Electrical problems, car died - need help ASAP!!!

[sexasomniac]

Hey guys, I had been having some trouble with my car recently. The SES and SYS lights were coming on at the same time and would go away pretty quickly, they would come on about the same times going to work. One day I had trouble starting the car at work so my dad and I replaced the battery that weekend and things were going well but the light started coming on again. Then this weekend we cleaned up some grounds and checked all the connections to the starter, alternator and distributor and all seemed tight and clean. The following evening the light came on again (damn!), and has been getting progressively worse. Today when I got to work the car would idle pretty rough and try to die on me and the voltmeter would go up and down. I tried starting it a few times on my breaks and at lunch and would take a try or two but would turn over ok and then driving home after work the light stayed on continuously until I got off the freeway. The light turned off then started blinking and when I stopped at the first light on the way home the car tried to die on me again. I finally got her home and had to actually push her into the garage and could not get the car to start again. This is my daily driver and need to fix this possibly today. I also found out how to pull CCM codes last night as opposed to ECM codes and pulled a C and H41 in 1.1, could the alternator cause this? The car would read normal voltage when driving but not while stopped/at idle.

 

[sexasomniac]

Was under the hood and found a few things:

What is this, and what is the plug for?

Lose hose under drivers side headlight? Normal?

This was also under the drivers side headlight... ???

 

[wolfnaz]

Hey dude; i'm having the exact same problem..What was the problem? I need help on this also....THX

 

[oceangal]

The only time I have seen a plug like that is from the Camry which was originally a MN car and it was an engine block warmer. I am sure you will get some better answers soon!

 

[Toms007]

I am assuming in the first picture, you are wondering about the master cylinder? That is the main supply for your brake fluid, the Plug? I can only assume that is the sensor which let you know when you are low on brake fluid.

 

[John Robinson]

Try this

I am going out on a limb here. In my 93 FSM a code 41 is the ignition module. If the ECM detects a low voltage to the IM it will disable the fuel injectors to prevent flooding. I also have a Chilton's manual that covers your year but I could not find a code chart in it. However it also points to the IM in the distributor. Perhaps you can remove it and get it tested at your local Auto zone or Advance Auto store. They generally will test things for free so they can sell you the replacement. Keep us informed with what you find.

 

[gmjunkie]

could the alternator cause this? The car would read normal voltage when driving but not while stopped/at idle.

Yep,Sure will!! Bad Brushes in the alternator,Bad Diodes,and Bad regulator in the Alternator ALL can cause one to act this way!!! But the Biggest problem with I've had with C4 charging systems is the BIG RED Single Wire that go's to the back of the Alternator!!

Now let me tell you a Little story about a Customer I sold a car to in Florida!!

I sold a 91 to a good friend in Jensen Beach Fl. and about six months later he was having the same problem you are having and called me told me what it was doing!! I told him it sounded like the alternator was going bad and he needed to take it somebody that can check out the alternator and charging system, and tell them to CHECK out the BIG RED WIRE 1st Thing!!!So he took it to a Reputable Alternator Shop!! They Checked it out and told him the alternator was Bad and they took it off and rebuilt it and called him to come and get it was fixed!! (($236.00)) Worked great for 2 days and then started all over again and he took it back and they had it for 3 more days and couldn't find anything and told him he needed to Take it to Chevrolet and have them Look at it because Corvette needed special Test equipment!!:ugh:ugh:ugh So he called me and filled me in,so I said take it to them and tell them what it was doing,But ASK them to check the BIG Red Wire 1st!!!! So he took it to them and they checked it out and called him and told him the Rebuilt alternator was Bad and it needed to be replaced!! He called me and told me what they had said and ask me what to do!!I told him to call the first place and tell them what Chevrolet said and ask them what they are going to do for you!! He did and they decided that they would return $100.00 of the $236.00 bill!!So he had Chevrolet put a Brand Spanking NEW one on it!!(($561.00)) And it worked for about a week and started all over again,so I ask him if anybody has Checked the BIG RED Wire!! He said Yes,it's written on both Repair orders,so I assume it was checked out!! I said take it back and tell them it is not fixed!! He did and then they had it for a day and told him it was fixed and to come and get it at NO Charge!! He didn't even get home 5 miles with it and it started It's Crap again!!:eyerole:eyerole:eyerole When he got home and called me and ask if I would come down and fix his car,He would give me a place to stay, buy my gas, and pay me for Just how ever long it took to fix his car!!So on Friday Night I loaded a small box of tools and my trusty Snap-On Digital Probe,Some Heavy wiring eyes and soldering Iron and headed South!! Arrived in Jensen Beach at about 7:30 am put the probe on the Battery leads and started it up and Started a Wiggle test,Bingo found it replaced the Eye on the Big Red Wire, and Had a Big Steak Breakfast that couldn't be beat,went fishing,seen some friends and hung around till Monday and took his car back to both Places with the eye I had changed and Raised Hell and got all his $$ back!!! He payed for my gas,my time and a $300 tip and I headed home!!! Never a Problem since!!!!! Check the Big Red Wire First,it may not Look Bad but they will corrode between the wire and eye and you won't necessarily see it,and cause a Intermittent connection problem!!!

PS That electric plug on the wheel is a Engine Block Heater!!
The rubber hose should go to the bottom of the Charcoal cannister and be pointed down in the bumper to drain if the cannister should become Fuel Logged!!

 

[sexasomniac]

Wow, pretty crazy how one stupid wire can cause so many problems. Well we checked all wires to the alternator, bench tested and tested it on car and that is not the problem. After checking many wires under the car and in the engine bay I finally tracked it down to a bad ECM/PROM. It seems the problems start when the car gets nice and hot and if I tap on the ECM when the lights are on and the engine is hot, the light will go out. I also found out a code 41 for the ECM is a bad/faulty mem-cal/PROM... go figure. Makes me want to go wiggle that red wire to the alternator though, hahaha.

 

[gmjunkie]

Wow, pretty crazy how one stupid wire can cause so many problems. Well we checked all wires to the alternator, bench tested and tested it on car and that is not the problem. After checking many wires under the car and in the engine bay I finally tracked it down to a bad ECM/PROM. It seems the problems start when the car gets nice and hot and if I tap on the ECM when the lights are on and the engine is hot, the light will go out. I also found out a code 41 for the ECM is a bad/faulty mem-cal/PROM... go figure. Makes me want to go wiggle that red wire to the alternator though, hahaha.

Just a couple Quick?'s ??? When you removed the Alternator to check it and other connections,was the Battery Hooked up or disconnected??? How much A/C voltage was slipping past the diodes while testing on the car???And Yeah,that 1 red wire can cause allot of weird things to happen!!When it looses connection the voltage can go wild in the alternator,and if it reestablishes a connection it can give things a power surge, and Scramble the ECM and other components!!~!!

 

[sexasomniac]

I believe the battery was disconnected, I think we actually had it out of the car completely at the moment but I can't recall. I also don't know about the A/C voltage.