Electrical problems...

[thebigcd89]

I just recently got a DiabloSport from my girl as an anniversary present, and I installed the tune which is on the Sport already, runs great and slips the tires when running WOT from 1st to 2nd in my automatic and a little from 2nd to 3rd

Besides the point, as it is raining here in Rain-City (Seattle and Bellevue), my battery is starting to run down, i just got a a new Red Top (Optima), a couple months ago, and after i installed the tune the cars volt meter started moving up and down, but very little and now today i almost died at a light (while raining and cold), anyone know if its my alternator which is starting to go bad, or if the tune did anything cuz i do have 87 octane in my tank right now, although it asks for 92+...

It seems that the volt meter only really jiggles when it's raining, cuz over the summer after the battery was installed it was working good, but then i installed the tune and it ran good for a day and then today it was raining after school and it started "acting up".

Anyone recommend alternator switch (I'm thinking a 3g 130 or 200 Amp)? I've been hearing a lot about this 3g alternator...

Thanks,
Casper

 

[Adverse2Change]

Autozone/Advance can test most alternators for free (or at least they used to). If you think it has something to do with the tune, try going back to default settings and see if there is still a problem.

 

[thebigcd89]

Yeah I was gonna reinstall the factory tune today and give it a shot, hopefully my car starts though... and then this weekend when i get gas imma get 93 instead of 87 and re install the tune. and When I get some time off (been working two jobs this week, cuz i'm quitin one and starting another ), then ill go to autozone/advance.

Thanks a lot Adverse,
Casper

 

[thebigcd89]

Alternator suggestions...

I uninstalled the tune and it ran good, had to jump it this afternoon, went to pick up my girl before we went to school, and turned off the car to install the factory tune... and it just wouldn't start so we had to take her car to school, after school i jump started my car and got it going, factory was already on and went driving for 15 mins to charge the battery again, and so I start heading home and as I park the battery acts up a little bit and i plug in my radar detector, blasted the stereo, headlights, MAX A/C, etc. and it was good, but as i went to go to work it started acting up again.

I still have a half tank of gas so I can't test if the fuel is the reason, but I am going to schucks tomorrow to get the alternator tested, if it's bad I am planning on getting either a 130, 160, or 200 amp, but i'd like an alternator which can run 100-110 amps at idle...

Does anyone have any suggestions for a good inexpensive alternator?

Thanks,
Casper

 

[04whitepony]

I have a 04 mustang and Im having what I would say is an electrical problem hopefully somebody can help.My dome light will not go off tried everything I could think of and ended up taking the bulb out.This happened about a month ago, so I thought I could live without the light then my girlfriend drives to work.Time to go the car wont start Im like what?I buy a new battery put it in and it starts no problem.I take the car to local Autozone they test the alt,battery say everything is as good as new now when Im driving my battry light keeps coming on,this drives me crazy,I have been back to Autozone and they say everythings fine,So a car that has 50 thousand miles and absolutly no problems until the dome light issue.This is a factory car that has nothing added never had it in a garage(to be fixed)Has anyone heard of this problem.Does anyone have any ideas I could try,I love my mustang but this is very frustrating.Im new to this forum, so hello to everyone.I really love this car and refuse to let somebody just start picking through my car,yes its that nice.Thats why Im asking for help here and not just taking it to the garage.

 

[Adverse2Change]

^ Possibly a malfunctioning door sensor or your door latches/switches may be sticking. Douse them with some silicone spray and see if that clears up the dome light issue.

 

[04whitepony]

Thanks Adverse2Change I will try that and let you know how it works out.

 

[04whitepony]

Adverse2Change you nailed it,dome light problem solved Thanks,also bought a new alternator after visiting a different Autozone where I was told the alternator was no good.No more problems for my pony,battery light is off.You have been great help.Another question if I could,I have factory installed Goodyear LS tires,great tires but I would like to get a little bit wider tire,I have 16 inch alluminum wheels and would like to keep them if I can.Iwill stay with Goodyear and wonder if I can get the same tire just a tad wider without changing wheels.

