Basically, my ignition has an uber weak spark(when tested over a 1/4" gap(suggested in shop & service manuals) the spark is orange, not blue or white), and i think that is what causes the missing problems im having under higher engine loads and occasionally during idle. regardless, it needs to be fixed. now, my natural course of action would to be to replace the ignition coil(ive already done cap/rotor/plugs, and the wires are all solid(i tested the spark straight from the coil wire anyway, not through a spark plug wire)).

But i have also noticed that a) under wot acceleration with headlights(and interior lights), all the lights dim severely, with a little bit of flicker action. b) with the engine running, volts are around 13 or so on the dash meter, but when running only off battery power it only reads 9.5 or so(right above the "danger zone").

is it possible that i just have a bad battery? or a crappy alternator? or is there something else drawing power when i accelerate?

thoughs, suggestions, or ignore me, ill probably figure it out myself eventually anyway.

 

sounds like your battery is on its way out and your alternator is working overtime to keep up.thats probably why its at 13 volts.try swapping the battery with a buddies and see if it helps.

Oh ya i forgot to add it would be a good time to clean all your connections such as body grounds and battery and alternator connections to

 

ok, i was planning on trying a diff battery soon, ill definitely do it now.

 

I don't have that exact problem, my problem was my charging gauge would start to flutter excessively... then I'd turn it off for something, turn it back on, clock was reset. Etc...

the only real problem was the connection with the ground.

Might be worth it to check those connections first, simply cleaning them is the first step.

 

that is interesting, because my clock/radio resets when i turn the car off . . .

so just go through and clean/check all the ground connections?

my maf was causing the missing, but im still having all the same electrical problems, so ill do that today. thanks a lot.

 

that means it doesn't have constant power....

a poor connection would cause that, or a dead battery, not a dying alternator...