Unusual Electrical Problem

Mister2Fanatic · 06-02-2007, 01:24 AM

For the last 2 days, I have been having this weird problem. When I start the car up, all the dash lights flash then go off like normal. However once I start driving, my battery light will come on when I come to a stop or simply press the clutch in to start slowing down. As soon as I get back on the gas and the RPMs increase, the battery light goes off again. I have checked my battery connection to make sure it is solid, and all is good. I have also checked the belt tension on the alternator and all seems good. The only thing that I haven't done is actually taken the alternator out to have it tested. I did however check to make sure that every connection was solid and corrosion free. I am at a complete loss, if you have any advise I would greatly appreciate it. I have a 91 N/A with 5spd. Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance.

Mister2.2 · 06-02-2007, 02:39 AM

Have you checked all your ground connections as well?

Mister2Fanatic · 06-03-2007, 01:54 AM

I have checked all the ones on the alternator and every wire that I can trace through the engine bay, but I might have missed one or two I'm sure. Is there any particular ground connection that you would say I should look at?

Mister2.2 · 06-03-2007, 11:23 AM

How about your battery ground?

Mister2Fanatic · 06-03-2007, 11:37 AM

Duh, that is one that I haven't checked. I did however did just change the battery about 2 months ago and everything lookes good. Today however the problem did get worse, my battery light is always on now, but my voltmeter is showing that the battery is charged. I'll keep you updated on the battery ground.

ck8260 · 06-03-2007, 04:22 PM

take the alternator out and get it tested.its probally the alternator or the voltage regulator that is built inside the alternator.the battery light is a generic light that will come on for all electrical current going through the battery without a resisitor in its place.10-1 says it is your alternator.one question i do have for you is why did you replace the battery two months ago.

Mister2Fanatic · 06-03-2007, 05:03 PM

I replaced the battery because it was almost 10 years old. At the time I replaced it, I was having trouble with it holding a charge. What is the easiest way to get the alternator out?

Mister2.2 · 06-03-2007, 05:08 PM

Through the top. If you have Cruise Control you have to remove that and then pull the Alt out through the top. You will still have to get under the car most likely to unbolt it, though.

ck8260 · 06-03-2007, 05:46 PM

if the battery was 10 years old then it was a good idea to get it replaced anyhow.being the battery wa 10 years old you might have the original alternator as well.Since you have the alternator out i would replace the belt too.that has too come off too.good luck.

If you need diagrams let me know.I have access to all of them.I can shoot them over if you like

Mister2Fanatic · 06-03-2007, 09:23 PM

ck8260, it would be extremely helpful if you could send me those diagrams. You can email them to me at mister2fanatic@yahoo.com. Thanks for all the help. Also do you think it would be more cost effective for me to just replace the brushes and voltage regulator without replacing the whole unit?

Mister2Fanatic · 06-06-2007, 11:44 AM

It was the alternator. Swapped it out and everthing is working like a charm. Thanks for all the help.

ck8260 · 06-06-2007, 12:47 PM

Did my e-mail help you

Mister2Fanatic · 06-07-2007, 11:43 AM

Your email was the only thing that got me through getting the alternator out. Thank you so much!!

Luni · 06-07-2007, 01:59 PM

Battery light in the dash is activated through a ground in the diagnostics box on attached to the harness. The only thing that could cause that light to kick on is the voltage regulator not initializing or a ground short somewhere between the reg and the dash on that circuit.

Usually when that happens your yellow low leval oil light comes on as well.

This isnt meant for the OP, it is there to go into search archive so when the next person has trouble its there for them.

06-02-2007, 01:24 AM	#1 (permalink)
Mister2Fanatic No Skills Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 21 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	Unusual Electrical Problem For the last 2 days, I have been having this weird problem. When I start the car up, all the dash lights flash then go off like normal. However once I start driving, my battery light will come on when I come to a stop or simply press the clutch in to start slowing down. As soon as I get back on the gas and the RPMs increase, the battery light goes off again. I have checked my battery connection to make sure it is solid, and all is good. I have also checked the belt tension on the alternator and all seems good. The only thing that I haven't done is actually taken the alternator out to have it tested. I did however check to make sure that every connection was solid and corrosion free. I am at a complete loss, if you have any advise I would greatly appreciate it. I have a 91 N/A with 5spd. Sorry for the long post and thanks in advance.

