im hoping i can get some answers quick so i can get my only means of transportation back on the road....again. here goes the last 3 weeks or so my 88 turbo II has been acting up. i start it and then it cuts off i restart and keep the idle steady after a min or so it will maintain by itself and stay at about 13.0 volts. everyonce in awhile, when at a stop light or something, the volts drop and quick to anywhere from 12.0-11.0 and if i dont hit the accelerator it cuts off with a reading of 10 volts and some change. very recetly its gotten to where i have to unplug the fuel pump start it and then replug the pump(sometimes i have to repeat) then it will sputter a bit then com back to life and keep a steady idle of about 1500. just the other day it didnt want to start all the lights were on and at usual strength but after a few tries it ceased to make a cranking sound. volts read 11.1. hooked it to a battery charger and volts jumped to 15.6 but still no cranking or any type of sound. we finally got it started by doing a push start. got it home and let it sit for a day then tried to start it again today. all lights work the car just wont start. im thinking its the starter but i wanted to know if anyone may have any other ideas before i go buy a new stater.

 

The low voltage is PROBABLY the alternator on its last legs or it's belt almost falling off the pulley.

Or the small two socket plug on the back of it is off. Not good.

The Idiot lights all come on when the alternator isn't putting out. Normal output is closer to 14vdc. If you see 12vdc on a regular basis...........heck even if you see 13vdc on a regular basis the alternator is on it's last legs and or one of the diodes inside it has gone **** up.

IF the battery is fully charged and you go to Start but do not hear even the CLICK of the starter when going to START. then it is possible that the BLACK wire coming out of the ENGINE FUSE BOX has been accidently disconnected. Its connector is about a half foot below the fuse box close to where the a/c compressor would be if installed. THAT wire feeds the ignition switch circuit that in turn feeds the interlock switch that in turn feeds the starter solenoid.

It's NOT the MAIN fuse in the engine bay because the thing runs if push started.

Look first for the black wire and it's connector.


When you go to START, have the headlights turned ON. IF they dim significantly when the key is HELD to start, THEN it might be the starter solenoid. Not likely.

IF you go to START and the lights are still bright as the sun, then go look for the disconnected BLACK wire mentioned above.

 

i have teh same exact problem. all the lights turn on, but starter most of the times wont crank or click. sometimes it does. i was looking for the black wire mentioned, I found one thats disconnected, its coming out of the engine block above the two spark plugs. is that supose to be disconnected? Icant find where it should be connected to.. I found anotehr plug that was disconnected but coming from the ac pump also black. the connectors dont match for the two though.

any ideas?

hailers?

 

Alternator or even an old battery. Mine had a hard time staying on when I came to a stop, replaced the battery (manufacture date on it was november of '01!) Sounds to me like either of the two, but check the date on your battery first, it's free to check and cheaper to replace than an alternator.

P.S. Autozone and O'Reily's (or other large chain auto parts store) can usually test your battery and alternator. I'd take your stuff to them before you shell out a whole lot of money.

 

ok ichecked the black wire it was plugged in. but still the same problems. Im guna take my battery and alternator to autozone...

 

good call

 

bad call...never take anything to autozone.... i have gotten nothing but bad things from autozone...including a battery that was sitting on the shelf for over 6 months....and it put me on the side of the road and cost me over $120 to get it towed back...needless to say they wouldnt even pay for it... i had purchased it the day before it left me sittin