another Battery Drain/Alternator Problem

[Treachery]

I did a search on this topic and found lots of info about it.. maybe too much info. I don't know where to start.

From a cold start, my '93 GT starts up fine. After driving for a while, let's say to the gas station, i turn off the engine. When starting up the engine, the startup is weak. The engine weakly turns over but it starts... barely!

Also, i did not use the car for all of last week. When trying to start this morning, the car is dead.

My setup:

My battery has been relocated to the trunk. I've gone through 2 Optima red's and i am currently on a 3-week old brand new Die Hard Gold, which is now drained. Come to think of it, this problem started when the battery moved to the back. It also appears that i am using the proper gauge of wires.

Also of note, my aftermarket stereo is hooked up to stay on when the engine is off ala the old VW Beetle. I make sure that the radio is powered off, naturally.

I am also on my 2nd Powermaster 3g- 1 wire- 140amp alternator. I am almost certain the the alternator is fine. Changing the alternator did not appear to have an affect. Then again, i could be wrong.

I am currently checking the vanity and interior lights.

What else should i be checking or can someone take a stab in the dark and tell me what is going on?

Thanks.

 

[BK_CAULEY]

Do a draw test on it. If your not familiar how to do this i can explain it. adn also make sure your battery is getting a good ground. I had a little bit of a problem with that when i relocated my battery.

 

[HISSIN50]

Put a DMM in-series between the disconnected negative battery cable and negative battery post. Note the draw.

The draw probably isn't acceptable or the battery would not drain after a week.

If it is, consider the charge cables are not large enough and are dropping when they get hot. You said they should be ok, but it's something to not overlook. This includes the battery and motor grounds.

 

[BK_CAULEY]

I think mine might be to small. i have 4 gauge on mine.

 

[Stever89]

Put a DMM in-series between the disconnected negative battery cable and negative battery post. Note the draw.

The draw probably isn't acceptable or the battery would not drain after a week.

If it is, consider the charge cables are not large enough and are dropping when they get hot. You said they should be ok, but it's something to not overlook. This includes the battery and motor grounds.

To add to this, if the draw is too high, pull one fuse at a time until you see the draw is back down to an acceptable level. I use a trouble light for this, it's easier to see.

 

[FobraR]

Check your whole ground path. This includes from the block to the chassis, block to the battery, back of driver cyl head to firewall, & battery in trunk to chassis ground.

How is your battery relocation setup? As far as the wire run and hookups, pos and neg?

You said your stereo is wired to constant pwr, why? Do you have an amp, if so does it shut off with key or radio?

 

[jrichker]

Rear mounted battery ground wiring. Follow this plan and you will have zero
ground problems.

One 1 gauge or 1/0 gauge wire from battery negative post to a clean shiny spot
on the chassis near the battery. Use a 5/16” bolt and bolt it down to make the
rear ground. Use a 1 gauge or 1/0 gauge wire from the rear ground bolt to a clean
shiny spot on the block.

One 4 gauge wire from the block where you connected the battery ground wire to
the chassis ground where the battery was mounted up front. Use a 5/16” bolt
and bolt down the 4 gauge engine to chassis ground, make sure that it the metal
around the bolt is clean & shiny. This is the alternator power ground.

The computer has a dedicated power ground wire with a cylindrical quick connect
(about 2 ½”long by 1” diameter. It comes out of the wiring harness near the
ignition coil & starter solenoid (or relay). Be sure to bolt it to the chassis ground
in the same place as you bolted the alternator power ground. This is an
absolute don’t overlook it item for EFI cars
Note: The quick disconnect may have fallen victim to damage or removal by
a previous owner. However, it is still of utmost importance that the black/green
wires have a high quality ground..

Picture courtesy timewarped1972

Crimp or even better, solder the lugs on the all the wire. The local auto stereo
shop will have them if the auto parts store doesn't. Use some heat shrink tubing
to cover the lugs and make things look nice.


For a battery cut off switch, see Moroso : Category Display
is the switch http://www.moroso.com/catalog/images/74102_inst.pdf is the installation instructions.
Use the super duty switch and the following tech note to wire it and you will
be good to go.

Use the Moroso plan for the alternator wiring and you risk a fire. The 10
gauge wire they recommend is even less adequate that the stock Mustang
wiring.

There is a solution, but it will require about 40' of 18 gauge green wire.

Wire the battery to the two 1/2" posts as shown in the diagram.

The alternator requires a different approach. On the small alternator plug
there is a green wire. It is the sense lead that turns the regulator on when
the ignition switch is in the run position. Cut the green wire and solder the
40' of green wire between the two pieces. Use some heat shrink to cover the
splices. See Ford Fuel Injection » How To Solder Like a Pro for some excellent
help on soldering & using heat shrink tubing.

Run the green wire back to the Moroso switch and cut off the excess wire.
Try to run the green wire inside the car and protect it from getting cut or
chaffed. Crimp a 18 gauge ring terminal (red is 18 gauge color code for the crimp
on terminals) on each wire. Bolt one ring terminal to each of the 3/16" studs.
Do not add the jumper between the 1/2" stud and the 3/16" stud as shown it the
Moroso diagram.

How it works:
The green wire is the ignition on sense feed to the regulator. It supplies a turn
on signal to the regulator when the ignition switch is in the Run position. Turn the
Moroso switch to off, and the sense voltage goes away, the voltage
regulator shuts off and the alternator quits making power.

The fuse & wiring in the following diagram are for a 3G alternator. The stock alternator uses a dark green fuse link wire that connects to 2 black/orange wires. Always leave them connected to the starter solenoid even if you have a 3G alternator.

See the following website for some help from Tmoss (diagram designer)
& Stang&2Birds (website host) for help on 88-95 wiring
Mustang FAQ - Wiring & Engine Info Everyone should bookmark this site.

Ignition switch wiring
http://www.veryuseful.com/mustang/tech/engine/images/IgnitionSwitchWiring.gif

Fuel, alternator, A/C and ignition wiring
http://www.veryuseful.com/mustang/tech/engine/images/fuel-alt-links-ign-ac.gif

Complete computer, actuator & sensor wiring diagram for 88-91 Mass Air Mustangs
http://www.veryuseful.com/mustang/tech/engine/images/88-91_5.0_EEC_Wiring_Diagram.gif

Vacuum diagram 89-93 Mustangs
http://www.veryuseful.com/mustang/tech/engine/images/mustangFoxFordVacuumDiagram.jpg