06-02-2007, 02:39 AM	#2 (permalink)
Mister2.2 Cheese it! Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,356 Thanks: 113 Thanked 111 Times in 96 Posts Blog Entries: 1 My Google Map iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	Have you checked all your ground connections as well? __________________ --Josh MR2Trader.com Free Accounts to Buy and Sell your MR2 Parts! Ask me about Web Hosting Solutions, starting at $5.95 a month. 'I am at two with nature.' 'Students achieving Oneness will move on to Twoness.'

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06-03-2007, 01:54 AM	#3 (permalink)
Mister2Fanatic No Skills Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 21 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	I have checked all the ones on the alternator and every wire that I can trace through the engine bay, but I might have missed one or two I'm sure. Is there any particular ground connection that you would say I should look at?

06-03-2007, 11:23 AM	#4 (permalink)
Mister2.2 Cheese it! Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,356 Thanks: 113 Thanked 111 Times in 96 Posts Blog Entries: 1 My Google Map iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	How about your battery ground?

06-03-2007, 11:37 AM	#5 (permalink)
Mister2Fanatic No Skills Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 21 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	Duh, that is one that I haven't checked. I did however did just change the battery about 2 months ago and everything lookes good. Today however the problem did get worse, my battery light is always on now, but my voltmeter is showing that the battery is charged. I'll keep you updated on the battery ground.

06-03-2007, 04:22 PM	#6 (permalink)
ck8260 No Skills Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 11 Thanks: 2 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	take the alternator out and get it tested.its probally the alternator or the voltage regulator that is built inside the alternator.the battery light is a generic light that will come on for all electrical current going through the battery without a resisitor in its place.10-1 says it is your alternator.one question i do have for you is why did you replace the battery two months ago.

06-03-2007, 05:03 PM	#7 (permalink)
Mister2Fanatic No Skills Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 21 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	I replaced the battery because it was almost 10 years old. At the time I replaced it, I was having trouble with it holding a charge. What is the easiest way to get the alternator out?

06-03-2007, 05:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
Mister2.2 Cheese it! Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 6,356 Thanks: 113 Thanked 111 Times in 96 Posts Blog Entries: 1 My Google Map iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	Through the top. If you have Cruise Control you have to remove that and then pull the Alt out through the top. You will still have to get under the car most likely to unbolt it, though.

06-03-2007, 05:46 PM	#9 (permalink)
ck8260 No Skills Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 11 Thanks: 2 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	if the battery was 10 years old then it was a good idea to get it replaced anyhow.being the battery wa 10 years old you might have the original alternator as well.Since you have the alternator out i would replace the belt too.that has too come off too.good luck. If you need diagrams let me know.I have access to all of them.I can shoot them over if you like

06-03-2007, 09:23 PM	#10 (permalink)
Mister2Fanatic No Skills Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 21 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	ck8260, it would be extremely helpful if you could send me those diagrams. You can email them to me at mister2fanatic@yahoo.com. Thanks for all the help. Also do you think it would be more cost effective for me to just replace the brushes and voltage regulator without replacing the whole unit?

06-06-2007, 11:44 AM	#11 (permalink)
Mister2Fanatic No Skills Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 21 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	It was the alternator. Swapped it out and everthing is working like a charm. Thanks for all the help.

06-06-2007, 12:47 PM	#12 (permalink)
ck8260 No Skills Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 11 Thanks: 2 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Did my e-mail help you

06-07-2007, 11:43 AM	#13 (permalink)
Mister2Fanatic No Skills Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 21 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (3/100% )	Your email was the only thing that got me through getting the alternator out. Thank you so much!!

06-07-2007, 01:59 PM	#14 (permalink)
Luni ST185 Powered SW20 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Salt Lake City Utah Posts: 2,961 Thanks: 9 Thanked 106 Times in 92 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (8/100% )	Battery light in the dash is activated through a ground in the diagnostics box on attached to the harness. The only thing that could cause that light to kick on is the voltage regulator not initializing or a ground short somewhere between the reg and the dash on that circuit. Usually when that happens your yellow low leval oil light comes on as well. This isnt meant for the OP, it is there to go into search archive so when the next person has trouble its there for them.