Big electrical problem!

[JAMallott]

Ok electrical gurus. Heres my problem.

About a week and a half ago, driving to work, going on constant 65-70 mph, my gauges reset (as if going into diagnostic mode) then my battery light and coolant light flashed. The radio stayed on, but the headlights dimmed a little. About a week later, going to work, wile accelerating normally, at about 2K rpms, in 2nd gear, it happened again. But this time it happened 3 more times immediately after. Now last night, it got really crazy. Every time I'm above idle, the gauges are trying to reset, and the battery light will either just flash or stay on. If I'm driving a constant speed, the tach will stay at zero, and the speedometer will stay at 140mph. The radio now will once in a while either get all scratchy, or go turn off when I turn my rear defroster off. That's right, I can turn my radio on and off with my rear defroster button sometimes because of this problem.

So Now it's gotten to the point where I no longer have any working gauges unless I'm braking or stopped.

I noted to a guy at the shop I'm working at that my alternator belt has been squealing really bad the last few weeks, and he thought it might just be slipping. Upon further inspection, the belt really looks pretty fine. It might need changed, but there's plenty left of the groves to grip, and no cracks, and it's not oily. I have a new belt to put on today, but I don't think this will solve anything.

Also, the car starts up perfectly, an drives perfectly, so I'm PRAYING and hoping that the alternator is fine. The alt isn't more than 8 months old.

Anyone have any ideas???

[sonza68]

Sounds like a charging system problem to me. Although charging system problem does not necessarily mean alternator, it could be, but I wouldn't just swap the alt and call it fixed.

[bensenvill]

ouch!

I'm no electrical guru but I've forgotten to reinstall the ground wire that connects to the upper motor mount and/or the ground wire thats on the hood [iirc, mines been moved], and have gotten very similar results [with it then killing the car], might want to check those wires.

[JAMallott]

I haven't done any modifications since.... sometime before CF I think. But I will check none the less.

[megail]

sounds like a loose connection, or your alt failing. mine did the same thing then it took a dump....HOWEVER the 2nd time it did this the motor ground became corroded and disconnected. SOOOOO check your wires.

[B3NN3TT]

I'll second checking the wires. Sounds almost like a short in the system somewhere between the alternator and the battery.

[nadthomas]

I've had a similar thing happen with my gauges and whatnot, but only when splashing through water that had puddled up heavily along the side of the road. For me, I assume it was my alt getting too wet. So, besides double checking your wires at the alt, cleaning your battery terminals, making sure there is absolutely no wiggle on your battery clamps, and checking your fuses, I would say its highly likely that you have another bad alt. But didn't you say you can get a new alt for $15 through work, and with the way you guys discovered how to get the top bolt out easier, it should be a 1 hour job now. Let me know if you need any help, I have until the Jan 2nd off from work.

[JAMallott]

Originally Posted by nadthomas

I've had a similar thing happen with my gauges and whatnot, but only when splashing through water that had puddled up heavily along the side of the road. For me, I assume it was my alt getting too wet. So, besides double checking your wires at the alt, cleaning your battery terminals, making sure there is absolutely no wiggle on your battery clamps, and checking your fuses, I would say its highly likely that you have another bad alt. But didn't you say you can get a new alt for $15 through work, and with the way you guys discovered how to get the top bolt out easier, it should be a 1 hour job now. Let me know if you need any help, I have until the Jan 2nd off from work.

I got the alt. BELT for $15 through work lol. I wish it was the whole alt!

[JAMallott]

Belt didn't help anything. The alt. pulley spun freely, as did everything else. And I didn't see any wires cut or exposed or anything, but I'll see if I can get it on a lift today at work to find anything.

[Vix]

Same thing happened to me, except the guages going crazy has happend before, but couple days ago i was going 10mph on a residential area, a lot of snow on the road too. I got to a side of the road where it was not as bad so i accelerated fairly fast and the red battery light flashed.

Have you found a solution to what is causing it?