Problems

[KYSHO]

A few days ago I replaced my CAM position sensor, replaced leaky valve and spark plug well gaskets, and installed new spark plugs. My car seems have a short somewhere. I was doning this before I replaced the parts though. When driving, usually worse under heavy to mod. accelration the car will do the following things--The tach will jump around much higher than engine speed
-the Climate contontrol will cycle on and off and sometimes the radio will go out
-if it is doing this and I hit the power windows to roll one up that that is already up it will pull enough juice to cause the engine to cut out
-I some times hear a sound that sound a little like a sizzle but it might be feed back through the speakers

I pulled my engine codes and the only thing I BOO which the Famous Scott told me was related to the brake light switch on the brake peddle.(brake lights work)

Any one have any suggestions?

 

[Tooles]

My 95 is having the same symptoms, but it does the opposite of yours - I run it heavy or over 65 and the climate control clicks off - not just to the OFF position - I mean it totally shuts down. Sometimes it even clicks on and off and all I see is the 888 flashing on and off! I can turn the lights on or turn on the rear defroster and it will come back on for about 5 minutes or so, then it starts all over again. Even when I change lanes and use the blinker, it goes on and off in time with the blinker! I've checked all the connections and haven't come up with anything other than maybe I need to replace my alternator? Going to do that next week. I had the original rebuilt at around 90k - now it's at 129k. The lights outside (at night) also seem to flicker.
Mike, 95 ATX

 

[KYSHO]

Thanks Tooles please let me know if the new alt. fixes the problem. I sure hope is does. I dread the thought of tearing into the dash looking lose connections or banish the thought of having to replace the Climate control unit.

shoot

 

[sdpatt]

It sounds like you have either a weak battery or a bad connection to the battery or ground. Remove and clean the battery terminals and check the voltage of your battery.

 

[Tooles]

Hey sdpatt,
I'm guessing that's a reply for Kysho - so, in your infinite SHO wisdom, have you come across anything like my symptoms that I described in my previous post?
Thanks,
Mike, 95 ATX

 

[ckinart]

i'm not sure if this applies to either of your problems, but a while back i had something similar go wrong with my '94 mtx... it worked perfectly most of the time, but it started to cut out for a brief second on the highway... i would just be cruising along, and all of a sudden, i would hear a "pop" through the speakers, the car would lurch forward (loss of power) and the climate control would reset... this would just happen like a split second electrical short, and then everything would be back to normal... in the end, it turned out to be a toasted battery... replaced it, and haven't had a problem in about 4 months...

like i said, dunno if this helps, but it may be along the same lines... and before anybody replaces an alternator (i assume big $$) it would be worth your while to ensure that your battery is holding a good charge...

good luck!!

 

[stevetatro]

For anyone that's having strange electrical problems, flickering lights, etc. take your car to your friendly AutoZone!

They can hook up the voltmeter, measure, have you start the car, measure the voltage drop (or whatever that's called) and tell you if it's a battery problem or an alternator problem.

 

[Tooles]

Been there, went to Autozone with the battery out of the car - tested fine. Installed the battery and went back to Autozone and had them check the alternator while it was on the car - checked out fine. I took the alternator off the car to a local alternator shop - all they could find was that the bearings were bad - they replaced them.
Still having the same problems. It's driving me crazy! (no pun intended)

Mike, 95 ATX

 

[Tooles]

Well, I gave up. Dropped it off last night at a local repair shop (not a dealer!) - he's the same one who rebuilt my alternator. He said to not replace the alternator - just wasting money. He is going to see if there is a short somewhere or something.
Mike, 95 ATX

KYSHO:
Thanks Tooles please let me know if the new alt. fixes the problem. I sure hope is does. I dread the thought of tearing into the dash looking lose connections or banish the thought of having to replace the Climate control unit.

shoot

 

[luigisho]

Please let us know when you find the source of the problem. We can all benefit from difficult to diagnose solutions.

 

[KYSHO]

I took my SHO to AutoZone and they tell me the alt. is okay and the battery is good but has a low charge(this is a quality battery (heavy duty yellow and black one from Wal-Mart) that is only 3 months old. I had just driven it at highway speeds (75-80 mph) for 30 minutes to get from work to Autozone. If the alt. is working correctly and the battery is good why would it not have a full charge? Also, I have noticed, since it has gotten warmer, the symtoms I describe in the first post are worse (happen more often and cutting out is more violent) if the a/c is running.

Batt. terminals are clean. Scott has mentioned cleaning the ground--is that just the other end of the neg. batt. cable? I know there are other grounds such as the DIS ground on the firewall. Any suggestions on what other grounds I might should clean and where they are located.

 

[Tooles]

The shop looking at my SHO wasn't able to make a complete diagnosis. So I will bring it back in about a week. So when (if) they find the problem, I will post it here.
Thanks,
Mike, 95 ATX

 

[f$nsho]

A year ago I had very similar problems and replacing the battery fixed that. Just recently I am experiencing the same things again. Is it likely for the battery to give in after just one year? The voltage on the battery is 12.5V unloaded and 12.35V with the engine running which seems fine. I am not sure what else to check.
I like to know when you find a fix.

Rein.

 

[Dave Ladely]

12.35 voltw with engine running is not fine.
indicates low charging. 14.25 is about right with engine running.
[email protected] is adapting the later alternatos for early SHOs, 160 amps for only about $180.00
dave in Seattle

 

[KYSHO]

burn_out
Well I fixed my above mentioned problem. I checked my alt. with a voltage meter and was only getting 11-12 amps. so I was out driving around local bone yards looking for one. I was not having any luck and at one stop my starter crapped out. Boy now I was really mad shoot and they didn't have a starter that looked good to me so I got a guy to push start me and I went to AutoZone and got a new one with lifetime warranty. As I took the old one off I noticed one of the studds that the wires connect to was little loose. The wire was on tight is was loose inside the starter. Any way I put the starter on and bam the short that I mentioned in the first of this string of posts are fixed. Even fixed a long time pesky anti-lock light. And the amp is now charging at 14. This starter was one of the best investments I have ever made in my SHO. Maybe someone else will find the same thing is wrong with theirs.