What is wrong with my car?

1987 TurboII 112K orginal motor, no rebuild. I have all the maint records from 56K miles, 1996. for the car.

The previous owner has had a couple of altenators and batteries replaced, for what seems like a similar issue. Dealership said my Alt and battery were bad when it died on me the first time.

The issue.

It will randomly and very occaisonally die. All electronics in the car die. Just like the Alt and Battery were removed. It's happend 4 times total in the last 4 months.

More often though, I will lose power to my Radar det, via the cig lighter. And the headunit will lose power. The amps ( both ) still have power, just the headunit powers down.

Today, Radar detector and headunit power down, car dies, total power loss. Restart car, no Tach. drove it at lunch and everything works.

I'm stumped, what do I check?


Things that have been replaced.

New FD altenator. Thought the e-fan may be pulling to much power.
Battery is an Optima, and it is new.
All new wiring on the sterio amps. Did not like how the prev owner had it wired.


Thanks for any help or suggesations.

Rob

 

Not unheard of on a 87.

Last time I fixed that problem, on a 87, I re-mounted the Main relay and it never happened again. Make sure the bolt and body of the main relay have a good connection to the body.

I would also be checking the small plug on the back of the alt, the battery terminals (not just looking at them, but rather pull them off, clean the terminals and inside of the clamps) and the main fuse in the fuse box (make sure the nuts for it are tight).

 

Yep, time t give the fuse boxes a good examination. Sounds to me like a loose or corroded connection around that area.

Icemark, The alternator plug being loose wouldn't make the car die. If the Alt failed it should begin running on the battery only. (which may eventually run out and allow the car to do die, but it would take several hours of full operation with the stereo booming and the head lights on.) Let me know if I'm wrong on this, but I don't think I am.

 

I think if the alternator dies your cars going to die a lot sooner than you seem to think and that's with no radio a boomin. The ECU just chomps away at those volts/amps like nobodys business.

Hey. When this sucker dies on you, does that also mean when you go to Start, that the starter barely turns over? Or does the starter still whip the engine over pretty good? That would be a clue.

 

Starter whirs just like normal.

I'm going to check fuse box, bolts connections etc. now.

Thanks Rob

 

OK, Fuse box looks fine. Tight good connections and wire is in good sshape.

Alt. checks fine. The Bat bolt is tight and clean of corrosion. The FD Alt. was installed after the car died the first time.

I did notice the Neg battery cable is on it's last leg. Looks like the orginal cable. Cracks all over, probably a lot of corrosion too. I'll replace it this weekend.

Also, I need to know where the main relay is. I start by tracing the positive cable from the starter back. If I'm looking in the wrong area, just let me know. I have no ego attached to this and will admit when I need help.

Thanks Rob

PS, did I mention all the Hail damage from storm in Mckinney last weekend? I hate dealing with insurance. Scheduling the new windshield install soon....I hope.

 

Main relay is next to the trailing coil and is the metal box bolted to the fenderwall there