Well, the titile is sorta self explanatory, but I'll go into detail. I just washed my car, the same way I always do. I start it up to head off to the grocery store to get stuff for fajitas, and I'm about 200 yards from my uncle's house, and all of my idiot lights came on. The first thing that crossed my mind was that my car shut off, but then I realized that it was still running. It stayed on till I shut it off at the store. I turned the car back on and they did the same as before. The car is running fine, I have 1/2 a tank of gas, my exhaust is not overheated, my doors are closed, my hatch is closed, and I have winsheild washer fluid, so what could be wrong? Maybe some stuff got wet or something? Just need to know because its a real headscratcher. Thanks.
-Lucas.

 

id check all your fuses and grounds

 

your alternator is probably dead.

 

I agree with bob, dead alt if your fuses check out

 

A 3rd on the dead alternator, mine did the same thing when it went out.

 

yes sounds like a bad alternator

 

And one more, for good measure. Same thing happened to me last month. Bad alternator.

 

Happened to me, my alternator was fine. My belt, however, definitely was not.

 

+1

 

yes, when the alternator stops producing adequete current they all light up, be it from a lose belt, bad alt, or shot voltage regulator. I learned the hard way on my way to the post office last year, car died in the parking lot.

 

Alternator++

 

Hmmm from the information that I've gathered from experience and the above posts, I'm guessing its...

Your spark plugs need replacing



(I'm just being dumb, it is your alternator)

 

yeah its the alt....mine did that 2 months ago. Wanna buy my 2 month old alt I want an fd alt now

 

It happened to me last year. But it's weird that when the alt stops producing power all lights turn on. Is it to kill the battery faster ? I think it would be better if just one light turn on to save power to go to garage. Anyway...

 

it's actually more of a warning system. But yeah. alternator

 

+1 Alternator

 

You guys are a bunch of post ******. I feel bad even posting this because I hate being in the same group...

Oh, and it's your alternator (thanks to the 38409 people that "confirmed" this after the first few people).

 

yay looks like I was right +1 for being the first to post :P

 

Yes, but all the lights going on is a much more "Hey, you, moron, fix me!" type thing. The Turbo IIs don't have a voltmeter (boost gauge lives there), so this is the only way to get someone's attention.

Also, for those without an air pump, those warning lights are REALLY important. There are two ways the alternator stops producing power. One is the alternator failing, and the other is the alternator no longer turning. If the failure is due to a belt, without an air pump or yoohoo belt, the water pump no longer is turning. This is an immediate "Shut down NOW" event. I'd rather have it get my attention quickly.

It's also a cheap light test. When the car's not running, the alternator isn't turning, so the lights all come on. Kill two birds with one stone (light test and alternator warning light).

-=Russ=-

 

Well, those that called bad alternator (all 40,000 of you), called it right, and I thank you for the help. On my way home last night I noticed that my gauges were getting dimmer, my volts read almost as low as 8, and my car got quiet. My uncle pulled it off today and had it tested, and sure enough it no workie. That blows too because a new one is about $200. I PM's SmogSUX from last page about the one he's selling, but if anyone else has one for a '90 that they know works would be willing to sell it, PM me or e-mail me at Vitamin_7FC@yahoo.com

 

What? A new alternator is $200? That's not right...

I just called the local O'Rileys and a new alternator was $129 after exchange. You can get them cheaper elsewhere.

Alternately, for $200, you might be able to get yourself a FD alternator, which puts out a LOT more power.

-=Russ=-

 

You can get a reman FD alt for $129 or so.

 

You should be able to get it rebuilt for $60...or

I just got a used one for $85 from Mazcare.

 

Will an FD alt fit an FC without drastic modification?

 

there's a sticky about it at the top of the 2nd gen parts for sale forum.
https://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t=363910