Today i got to school and was rolling up my windows with the eninge on and they got half way up and the car just died. It started back up but im not sure what caused this i know sometimes when i push the hatch release my stero will turn off and on and ive looked for bad connections and everything looked fine. Any ideas where i should start. Also my car has a voltage leak somewere becasue yesturday when i got back to my car my battery was low. I had the batt and Alt checked yesturday and it said it was all fine. Whats up with this. Also when i get home form work ill tell you how the wonderbar works i got it today i hope it was with the 30 bucks from GM lol and ill give it a oilchange too

 

Dude, you got a 180k mile car, a voltage leak, and a potentially weak alternator (I know its newer...I remember you mentioning that awhile ago). But even my car with a brand new alternator (again) shows major strain sometimes rolling the windows up while idling. We only have 70 amp alternators...nothing huge. My '97 has a friggen 140 amp one, and the only extra power options it has are seat and mirrors. Go figure...

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Jason E

'89 Camaro RS 2.8
Medium Grey Metallic
2.8, A4, T-tops, 90k miles

'97 Z28 w/30th Anniversary package
LT1 (obviously), 6 speed, t-tops
White with orange stripes, killer system, 41k miles

Speed Kills...Wanna live forever? Drive a Ford.
Long Live #3...

 

I spent 300 bucks for the alternator and i took it to my friends shop it cheked good and it is a 140 AMP alternator thats why it was dsoo damn much lol

 

Ok, uh, then now I see why you're pissed LOL. I forgot you bought an HO alternator...in that case, I have no clue LOL.

 

Based on the stuff I've looked up - - check the plug on the alt (connections), check the battery terminals, check the factory distribution block by the radiator for corrosion. You may also need to upgrade the power wire from the alt-to-D.block and D.block-to-battery, and the ground battery-to-chassis, and the ground engine-to-chassis. These upgrades may especially be necessary if you have a system (which I assume you do).

 

My car has this same slow power drain, we have not found it yet, but you will not find it resting the ALT. Dad, has an Automotive meter by snap-on which tells you the power drain throught the system, my car drains at about 5amps, so If it set for 3-5 days, there would not be enough juice left in the battery. My car also dies sometimes when I snap the Headlights on and it is cold, the surge from the Alt cuts the engine. But alot of that is because I have a leaky manifold (Near the studs)... my $.02

 

I checked and everything looks ok i need to find were this is commin from i taped off a few wires thatt were exposed on my MSD but i dought that was it.

 

check grounds...!

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1989 Firebird
2.8 v6, t5 swapped in

Ram Hi-po clutch, Cold Air, 1.6 rockers,Lakewood LCA's, Lakewood Lift bars, Wonder Bar, 3" y-pipe, Random Tech Cat, 3" I-pipe, Flowmasters, MSd 6a, MSD Coil (Fireball in future) Accel 8.8 wires, MSD Ignition Module, 4th Gen Seats

--This car is for sale!-- Email me!
" I'd rather run last in a full out race, than to NOT run at all ".

 

How low is the idle? Wasn't there something about a 140 amp alternator putting out less-than-stock voltage at idle? Or am I thinking about alternators that are "hopped up" and not brand new?

Another thing- How good are the battery cables? My car had some stalling fits a year ago when I'd put on the heater, or roll a window down... it always started back up so I put it on my "should fix quickly" list. One day I was near the battery cables; and after that day, the car's been fine. All I can figure is, the wire's busted inside, and I wiggled it enough to make it "good". All my connections elsewhere are tight, and they look clean. When summer comes, I'll be getting a new + battery cable from GM.

Oh and as for grounds... you know that tiny ground strap at the back of the engine to the firewall? I replaced that with a Taylor strap. I don't know the part # off hand, but it's the one that the Summit Racing catalog lists. It looks bad-*** , and it's much thicker than the original.


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

How much is the + battery cable from GM? And what does the engine groudnd you do have if its bigger i wouldnt see a difference its still grounded? I hope its somethin simple like tha i hope i hope. At idle my car varies on the Volts sometimes its at 12 sometimes its a t abou 13 bt once i press the gas it goes up perfect.

 

Well the old ones can get rusty & corroded... I could've gotten a stock one, but I figured I'd get the Taylor one. It wasn't until I got it home that I saw how big the sucker is! I never got a price from GM... the guy told me they don't list a part #. He said I'd have to measure how long my positive cable was, and give him a call. The pain in the butt is- he said they don't make red ones anymore! He said they're all black wires. I don't know if that's true or not, but I'd really prefer a red positive cable... damn. Maybe some paint?


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-Tom P (Hot rodded 1986 Firebird 2.8l) from http://www.f-body.net/mailbag/3rd/3rd_mailbag.html message boards
---Think your car could be pic of the week? Visit http://www.f-body.net for details!

 

Does the + cable come with the 2 rows of wires on it? were can i cotact them. I think my neg cable was just loose i disconnected it while checking my electrical and put it back on and no problmes yet

 

If you have cut and spliced alot, you have created weak links.
Have you soldered the spliced ends or just twist and tape?
Sounds like you have some searching and correcting to do. YOU CAN TRY to have someone activate a switch and feel the wires for very hot. That may give ya a lead where the weak wire is.

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Chat Soon,
KED85
Karl
1985 Firebird 2.8 to 3.4 swap project for Smog Happy LA, CA

 

all my connections are solderd. Sofar its running ok. also for some odd reason it only does it on wedensday on my day off if my cars gonna die its on my day off and it sux hardcore