1991 Rodeo

1991 with 250,000 miles.
The Rodeo died while I was on highway.
No warning lights, noise or any other warning.
After pulled over I tried to re-start. Engine barely turned over. Sounded like a dead battery. Replaced battery-car cranked. I drove it home (approx 10 miles) with no problem. After I got it home I killed it and restarted. No problem. Let it run for a few minutes and tried same thing again. Dead battery sound again. Next day started the car and it started immediately but only ran for a few seconds. Did that 2 more times. Now sounds like it is running out of gas. I think something is shutting it down but I have no idea what that could be or how to go about figuring it out.
Last car I knew how to repair was a 350 Chevrolet.

Hey there:

Just a question: was there any bucking? I read on the internet (a google search) this guy found that the engine ground was held on by tape and that when the engine virbrated the eye ring would come away from the engine. If you need the website I can look it up! BTW I ve a 92 with 213000, Nice job! Dont' give up! -Paul

Original alternator?

Hey there:

Just a question: was there any bucking? I read on the internet (a google search) this guy found that the engine ground was held on by tape and that when the engine virbrated the eye ring would come away from the engine. If you need the website I can look it up! BTW I ve a 92 with 213000, Nice job! Dont' give up! -Paul

Thanks. No bucking, it just quit.
Radiator wasn't hot and checked the oil level. It was fine.

Original alternator?

Yes, original alternator.
Do you think that might be it? I am beginning to believe it might be the alternator or charge relay, but there hasn't been any engine light or other sign of a weak battery.

I have limited repair experience, but I'm thinking it might be worth a run to the auto parts store to rule it in or out.

Sometimes when the battery takes a crap it will take the alternator with it. Remove it and have it checked out.

If it isnt the alternator how about the fuel filter?? I had an older car that would just die for no apparent reason in the middle of driving. I change the fuel filter and it never happened again.

Well, it was the Alternator. Funny thing, as soon as I changd the Alternator the teperature gauge started working again. It quit a few days before the Alternator did.

Glad to see you solved it. I wonder if that's why both my voltmeter and temp guage don't work...

Would not be at all surprised.

in-case u didn't know it now there's electronic sensors on the cars nowadays, oxgyen sensor, map sensor, throttle position sensor, speed sensor, tempture sensor,. & there are a few others that i haven't come across yet. but these are the main ones. if any one of these goes bad (i mean dead) except for the speed one, the car/truck will not start..

we had a 80' & 84' amc eagles then we got a 89 bronco II & a 89 sunbird & ever since then we learned about these "dam-ed" sensors. ever since 86 or 87 the govt made a dead line for all auto manufactures to conform to a clean emissions policy & these sensors were bornat least that's the way i "red" it...

-scott

Just a quick tip to test your alt. Check you batter with the truck off with a DC voltmeter. It should read around 12 VDC. Then start the truck and recheck the voltage, the Voltage should go up roughly 2vDC.

Thanks I will remember that.