KA24E Engine and electricity turning on and off

[mikovu]

So just a few days ago my car started to act up, first my stereo would turn off, and then turn back on a moment later. However, to this day on my way back from work, EVERYTHING would cut in and out, for example my headlights, tail lights, gauges would turn on and off. Not only that, my engine would turn off and immediately turn back on. It's pretty bad, and is too risky to even drive it. I was wondering what could be causing it. I just replaced my negative battery cable and also didn't do the trick ( it was exposed and very dirty ).

The moment i start the car, it can idle fine, but you'd see the lights flicker on and off, gauges go on and off; the moment i start driving, the engine would turn on and off as if it wanted to stall, along with all the electricity in the car. The lights would either flicker on and off, or turn dim. PLEASE, any suggestions would help so much!

[racepar1]

Check the electrical connections near the fusebox. Start tugging on wires untill you find the one that makes it change. You've got to have a bad connection up there somewhere near the battery.

[mikovu]

unfortunately, nothing really seems to be happening. Any other suggestions?

[future]

Your alternator obviously

[GroundPerformance]

Are you on coilovers? Car fairly low?

[racepar1]

Are you on coilovers? Car fairly low?

Good point, the tire on the driver's side is known to rub through the wiring harness on lowered cars.

:bigok:

[mikovu]

My harness is fine. Car is only on Tein lowering springs, looked at the harness under the driver side wheel well, and it's fine. Tugged on some wires in the engine bay, and nothing seemed to be the problem. So i'm assuming it's the alternator.

[GroundPerformance]

Fairly easy to test alternator.. Just start the car and check the voltage on the battery. If your voltage is less than 12v your running on battery only. You should expect 13-14v

[future]

Or the simpler way. Disconnect the battery while its running

[mikovu]

So, start the car, then disconnect the negative then positive?

[future]

Start it, disconnect either side while its running. If its dies, bad alternator

If it still runs, turn EVERYTHIG you can on and repeat. If it still runs then alternator is not your problem and I was wrong

[mikovu]

Okay, thanks a bunch, i'll try that tomorrow morning.

[mikovu]

Alright, so i checked the alternator, that doesn't seem to be the case, any other suggestions? I'm thinking it's one of the relays by the passenger side under the hood, but not sure how to check those.

[future]

No. Loose wire somewhere, or ground. Have fun finding it lol

You will need it

[mikovu]

Quick update, while driving to my friends house with the car so he could help me drop it off at the shop while i'm at work... i didn't even manage to get out of the neighbourhood. The car stalled on its own 3 times and after the last one it didn't start up until 5 minutes later. Battery light is on. Still the alternator?

[future]

Battery light means the alternator. If you did the test right it can be loose wires on the alternator.

I still feel like what you are telling us shows alternator

[mikovu]

Starting to think it could be the alternator as well, my " Engine Cont " fuse was blown, so ireplaced it and it keeps blowing. When i'm in neutral, drop the E brake down and press on the brakes, the engine starts to die out and eventually stalls. Signs of a bad alternator i believe, correct?

[future]

A bad alternator will not blow fuses

If so, that's new to me

[Sthirteen90]

check all your fuses, relays, every wire. take the battery to autozone to get it tested. something like this was happeneing to my s13 and i thought it could be the alternator. then i took the battery to autozone and it was shorted out. it was making my car die after disconnecting the jumper cables. worth a try man. good luck

[mikovu]

Replaced the Engine Cont fuse with 20fuse like the previous owner did, it's fine now, parking brake, and battery lights are completely off, however problems still continue. Earlier, i turned the headlights on and the engine shut up, i started it back on, turned on every accessory i could and the car would idle lower and lower. When i pressed the brakes, it would start to lose power. When i drive the car, the engine still cuts in and out, any suggestions? still possibly the battery/alternator? I disconnected my negative battery cable when the car was still running, and that did nothing.

[mikovu]

Alright, so i decided to test the alternator once again, i disconnected the negative battery cable as the car was running, it was still going. So i hopped in and turned everything on and began to hit the brakes, after a couple seconds the car died and wouldn't be able to start. I put the negative battery cable back on and it would crank, but wouldn't start. Just making sure before i end up wasting my money, but would this be the alternator?

[sked707]

Did you ever figure it out? I'm having the same issues right now & i've already replaced the alternator. Starting to think it might be my battery idk. Gonna check connections & relays, already checked fuses.

[mikovu]

In the end i just took it to my friend's shop, cost me $220. There was a problem with the wiring, check underneath the steering column and cluster.

[sked707]

In the end i just took it to my friend's shop, cost me $220. There was a problem with the wiring, check underneath the steering column and cluster.


Thanks man but ended up figuring it out,it was my battery. So far so good.