Crap, something goofy is going on.

[bryanthompson]

Whilst installing IceShark's light kit (lights look freaking badass, btw) I ran into a couple oddities.

What is happening, is with the key in the on position, I can turn the lights on and off, brights and lows both work awesomely. When I start the car, it runs for about a second and a half then cuts out. Also, with the key in the 'on' position, I can't hear the fuel pump running.

Hanging down by my alternator was a cable that wasn't connected to anything. It's a red one, and it's just hanging there. Coming out of the same sheath was a green (I think it was green) wire that was going to the negative terminal on the alternator. I installed the positive feed for the new light wiring harness and went about my way. Could this already disconnected wire mean anything? Should it be hooked up? There's a factory alarm installed, as is a factory radar detector. Basically, I have a crap-ton of wires going everywhere.

Also, when I put the new voltage regulator on, it didn't seem to be all that tight. If I didn't put it on tight enough could it cause my problem?

Any thoughts? I think it had to be something I did or did, because the lights work fine.

[bryanthompson]

ooh, addition. Is it possible to have accidentally changed the setting on the adjustable voltage regulator, or would I have had to consciously make the effort to have done it?

[AFJuvat]

Is this a wiring harness wire, or part of the light kit?

Check the voltage on that cable between it and ground with a voltmeter - Are you sure that wasn't supposed to be connected to the alternator?

I'm betting that wire goes to one of the terminals on the alternator. (which would also explain all sorts of strange electrical problems that have cropped up)

The factory voltage regulator is on snug - there shouldn't be any movement in it.

AFJuvat

[bryanthompson]

I'll look at that spare wire closer. I need to find out where it goes, wires shouldn't just be hanging out like that, I would think.

I'll grab a voltmeter and check that out too.

Something interesting (or not, dunno), I unplugged my DME relay and tried to start, and it did the _exact_ same thing. So I swapped it with my spare relay, and it still did the same thing.

[bryanthompson]

Okay, took the air box back off and the alternator wires are all tight, voltage regulator is on tight, and I found what the spare cable was to. The spare cable is an old positive cable, apparently. It goes back to the area by the battery but it's not hooked up. I traced the positive from the battery, and it is hooked up to the alternator.

The positive feed to the headlights is going from the same post, and everything is tight.

[bryanthompson]

omg, i'm a doofus. think i got it figured out... got all excited and didn't plug my cable back into the afm. *doh*

*runs out to garage quick-like*

[bryanthompson]

Yep, that was it! Woohoo! Glad it was just me.

[DannoXYZ]

Glad you found it!

"When I start the car, it runs for about a second and a half then cuts out."

Classic symptom of nothaving an AFM signal.