Battery light on with new battery

[Cole maclachlan]

Hi

so my car is dead in the water right now and I have to get to work in a couple hours

1989 mtx
Day before pre yesterday my car was driving fine.
Starting stopping driving etc..
Come night time my car battery was dead and it wouldn’t start. Had to get a jump.
Once jumped it started fine but when I went to accelerate it was like there wasn’t enough power and the battery light came on.
Jumped it again it started fine as if it never happened. I took it for a big fast long rip And it performed like a champ.
Next morning started fine drove to work worked went to leave work dead. Got it jumped started fine and then did the same thing battery light on not enough power to drive. Got it jumped again then quickly reved it high and started driving this worked great for a min or two then all the power went out no lights on dash headlights ghost car rolling down the street 1 am . Felt like I was going to get pulled over instantly‍.
I made it a couple klicks down the road and then no power rolled into a gas station came to a stop janked right in the middle Took a 60$ cab accross the city home got a battery that I knew was tip top threw in it started right away. drove home with the battery light on the whole time parked went to restart.... nothing dead wtf

Could the alternator be dead? Ecu/m be going? Solenoid pooched. I will have to do some tests but has this happened to anyone?
Maybe it has and someone can shed some light on my dark and powerless problem.

Thanks a bunch in advance
Long story long

 

[Irish Pride]

Check the alternator and check the cables.

 

[Cole maclachlan]

Check the alternator and check the cables.

Thank you Irish I will do that.
It just started a few minutes ago. I began to drive it and then it died right on a busy street lol.
It is now parked on the side of the road and I am now In a cab ‍

 

[luigisho]

Also think about a backup vehicle. That car is 30yrs old. I'm not sying it isn't in great shape and can't be a good car. If you need to be somewhere reliably, 30yr old wiring and parts can get to be a challenge. Most of us use the SHO as a second vehicle or have other vehicles in the stable. If you own a SHO you at least need another car to run and get parts for when something goes out.

I don't have your income profile or know if/what other cars you have access to, but something to think about. Especially when younger folks get one. I was once that person and had way too many car offline days and that was back in 2001!

 

[Irish Pride]

Yeah, I'm back to using my 89 as a daily for the last 2 weeks since I sold my Saturn. In the last 2 weeks I've needed to get a jump start leaving work(I think I left the Ignition in the accessory position when I got out that morning) and I had to replace the radiator cap. I'm hoping to get another car this Wednesday.

 

[luigisho]

Don't you have multiple SHO's? My -93 is low miles and all sorts of issues. electrical it looks like

I daily a 14 F150. That SHO would have me chasing my **** if it was my only vehicle

 

[zoomlater]

What does the voltmeter show when its at idle. You might have a short somewhere, jiggle the alternator wires and other wires when its running

 

[Irish Pride]

Don't you have multiple SHO's?

I'm down to 3. My 89 just had a head and cam swap, front and upper 60k. I'm currently daily driving it. My 90 is in the process of getting a new engine and my 91+ is having the 3.3 freshened over the winter. My 89 is my only running SHO at the moment.

 

[Cole maclachlan]

I love this. You guys rock!

Sooo yes this post was written in desperation and frustration while waiting for my cab to get to work this morning.
I was dailying my 95 Impala ss but I put her away for the cold season.

figured the front wheel drive sho would be better for the snow as It is low k’s and this is the first major problem I have had with it.

my 94 sho is also in the shop with the spun rod situation on my other thread.

I am new ish to the SHOs but I am a man of multiple vehicles that’s for sure

I just love ripping around town in the sho

once I’m done my crazy work hours I will bust out with the volt meter and jumper pack to run some tests.

Any input is gratefully accepted.
Thanks in advance

 

[Cole maclachlan]

my 89 was... the only one on the road too.

 

[BaySHO Performance]

Certainly sounds like the alternator isn't working if all the wiring is OK. At idle, a voltmeter should show 13.5-14.5 volts across the battery. If you don't have a voltmeter, loosen off the negative cable on the (charged) battery, start the car and remove the negative cable. The car will die if the alternator is bad.

 

[luigisho]

You need to probe this thing. See if the battery will hold a full charge and the alternator output. If it would limp around, I'd recommend taking it to a parts store and have them test it with their machine but you can get a voltmeter and do it at home. If the problem is just alt or battery you are good sorta. That's easy stuff except for the spotty alternator replacement quality. I once had a '90 way back and went through 4-5 units through 2 different chain part stores until I got one that worked properly. That was a long time ago. Hopefully they aren't still that bad.

 

[zoomlater]

I'm down to 3. My 89 just had a head and cam swap, front and upper 60k. I'm currently daily driving it. My 90 is in the process of getting a new engine and my 91+ is having the 3.3 freshened over the winter. My 89 is my only running SHO at the moment.

View attachment 10680

That must have sounded nasty, how many miles on the motor

 

[Irish Pride]

That must have sounded nasty, how many miles on the motor

I bought the 90 with the blown engine. The guy selling it said that it had a knock in the engine and he daily drove it like that for a year before it imploded.

These are the bearings that I pulled out of the engine. The rods look brand new and the mains are some of the worst I've ever seen. Notice there are only 5 rod bearings... Here is the oil pickup just how I found it when I pulled the pan. I'm guessing this was a rod bearing swap by someone that shouldn't have been attempting one.

Anyway, I had a spare motor so it's all good. I actually sold the leather seats that were in it as well as the police grille that it had. As it sits right now, I'm $150 on the positive side. Ha!

 

[Irish Pride]

 

[luigisho]

oops.
fastener shnastener.

 

[SHOCH]

JB Weld ya sissy.
OP, like Chad had, ya need a daily beater with a heater. I’m chasing a no start on mine after a track day, snow due tomorrow, guess I’ll chase it come spring time.

 

[Cole maclachlan]

So I go i found the weakest link

the main alternator connection snapped and was dangling causing a separation in the circuit.

grabbed a new 1/4” hole connector and filled it solder then fired the bare cable end into it.



I then heat shrunk it and bam. Reconnected it mover the rubber boot over the connection and it was good to go.




I had to jump the car to geter going but she’s out the running back to normal.
Took er for a pretty big rip on the highway to get the rpms up.

Just want to thank you guys for your input.
All is much appreciated
Till the next thread