please help

[dillenrocha]

I finished my clutch and replaced my speed and refrence sensor. I pulled both sensors from a parts car they were a little chewed up but they worked. I rode around in excited that I could finally drive my car and then my radio started cutting in and out and then my car died. I then jumped the car and it started right up and after a mile or so the engine started cutting in and out then died again. The. Temp gauge went on so I just towed it home. The next morning I went to start it and it started right up any ideas. Bad ground bad sensors alternator is fine?

[Cocacolakidd]

Yes - check and clean all grounds - especially the main one on the back of the motor close to the firewall...Are the new to you sensor connections good/fast ??? If one or the other is loose or moving around will cause a problem.

[John_AZ]

I would not "jump" your car. You may damage the DME.

Check the battery cable connections.

If you have any corrosion on the cables replace with 2 guage or better. Not the cheap 6,8 guage at an auto parts store. They are not compatable.

Do not drop the nut on the negative ground cable in the TDC hole. Cover it!

GL
John

[John_AZ]

OH, I forgot,

Slow start

GL
John

[dillenrocha]

I believe it is the alternator going bad. I used a volt meter and I started it and read it was just at 12 turned the lights on went down a little. Then turned my ac on and it jumped down but the car idled fine and everything untill I believe the battery goes dead. Can a ground still cause this.

[minho78]

When your car is running check the voltage. If it's below 13 then the alternator/regulator may not be giving enough juice. Good luck

[Guest765]

I don't necessarily buy into the whole jumping the car can damage the Dme thing. I know Porsche sent a bullitin out about this but they have been wrong before. Maybe if you overvolt the system with a mostly charged batt getting a jump since the only voltage regulator I know of on the car is on the alternator?

On topic I would pull the radio fuse if it is original I've noted they tend to short internally at this age.

[dillenrocha]

I took. Out the alternator checked it at auto zone and it passed. My dad and the auto zone person said when the cae gets hot it can cause it to go crazy and not operate right. Do you all agree. I bought one anyways.

[John_AZ]

Originally Posted by dillenrocha

I took. Out the alternator checked it at auto zone and it passed. My dad and the auto zone person said when the cae gets hot it can cause it to go crazy and not operate right. Do you all agree. I bought one anyways.

Did you take a look/read the link I posted?
Post #2
Slow start

You cannot just throw money at the car and buy parts that are not bad.
It could have been a cheap VR or wire.

I know the ability and skills of an AutoZone, O'Reilly (Checker) or Pep Boy employee when it comes to offering advice and not just stocking shelves--

Get this customer out of my face! They will tell you anything or nothing.

Will they take back the part if it does not solve the problem? Will they give you back your old part?

You have to do the tests and read the entire Clark's Garage Home Page to understand.

John

[Cocacolakidd]

I don't necessarily buy into the whole jumping the car can damage the Dme thing. I know Porsche sent a bullitin out about this but they have been wrong before. Maybe if you overvolt the system with a mostly charged batt getting a jump since the only voltage regulator I know of on the car is on the alternator?

There is a correct way and an incorrect way to jump start a dead battery. I have used the good way for many years with no ill-effect, that is positive to positive and negative to negative. If you are trying to jump start a dead battery and hook up the system backwards (lots of idiots in our world try it backwards), that is positive to negative, you will almost certainly take out something. First to go is almost always the DME fuel Pump relay, the complete DME is next, so on and so on. It only takes that first instant touch hooked up backwards, and then sometimes that instant turn of an ignition key to do further damage.

[Guest765]

Originally Posted by Cocacolakidd

There is a correct way and an incorrect way to jump start a dead battery. I have used the good way for many years with no ill-effect, that is positive to positive and negative to negative. If you are trying to jump start a dead battery and hook up the system backwards (lots of idiots in our world try it backwards), that is positive to negative, you will almost certainly take out something. First to go is almost always the DME fuel Pump relay, the complete DME is next, so on and so on. It only takes that first instant touch hooked up backwards, and then sometimes that instant turn of an ignition key to do further damage.

Lol that will ruin stuff in any car. But I see your point.

[dillenrocha]

Brand new alternator same problem! What to check now?

[dillenrocha]

Any ideas I did replace the screw in the top of the bell housing holding the two wires on. The firewall with a painted screw can that effect anything? Any ideas?

[carsonmx114]

when you check your voltage check it at the battery, then move the ground on the meter over to the intake manifold or any ground on the engine. I'm almost positive you will see 13v plus when you do this. your engine ground cable is bad. replace the cable and you will probably have the problem fixed.

[mytrplseven]

Hey, I like that SIMPLE procedure for verifying a bad ground. A 2 second check to solve hours of trouble shooting. Every day I scan these posts and get a wealth of good stuff.

[dillenrocha]

I did as you said started the car put the ac on put the meter on the batter it read 10 and a half or so. Then grounded it to the intake manifold read the same amount. I got a test light and tested my starter this is how it read the 2 big wires on the starter were hot the. Small wire was not. On the alternator the small blue wire was not hot. But the bigger wire was hot. Any more ideas