 

[QuickCapri83]

^ Possibly a malfunctioning door sensor or your door latches/switches may be sticking. Douse them with some silicone spray and see if that clears up the dome light issue.

Exactly what should I buy, I have the same exact issue with my dome light. It will work properly most of the time, but two or three days per week it would just stay on, so I took out the bulb. It sucks at night, I carry a laptop with me and other stuff, it's sooo annoying not having light.

Don't mean to sound dumb, but I don't really know what Silicone spray is....

Also, how do you get to the switch/sensor, is it that little rubbery thing sticking out that you can push in with a finger, like, it obviously gets pushed in when the door shuts, so I'm assuming that it, is the sensor for the door being shut/dome light on/off. I appreciate any help, this is on my '99 LE.

Again thanks for any info, like a brand, etc etc. I have an Advance Auto store I go to, and Ford, that's it. But Advance carries "everything" so, I should be good.

 

[Adverse2Change]

You spray where the door latch is. The sensor is very small and below it. Spraying a generous amount in that location typical reaches the sensor area with no problem. Silicone spray can be found almost anywhere you find WD-40. It's not expensive at all. I'd check Advanced, Autozone, or Wal-Mart. A good technique is to first spray a generous amount of WD-40 to clean out any gunk, followed by the silicone spray for lubrication.

 

[Adverse2Change]

Adverse2Change you nailed it,dome light problem solved Thanks,also bought a new alternator after visiting a different Autozone where I was told the alternator was no good.No more problems for my pony,battery light is off.You have been great help.Another question if I could,I have factory installed Goodyear LS tires,great tires but I would like to get a little bit wider tire,I have 16 inch alluminum wheels and would like to keep them if I can.Iwill stay with Goodyear and wonder if I can get the same tire just a tad wider without changing wheels.

The width of the tire corresponds to the width of the rim (e.g. 16x9), thus, to my knowledge, you are stuck with that particular width.

 

[04whitepony]

Adverse2Change you are very helpful,I talked to a Goodyear tire guy today and learned that I can put GT-HR 245/50s which are 8.5 inches wide.My Goodyear LS tires are 7.1 inches wide,I was told my rims can take from 7 up to 9 inches wide,I dont want the max so 8.5 will do.Also learned the LS only comes in 16 inch and 7.1 wide,so you are correct if I stayed with the LS tire.

 

[Adverse2Change]

you are very helpful,I talked to a Goodyear tire guy today and learned that I can put GT-HR 245/50s which are 8.5 inches wide.My Goodyear LS tires are 7.1 inches wide,I was told my rims can take from 7 up to 9 inches wide,I dont want the max so 8.5 will do.Also learned the LS only comes in 16 inch and 7.1 wide,so you are correct if I stayed with the LS tire.

Well good deal... I didn't know about those other tires... learn something new everyday!

 

[Donny's V-6]

alternator problems

if you feel that it might be your alternator get your car started and then when it should be charged d/c the neg side of battery and let it run if it dies bad alternator. if not start lokking at wiring and autoaone does free battery test al well

 

[thebigcd89]

I had to leave my car at my x-girlfriends house, for a week, and just finaly today had it all fixed, I troubleshooted the problem to be the alternator. Cuz I would jump the car and the car would run good then I take the cables off, put em in the trunk and close the hood, then I get in to Reverse or drive and by the time I get my foot on the pedal the lights start flickering and the battery and everything gauges go down, and I step on the gas hoping it would charge, and it just goes down as though not even affected by the step on the pedal.

AAA comes and checks the battery and jumps me again, as well as checked the volts on my alt. yes it was the issue, the alternator was only running 11V or so and should be running like 14ish. So I set up the deal with Ford and got the alternator replaces a couple hours ago.

Aftermath- $500 lighter ! I got my 130 Amp alt. in as well as a new serp. belt (had some cracks in it), and the is that I could've done this myself had I bought the alt. from them w/ the belt on monday in my schools Auto Tech. class, but I had to get it done now.

The DiabloSport tuning is still installed and it runs good so far for the 10 min. ride home, and yes still spinning the tires from 1st to 2nd, and also accidentaly drifted a little around the corner on my way from Ford