car keeps dying---what to do

[SuperDust22]

My car keeps dying. I have replaced the battery and alternator. I don't know what it could be. I replaced the alternator harness a few months ago with one a found at the junk yard. I think it might be that. Does anyone know where to get a new harness or if there is anything else I need to check?

Dustin

 

[Mrgreen94gt]

When is it dying? In neutral or park, or is it at idle in gear?

Good thing in any case to look at would be the distributor cap. See if it is corroded underneath or the rotor is.

 

[SuperDust22]

it starts dying when I am driving. It will drive fine for a little while then the bratty light turns on then the radio goes off then the car starts to stall. The check engine lights comes on and so does the abs light.

 

[Mrgreen94gt]

It would be a good idea to scan for codes. It sounds like an ignition issue. Possibly the dist., the TFI module, or maybe the ignition switch. May also be the alternator, or the harness, as you've already suspected. I would have someone with the proper equipment check it all out since a good number of things can cause that.

Good luck, electrical gremlins can be really frustrating.

 

[SuperDust22]

It would be a good idea to scan for codes. It sounds like an ignition issue. Possibly the dist., the TFI module, or maybe the ignition switch. May also be the alternator, or the harness, as you've already suspected. I would have someone with the proper equipment check it all out since a good number of things can cause that.

Good luck, electrical gremlins can be really frustrating.

Just took it to the shop today. They said they worked on it for 4 hours and they couldn't find anything. I know everyone that this shop so I trust them. I just ripped off the alternator harness. I am going to go to the junk yard and get another one. Unless anyone knows where to buy a new one. I talked to ford and they said they stopped making them. BASTARDS. I haven't checked the dist yet. It seems to die when I am driving slow and then when I get on it the volts jump back up. But this doesn't happen everytime which leads me to believe that it is a short of some sort. If anyone has any suggestions please let me know. this is annoying the hell off of me. I need my car back.

 

[The Hitman]

You can always start the car and remove the negative battery terminal while running.. if it dies it's somewhere in the charging system.
If it continues to run the you may have a PIP sensor going bad or a TFI HOWEVER.. I just had a similar issue where the PIP sensor went bad.. but the car didn't fizzle out.. it just stalled dead.. no lights.. nothing.. and then it would start again in seconds.. sounds to me like you have a charging system problem.. but I'm no expert.