Thats never happened before , ( on startup)

[munkee]

I went out to start my car at oh too early this cold morning and discovered several problems. At first it fired then lugged and died. I started it a second time and used a little throttle to keep it alive although it was lugging like it was missing quite badly. The throttle would jump back and forth @800 rpms every two or three seconds. After at least a minute it smoothed out to an even idle and then I turned on the defroster and it started acting up again for a short bit. Ditto on the stereo. Then I was driving in to Sioux Falls (seemed to drive fine) to get new tires put on and all of a sudden all the windows fog up and the heater is blowing really moist air. At first I thought it was the heater core but it didn't smell like it and about a minute later it cleared up again. Huh? Then after the tire change and on the way home, the fan would not shut off. When I push the off button it reads off but blows full hot on the defroster. Just when I though everything was going so well too. I just finished a full 60k and a new paint job about 3 weeks ago. The only item not replaced is the plug wires. I didn't get them ordered from IPT soon enough so I am driving it with the old oily wires until they are delivered. I don't personally think that the cold is too big a deal because it was 14 below all last week and I didn't have one problem with it, but who knows. It was 30 degrees warmer this morning. Could the plug wires really be the problem or is the alternator maybe at fault? Is it maybe a bigger electrical problem or is the problem with the heater just a coincidence? Any input is appreciated, and I will double check for codes later this afternoon. I am also working on the eatc problem in the search area. Sorry for the long post and if this would fit in the electronic section better, please move it.
Oops, almost forgot. 1990 MTX

<small>[ January 27, 2003, 11:45 AM: Message edited by: munkee ]</small>

 

[BlackMagik]

I just replaced my alternator and here's what it was doing: At wide open throttle all of the dash lights and sterio lights would blink on and off...guess the car was starving for amps. The new alternator fixed it. My mechanic said that this is a good indication. Are you getting 14.7 to 14.8 volts at the battery while the car is running after a 10 minute warm-up? If your not try checking all of the connections between the battery and the alt. If these check good you probably do have a bad alternator.

I just replaced the Plug wires and heres what it was doing: It would idle real rough and then smooth out...then idle rough....you get the picture. I also had a cracked insulator on one of the plugs....maybe from the water in the wells? I replaced the plugs too and the missing thing cleared up.

My car has a leak in the trunk and although it's small the car will immediately fog up the windsheild whenever the heater is not on or is blowing cold. The reason I know this is because my temp sensor just went bad and the heater would not even come on when in auto or in manual. Maybe you should check your coolant tank to see if it's low...if it's not you are not loosing coolant and should rule out the heater core. However, if you have a wet spot somewhere in the car from an outside leak and your heater is not functioning properly due to a bad temp sensor this may explain the cold mist on the windsheild.

Hope this helps!