Car keeps dying! Help!

[reccakun08]

Quick car info: 1990 fastback with s13 sr.

My car was acting funny whenever i would depress the brake abruptly; headlights dim, radio shutoff for a split second and come back on. It would still run but then couple more weeks of driving and coming to acomplete stop with foot fully on the brakes it would die. So i tested my battery and it was losing charge so i got it replaced. Car started working once again no problems. Couple months down the road i stopped driving my car and it wouldnt start. I jumped it and it started. Left it on for about an hr. Couple hours later won't start even with a jump. So now i got another sr alt from a guy on the forums. Car struggled at first to start from a jump but nonetheless fire up holding ~14V. Got a new battery and the car started on its own no problems for 3 weeks. Now i go back to try to start the car and nothing... the battery has like 6v but once i jump it i get a steady ~14V driving and leaving it on for 45mins. I did some more researching and checked my alternator fuse 75a under the hood and its fine (looking through the clear plastic nothing looks blown). Now i have no idea what the problem is. Help and some suggestions please.

[reccakun08]

Help anyone?

FREE BEER/FOOD for anyone local that can help.

[mxexux]

Sounds like parasitic power draw. Something could be not turning off when you turn the car off. By how it sounds like it first started there could be something that shorted to power before the switch and always staying on. But would not know for sure without looking at it in person. I hope this helps.

[reccakun08]

I dont have anything new on the car that would make it start happening recently. i dont have interior lights on, nor do i have anything plugged in the 12v accessory, turbo timer is off, safc is off, radio is off. its really strange.

[ANVIL]

check your fuseable link.
check your alternator wiring.

[reccakun08]

check your fuseable link.


http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/4168/fusebox001ts3.jpg

by fuseable link i am assuming the square shaped 30-20A fuses? from looking at the clear top they seem fine. if they were blown the top part would be disconnected correct? i also used the continuity function on my meter and they all beeped including the 75a alt fuse.

[FaLKoN240]

The fusible link is that big grey one on the left.

[zenki.life]

my car died alot while driveing....untill i replaced both batery leads= problem solved
they got soft

[s14xman]

take your alternator out and have it checked

[r6_240sx]

I dont have anything new on the car that would make it start happening recently. i dont have interior lights on, nor do i have anything plugged in the 12v accessory, turbo timer is off, safc is off, radio is off. its really strange.You can't assume that just because you haven't put anything new on the car this would happen.

To know for sure you don't have a parasitic draw is by getting a multimeter and do an amperage test.

I would also get your battery load tested. Batteries aren't meant to drop that low and especially quick charged like you did when you jump started it. A couple deep cycles and batteries are usually done for.

[reccakun08]

The fusible link is that big grey one on the left.

lol ok i thought they were just fuses. didnt know they were also know as the fusible links. i can just check continuity with a meter to test if they are good, right?

You can't assume that just because you haven't put anything new on the car this would happen.

To know for sure you don't have a parasitic draw is by getting a multimeter and do an amperage test.

I would also get your battery load tested. Batteries aren't meant to drop that low and especially quick charged like you did when you jump started it. A couple deep cycles and batteries are usually done for.

well its my 3rd new battery. i did initially think i had some type of parasitic draw but havent gone out to do any testing.

but the weird thing is the when the car is on 13.6-14.2V so i would assume battery since its not holding charge but its my 3rd one. and this one isnt more than a few weeks old.

[reccakun08]

quick question, the wire that connects to the alternator with the plastic washer preventing it from grounding to the alternator, if everything was installed without the plastic washer what would happen?

[opponheimer]

1. unbolt alternator, FIRST unhook battery.
2. take out battery
3. take both to advanced or autozone and have tested

if your alternator is bad buy my Quest alternator i have and make a quick custom bracket to attach it... 125Amp alternator, couldn't ask for more.