KyleR

I pulled the 84 out of storage, got it running just like it should for about a week, then it decided not to start. When I turn the key, all the internal lights, the dash and accessories, are delayed in lighting up, and when I turn the key to start the car, all the lights go out and it make a kind of electrical whining sound. However, I can pop the clutch to get it going and then all the electronics work great, until I fall below 1000 rpms. Is this a bad alternator or.....?

chuyler1

iTrader: (1)

If you think its the alternator, just hook up a multimeter to the battery. With the car off you should have 12 to 12.5 volts. With the car at idle (if you can let it go that low) it should be between 13.9 to 14.4 volts.

Eduardo Santos

Based on what you said, it seems to be the alternator. But before checking the alternator, you should check the battery. With everything off, the battery tension should be between 12.4 V and 12.7 V.

By the way: What do you mean by "electrical whining sound"?

KyleR

You know the sound when you put the keys in and turn it one click? It's the constant "weeeeeeeeeeee" until you close the door, put on seatbelt, etc.. well when I turn it one more notch the sound fades away in a not-normal way, if that made any sense haha

Eduardo Santos

Is that the sound of the fuel pump? Or are you talking about some kind of warning buzzer?

Anyway, check the battery as I stated above

nicdchris

iTrader: (1)

Clean the battery terminals first.
Then check the voltage after it has been sitting and at 1500+rpm.

If the voltage looks good, take the battery to an autoparts store and have them load test it.

If the voltage is not good, pull the alternator, throw a charger on the battery while you're gone and have them test the alternator.

My money is on a bad battery as you said the vehicle was in storage.

83Limited

Check your ground cables....

JulesCan

Had the problem in my car was a multitude of things first it was the ground cables and a new battery and the starter was going out if you take it to auto zone and they free wieght test it works but when the brushes get hot and car gets to low rpm shuts off aint kicking enough power at start more than likely if your batter and grounds are ok its the starter not alternator. when you turn it does it sound like it kicks over? yes no maybe so. ?

KyleR

@Eduardo Santos: There's the word! It's a warning buzzer sound
@everyone else...: It might be helpful if I said that I drove it for a week with absolutely no problems. I went out driving one day, everything ran fine. I parked it, had it turned off for maybe 20 minutes while I was doing something, came out, and it did as I stated above... Would this change the possibilities of what the problem is? Or should I just stick to a bad battery?

djSL

iTrader: (5)

More than likely a crap battery that doesn't have enough voltage to crank it over. Also, as stated check your grounds. Commonly overlooked, highly important.

Eduardo Santos

Check if the ground cables are allright (loosen, broken, cracked, melted...). Also check the battery and it's connections for rust, anyways. It's easy to do, you only need a multimeter.