ago I switched in a new alternator, had the old one checked, and it passed. Any ideas? im handy enough to be swapping parts in and out, but electrical systems aren't my forte.


This has me pretty worried, especially because I can't figure it out on my own. Could it be a bad ground somewhere?


Thanks guys for your help in advance, I've been a lurker here for years and years, finally got my GSX in december.

 

[xioca]

Bust out a voltmeter and test to see that your alt is putting out, and also test it at the battery.

 

[MilitaryTalon]

+1 on the suggestion above.

I recently had a electrical gremlin. I know it's not the proper way to find it but I started under the hood and had someone sit inside the car while it was running and I started shaking all electrical connections under the hood and had the other person watch all gauges to see if anything changed. I then moved under the dash and did the same thing and found my short under the dash. There was a wire theat had stripped and was hot.

Now I'm not recommending this way but it worked for me.

 

[IntrigdIrishGuy]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. There is an update though. The car died at the gas station today. Just wouldnt re-start. Well, after much fiddling, and calling up my father, old car guy that he is, we scope out replacement starters. Only thing that made a huge amount of sense at the time. He also says that the next cheap part to replace, since it looked like it needed it anyway, was the batter terminal lead connections. Take one wild guess. The damn things starts right up and seems to be idling better, and my check engine light is even gone. Best advice i can imagine is, trust your old car guru. Total repair cost: $4. Hopefully thats it, I will be testing and going out to restart it in a little bit, but it fired right back up several times.

Thank you guys so much for the quick response, It really is greatly appreciated.

 

[xioca]

Ah if thats all it was you sir are lucky. Goodluck.

 

[rEclipserGST]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. There is an update though. The car died at the gas station today. Just wouldnt re-start. Well, after much fiddling, and calling up my father, old car guy that he is, we scope out replacement starters. Only thing that made a huge amount of sense at the time. He also says that the next cheap part to replace, since it looked like it needed it anyway, was the batter terminal lead connections. Take one wild guess. The damn things starts right up and seems to be idling better, and my check engine light is even gone. Best advice i can imagine is, trust your old car guru. Total repair cost: $4. Hopefully thats it, I will be testing and going out to restart it in a little bit, but it fired right back up several times.

Thank you guys so much for the quick response, It really is greatly appreciated.

Nice. Good job, cheap parts first.

Thread Tools, Resolved.

 

[sandiballs287]

good thing you found the problem. i was actually gonna say the connectors and the wiring when i read your first post. but yeah always start with the small stuff. one time the WIRE broke off from my alternator and car kept dying. it was a bi*** but i got it fixed.