multiple odd electrical problems[86 n/a rx7]
 

did some searches but couldnt find anything the same as im experiencing,

i guess ill list em off

1. my stereo wont turn on without my running lights being turned on, although.. the running lights are always on when the car is running, but shine brighter when manually turned on O_o
2. for a while my car wouldnt turn off until i turned my headlights/running lights all the way off
3. power or fuel cut, but only when its cold, and in gear with the clutch being released, so off the line the car will start shuttering violently as if i were hitting the throttle then suddenly letting it go over and over, the dash lights dim real low, and the engine cuts almost completely, but only when my car is cold, and also if im in neutral or have the clutch all the way pressed the problem doesnt occur at all
4. voltage drops to 12 everytime i let off the gas(im guessing bad grounds, i recently cleaned 3 of the main grounds, going to get to my ecu ground this weekend)
5. my car no longer beeps when my door is open while running :( i miss the beep you guys ;[
6. my ebrake dummy light stays very very dimly lit when running

5 and 6 are probably pointless, but i figured id add them just in case

the stereo not turning on till my running lights are switched on just started the other day, and oddly enough the problem of my car not turning off till my headlights are turned off has stopped:Wconfused

my dummy lights have also stopped lighting up as i turn my car on not too long ago, but i think that may have been caused by the black and white wire plug on the back of the alt was in very loosely.

when i get the power/fuel cut my car almost dies, and occasionally does completely die, but then starts back up again just fine

hopefully this combination of problems might help someone point me in the right direction

just took it to the store for some soda, and remembered that when i turn on my high beams, both of my headlights turn off?

could just be bad headlights i guess? but theyre not all that old, although the right side one did just go out completely yesterday, so this might be worthless

its odd though, my running lights act almost like theyre my ignition switch,

this may be the result of a previous owner's wiring mistakes.

pull out the radio and double check all the wiring back there. I bet you have a hackjob aftermarket deck install from a place like Best Buy.

also check your ignition harness under the steering column cover and see if there is anything tapped into that.

as far as the voltage dropping... well is the car idling properly at 750? and have you had your alternator tested?

it idles right around 750-800, a little rough, but no where near badly(which i think is due to it running a bit rich), the alternator is pretty new, but it is a kragens alternator:wallbash:

i took the steering column cover off and pretty much all the wires have little red connectors, which im guessing isnt stock lol, it runs the same with or without the stereo in :( so i dont believe thats the problem, but ill be looking all through the ignition wires and whatever else i can find under there for crossed or exposed wires, i hope i find a simple problem in there :D

i think a few of the problems im having are directly related to a dirty ecu ground as my other grounds were all nasty, if i still cant find the problem would using an obd1 scanner read off the computer what problems were occuring? or is that only if its throwing codes? im not 100% with electrical:ugh2:

Did you check the room fuse? It sounds blown.

Also sounds like you have the stereo wired wrong, particularly the red/black at the back of the stereo... I suspect that it is being used as a ground and with the blown room fuse (which provides the memory circuit for a bunch of things including the radio) is backfeeding the stereo.

Either way, you will need to replace the blown fuses, and fix the stereo wiring. Who did it, and when was it done?

ill definitely check the fuses, it came without a stereo, just the plug hanging there, went and got an adapter and hooked up the deck, so im guessing the same guy who redid all the ignition wiring :( ill have to read more about this room fuse until theres some daylight out tomorrow:wallbash: another quick question, when i get the fuel cut, theres a clicking under my dash, would that be the fuel pump relay?:Wconfused