Electrical Issues?

[bailey_57]

I'm having some problems with my 95 cobra. It all started a month ago, I left my headlights on at work, came out at the end of the day and battery was dead. Tried a jump pack, nothing happened, tried jumping off a car, nothing happened. My fiance brought me a new battery, threw it in the car and it fired up and away we went. I stopped for gas on the way home and shut the car off, brand new battery 10 mins of running and it wouldn't restart. Got a gentleman in a truck to jump the the car and with the new battery it started right up. Brought it home and shut it off in the driveway, turned the key and it fired back up, but the starter was very slow turning. I charged it with my trickle charger over night and had no problems for two days, then the sluggish starter noise started again. I replaced the negative terminal on the new battery, the ground wire from the chassis to the the block on the driver side. I also took the starter in to AutoZone to be tested, it tested good but sounded like something inside was growling so I figured I'd buy the lifetime replacement anyway. Installed it, and it wouldn't start. I was like WTF!!!!!! Put the charger on it again and if fired right up immediately. This time while charging, I got a feedback noise through the door speaker on the driver side. Drove the car around for about a half hour, watched the dash voltimeter and it didn't fluctuate at all. Today I'm going to remove the alternator and have it tested. I don't mind throwing money at this car, I don't mind throwing time at this car, I just need it fixed. My fiance needs the Fusion for work and I need something to get me to work consistently. Does anyone have any ideas on this if the alternator tests good? I've been google searching charging issues and keep coming up with alternator and voltage regulator. Also, sorry for the length of the post, and I hope I'm putting this in the right category.

 

[ttocs]

sounds like either your alt or something in your charging system is takin a crap. Go get your alt tested. What year is your car? at least on mine the block- chassis connection is on the lower pass side. Also check the batt-chassis ground right next to the battery. By check it I mean take it off, clean/sand the area and terminal and then put it back on.

 

[bailey_57]

It's a 95 cobra, and when you say battery to chassis, are you referring the the tiny ground that has the little 8mm bolt, if so I also removed that, sanded and reattached it. I'm going outside to remove the alternator as we speak, I'll let you all know what I find.

 

[ttocs]

no need to remove the alt to test it infact if you do you will need to find an alt shop that can bench test it. Charge it up and go to vatozone and they can test it on the car.

 

[CC'S95GT]

Have vatozone test it more than once. Somtimes it take some heat in the alt. to get it to fail.

 

[ttocs]

hopefully he has not just taken the last bolt out to remove the alt before coming back to read this

 

[chris91]

Autozone has the ability to test em off the car as well.

 

[bailey_57]

Alternator has been successfully removed, taken to autozone triple tested, passed. It is currently reassembled. Next question, belt tensioner? When I pushed down on the belt, the tensioner moves WITHOUT the ratchet. That's probably not good, right? Oh and as a side note, you guys are f***ing awesome. I've gotten more help from you guys since I adopted my Cobra then any other web forum period!

 

[ttocs]

are you saying the belt is loose? not sure what you mean but yes if the belt is loose that could be an issue as well but I don't think it would cause this problem unless its really really really loose and then you would probably have some other issues show up as well as low voltage.

 

[chris91]

If the tensioner is that loose then yes you should replace it because its not holding the belt tight enough for the accessories. The tensioner should not be able to be moved with simply pushing down the belt.

 

[bailey_57]

When I put pressure on the belt with my hand near the tensioner, the tensioner moved, with just hand pressure, no wrench pressure, the tensioner flexed past the tick mark on the housing. Could it be this simple? Again the belt is perfect and looks pretty new, but the tensioner is the original unit. I really don't think it should have that much play. The only tensioner issue I've ever had actually snapped clean off.

 

[CC'S95GT]

It's possible that the belt has stretched to the point that the tensioner doesn't have anymore travel. Or the belt is to long to begin with.
I would think it's less likely it the tensioner and more likely the belt.
Not saying it isn't the tensioner just that I'd replace the belt first.

 

[ttocs]

you should not be able to move it at all with out good pressure on it. But If the belt doesn't look worn or old I would take if off and take it too the shop just to make sure the new one is smaller.

 

[bailey_57]

I agree with you on buying a belt before the tensioner, I'm just saying that the tensioner physically unloads pressure with little resistance. I actually am thinking of putting it all back together and starting it and watching to see if the tensioner dances around.

 

[ttocs]

when the belt is off of the car, how much pressure do you have to put on the tensioner to move it? It should be fairly tight after the first couple of inches. Like I said take the belt with you and ask for them to get the right belt. If they are almost the same length, then you know your tensioner is bad.

 

[bailey_57]

just checked belts, they are identical. i ordered a tensioner, should be here in the morning.

 

[bailey_57]

UPDATE: This problem all started with a dead battery, so I purchased a recycled battery from a local shop that I've had good experiences with, until now. The battery had 2 bad cells, ugh lots of money spent because the battery that I bought was bad. Oh well, starter is in good shape, and so is tensioner, belt, and all of the ground wires and connections. The good news is I've driven it almost all week.

 

[daltonduree]

if it does it again check the regulator.