well i just picked up a 98 ser 5spd, and theres some major electric problem.

the headlights come on. thats the only electrical thing that works. the wipers, radio, interior light, horn, heat/ac, speedo rpms temp dont work. i tried to swap a few of the fuses but they all look fine.

anyway, the car died on me idling at quick check. i bought a new duralast batery from autozone. it lasted me about 50 miles, then the car stopped at highway speed in 5th gear. it wouldnt go when gas was pressed. i pulled over, the battery was nearly drained. 15 minutes later it didnt have juice for the healdights.



what am i missing here. do i need an alternator or do I have to rewire some shit? theres a lot of corrosion on the battery cables

Alternator is a good place to start looking. It seems you are running directly off the battery, which won't last long. That doesn't really explain the electrical devices working though. Clean up your grounds if they are corroded. It is most likely a relay(s) in you engine bay, if I had to point you to a place to start.

Sounds like a blown fusible link.

C

well i posted before i checked the car.

it is the alternator, its not putting any voltage out.

im surprised I made it to morristown from fort lee ~45 miles each way and it died only 10 miles from home.

car dies when i pull the battery cable, to confirm the alternator sucks.

i have a feeling, according to other posts i read, that the accessories run off the alternator not the battery. a few people changed thier alternator and then everything works. the fuses and relays seem good, but I havent checked all of em. im working on the horn, because i know its connected and it goes off when i wired it to another battery. the fuse is good for it.

the wipers, radio, interior light, horn, heat/ac, speedo rpms temp dont work.These things work now?

C

not yet just went to the bronx to pick up an alternator. ill have it in by tonight if the rain calms a bit

Your symptoms (including the alternator not charging the battery) point to a bad fusible link. Maybe you've got a bad alternator AND bad fusible link, but I'd replace the link first.

C

Read this - http://www.sr20forum.com/general-sr20/22883-everything-died.html

C

new alternator is garbage what a pita to swap the bolt never wants to line up newer alternator goes in tomm

well i got a new alternator, popped her in and damn...no change, until i tapped the gas...

everything came on at about 3k rpms, and would stay on for a little while, then the engine slowly starts sputtering, becomes unresponsive to throttle, lights dim and the engine eventually dies.

the harness for the 2-wire plug is a little messed up, cut and corroded, i may have to replace it. shouldnt the car charge the battery itself at idle?

problems fixed.


new battery kept getting drained after ~2 hours driving.

swapped alternator, new battery again, same deal.

ended up the car got jumped backwards (posi to neg, neg to posi) and it shorted out a lot of relays and fuses, and burned the wire from the positive alternator post to the battery. swapped in a new wire (ghetto home made old amp cable with a fuse) i put a 100 amp on a 4 ga. also made a 4ga ground since the negative battery to chasis seemed corroded enough.


all i can say is wow. the biggest difference. everything works now, although some of the relays still need to be swapped.


the radio wont power up, hoping the harness is ok. horn no good.
the windows work, sunroof opens and tilts, power locks, tach, speedo, blinkers everything.


i guess the main point would be dont jump your car backwards or you will be surprised how much shit will go wrong. only thing i dont get is how the hell it drove for about 80 miles on a bad battery and alternator, with no connection between em.