Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting charging problems ie alternator?

This is long, but I want to make sure I get the entire situation down here. please read and help me figure this out

Ok here is the situation. About 3 weeks ago, my wife was driving the car (98 E0 SVT) to work and it dies on her. Said it had no power, but kept running, just couldn't go anywhere. After she shut the car off, it wouldn't re-fire, but it would turn over fine. I had it towed to Ford as I know nothing of electrical work (on cars anyway, I do know a lot about electronics in general however) So, they go through the diagnostics and come to the conclusion that the PCM is dead. I aske dhow this happended and they said the wiring harness was the most likely cause and proceeded to show me the wires that run from the pos. terminal on the battery to the engine bay fuse box were all bare (no insulation). So I get the car home, and go to work fixing the car. I got a new PCM from Bill Jenkins at Signature L-M (thanks Bill) and install the computer and the car starts right up. I decide to drive it the next day to make sure it is fixed, and I go to lunch from work and the car dies on me. I sat there for about 2 mins. calling my wife (who had my truck) to come get me. I then try to start the car again, and lo and behold, it starts. I try to get back to my work and after about another 1/2 mile it dies again. I end up towing it home and getting it in the garage. I tried startin g it again, and it fired right up. So, I start looking around again and decide I need to fix the wiring problem. Replaced all the wires, good to go. Still starts. Now, I start thinking it might be the alternator or something as well as the computer got messed up and that is causing it to run when the battery gets charged but then die when the battery dies. I take the battery and get it tested just to make sure it isn't that, and it is good. I then start the car again and it runs fine. I take the pos. cable of the battery with it running to see if the alternator is putting out power, and the car dies. I then take the alternator out of the car (Sh!tty job if you have never done it) and get it tested. Tests good. So I check the 175amp mega fuse in the back of the engine as well as all other fuses again and put everything back together. The car still runs with a full charged battery, but when the battery dies so does the car. Does anyone have anyidea what could be wrong? I am beyond frustrated and sick off having only one vehicle for my wife and I to share. Please help me figure this out. I know there are some guys out there that know a lot about these cars, so what do you think?

Thanks,
Brad

Which wires did you replace? These wire looms are expensive? Good chance that the rest of your wiring harness in the engine compartment is bad and needs to be replaced.

well is ur batt light on when the key is in the run position?if not wiggle the regulator connector and see if it flickers at all. if it does u probably have to replace the regulator connector(like $13). also make sure that the grey wire in that plug and the single grey wire have continuity, then make sure the oragane one is hot all the time, and the green/black wire is hot in run. the regulator plug was my prob. only took me 4 alternator removals to get tested and all good. after 3 mo i finally figured out that it was that connector. hope this helps..

Mike

the wires I replaced were the 4 red wires that run under the battery from the pos. term to the aux. fuse box.

Originally posted by Rogerm60:

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Originally posted by bsal007:

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I go to lunch from work and the car dies on me. I sat there for about 2 mins. calling my wife (who had my truck) to come get me. I then try to start the car again, and lo and behold, it starts.

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Obviously the battery was not discharged.

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Maybe I should have worded it better. I had already been driving for about 10-15 minutes and was on my way back to work when the car died. After I waited a few minutes the battery had time to get a slight charge back and make it another 1/2 mile or so, after it restarted.

Originally posted by Rogerm60:

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Check the aforementioned wires. They may still be getting hot. Remove the battery and then unbolt the Aux. fuse and relay box. Turn it over and check for corrosion. Look at the fuse and relay sockets also. You appear to be losing power to the PCM, fuel pump, or ignition system. Clean out the area of the battery pan of any acid. Baking soda in water works well to neutralize the acid.

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I know the problem is in the charging system not doing it's job, as when I remove the pos. term. from the battery post when running, the car dies. If it was getting charged from the alt. it would run as it should even with the battery removed completly

The problem began before replacing the wires, jusr replaced them because I didn't want to cause a short and fry the PCM again

mike, I don't know if the alt. light is on when I start the car, but I will check that. I will try checking the connector as well. BTW, are you the same mike from 4cycle?

Thanks,
Brad