DemonicPupil

The Problems and Questions (in case you don't want to read the story)

Starting the car cold is a serious task. It turns and turns, sometimes it pops and backfires really bad. Then it will start, rev to 3k.. start to slow down.. then die and pop. Then I get her going again, I try to coerce her with some gas and keep it going. Usually works about the 3rd time I get her started.

Something I noticed... the first 2 times that she revved to 3k and died on me, i couldn't see anything coming out the back(from the mufflers) and it's reeally cold right now, so i figure i gotta see something. When I finally did get her running, you could finally see all the crap.

I was thinking maybe the cat is clogged? Could it be electrical? There are quite a few gremlins thus far. Any advice? I honestly don't think she's flooding, it just doesn't feel like flood.

Mods (as far as i can tell): Cone filter (maybe bad AFM?), exhaust work of some kind (headers?)


The Story
So I bought an 87 GXL off of some young punk on ebay. I really only bought it for the factory rebuild that was installed 30k ago for our vert.

Turns out the car was in alot nicer shape than I thought and in worse shape than I thought. Yes, I know... going to be tough to think through that one.

First I pick this car up, and all SIX, yes six (two extra rims with tires) were bald and showing tread. This ******* lost his license and decided to roast 6 tires. Fucktard

I bought it in "good running condition". This is of course if you stay under 3800 RPM, because someone broke the electrical connector off of one of the secondaries. Gah, *******! Thankfully I have some extra injectors, but they are 3 hours away, and I'm gonna have to drive like a granny the whole way there.

He put in an unknown tiny-*** E-fan outta some random car at the junk yard and hooked it straight up to a hot wire when the car is on. So the damn thing runs all the time... it has to.. it's so fecking tiny... good thing I have a real fan and shroud.. but they are 3 hours away also *grumble*

So the positives... alot of extra parts, and a shitload of S5 trim. The car runs great under 3800. It has a really nice exhaust manifold. Not one of those clunky suckers, but two 2" pipes running directly off of the rotors and collecting at about 1/2 way down the driveshaft at the huge cat.

Interior is in great shape... Damn that one crack in the middle of the center console, but overall the interior is still pretty mint.

Payed 1,000 for the car, so I figure as long as the engine is in good shape, that's about the cost of a JDM NA or a rebuild of the same mileage. So I also ended up with all the extra parts and another body for free.

DemonicPupil

Well, this morning I went out to start the car and there was no power left in the battery at all. Not even enough for one of the dome bulbs to flicker.

Got it jumped, took it to Adv Auto to have the alternator tested, and it's not putting out more than 7ish volts at idle. Rev it up and all of my lights get brighter and the blower fan inside gets faster.

Also found the O2 sensor was cut.

Could the alternator be sucking my battery dry and causing the hard cold start?

Also, my reverse lights aren't working, where exactly is the switch/wire for this?

EDIT: Btw, I'm having it inspected on Saturday for a temporary extra car until the vert is ready for the engine, so would like to figure this crap out by tomorrow.

jn2k108

the alternator should be sucking your battery, but not too much when you start it. its probably your battery. its either too old or it cant stand the cold.

DemonicPupil

Stupid battery was brand new =\

RETed

If the battery was brand new, doesn't it have a warranty?
Even crappy ones have a 12 month warranty?

It sounds like the ignition timing is waaaaay off.


-Ted

DemonicPupil

I'll hav e to try the timing, thought maybe the idle could use some adjustment too. It idles at 500 RPM... Shouldn't it be a little more near 750?