Possible electrical problem
JoeWagon
04-24-2005, 07:48 PM
Here's the deal. I went to start my car one morning and the battery was completely dead. After jumping the car, it would run, but going over 10% throttle would cause bogging/misfiring. I figured that a low/dead battery would make sparking difficult under throttle.
After replacing the battery (optima red top), the car started rough wouldn't idle for a few tries. I got the car to idle, but any throttle would reduce RPM, such as a misfire. The car ran on the dead battery, so the alternator works at least a little. My current guess is a weak alternator that can't supply spark when the voltage demand is higher. I realize that a lot of other things can cause the car not to run well under any throttle, but there were no changes to the car except for a gauge install. The gauge is on the cig lighter light power, and grounded to a bolt under the stereo. The cig lighter light is switched from the lights, so I didn't think it would drain the battery. The gauge of course isn't on when the car is off.
Anyway, there are two problems. I think there is a draw when the car is off, and it runs weak under throttle when the car is on. The positive battery terminal is disconnected so it doesn't drain my $120 battery. Tomorrow I will probably have the alternator checked for free at AutoZone, and taken to a real mechanic afterwards if the problem persists.
Pretty weird problem but there is no harm in asking if anyone has suggestions. I suspect electrical but realize that a bog/misfire under throttle could be a host of things like plugs, wires, injectors, coil packs, ecu, etc...
P.S. I have DSMlink in the car. If DSMlink was reset (the battery died), would the car run poorly? I'm a complete idiot for not knowing the DSMlink presets, but it could be set for 780cc injectors, which is what the person I bought it from used. I will check ASAP, before Kevin yells at me.
After replacing the battery (optima red top), the car started rough wouldn't idle for a few tries. I got the car to idle, but any throttle would reduce RPM, such as a misfire. The car ran on the dead battery, so the alternator works at least a little. My current guess is a weak alternator that can't supply spark when the voltage demand is higher. I realize that a lot of other things can cause the car not to run well under any throttle, but there were no changes to the car except for a gauge install. The gauge is on the cig lighter light power, and grounded to a bolt under the stereo. The cig lighter light is switched from the lights, so I didn't think it would drain the battery. The gauge of course isn't on when the car is off.
Anyway, there are two problems. I think there is a draw when the car is off, and it runs weak under throttle when the car is on. The positive battery terminal is disconnected so it doesn't drain my $120 battery. Tomorrow I will probably have the alternator checked for free at AutoZone, and taken to a real mechanic afterwards if the problem persists.
Pretty weird problem but there is no harm in asking if anyone has suggestions. I suspect electrical but realize that a bog/misfire under throttle could be a host of things like plugs, wires, injectors, coil packs, ecu, etc...
P.S. I have DSMlink in the car. If DSMlink was reset (the battery died), would the car run poorly? I'm a complete idiot for not knowing the DSMlink presets, but it could be set for 780cc injectors, which is what the person I bought it from used. I will check ASAP, before Kevin yells at me.
JoeWagon
04-28-2005, 05:58 PM
Regardless of whether the car drains the battery or not, it is awful hard to run the car at -41% fuel in DSMlink. Damn presets, I need to get my own laptop so I don't worry about a broken car for a week before I realize how dumb I am.
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