1998 Pontiac Sunfire Electrical problem I think

Tiny
SUZYTHESUNFIRE
  • MEMBER
  • 1998 PONTIAC SUNFIRE
  • 154,000 MILES
My 98 2.2 sunfire

First oil light when at operating temperature
Idles at 590-600
Then battery/alternator light comes on and off at random times hit the rpm up to 4000 rpms or so and the light goes off
Then battery lights on constantly (now) I drove with it on here and there for maybe a week drove all the way to Chicago a hour or more drive maybe from the suburbs and the car started losing power in the gas pedal first it was the radio then airbag light then everything started clicking under the glove compartment my cluster started freaking out then it died out at the red light and wouldn't start I had a dead battery for the moment then I got it jumped took off the cables and it died right out towed it home. NOW BEFORE I drove it to Chicago I had a new battery in it and a new alternator since it was on warranty I got another new battery and a new alternator my light was still on so this is wen I started driving it with the light on. Now CONTUNING I got home swapped out the negative cable which goes from the battery to the battery tray to the engine block then I changed out the positive cable also the cable that goes from the alternator to the starter light is still on I took the car to autozone had then test the battery it passed had then test the alternator IN THE CAR it failed said the voltage regulator is bad had it BENCHED TESTED it passed four or more times also I just got a check engine light so I had them check that and it is a high voltage at the engine coolant temperature sensor I have a bunch of the wiring harness disassembled as in pulled apart I have not found any wires that seem to be burned or anything that is visible. Does anyone think it could b the ground for the PCM or do u guys have any ideas of wat I can do to try and figure out wat the problem is also when u start it up the fan is on and after a minute or two the idle kicks down
Thank u for any advice
Wednesday, July 3rd, 2013 AT 9:13 AM

6 Replies

Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Check the fusible link going to alternator if it's bad it won't charge. Also check fuses in picture
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Wednesday, July 3rd, 2013 AT 9:38 AM
Tiny
SUZYTHESUNFIRE
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
I replaced that wire without the fusable link
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Wednesday, July 3rd, 2013 AT 10:00 AM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Put the link back in it protects the alternatior otherwise you can ruin it. Check to see if the red wire leading form pcm is givn g power. Also check the fuse s in pic which are in dash then check to see if power is going to microprocessor as it may be charging but not registering. With wires all torn apart does not sound good though. Other than that I have no idea what to tell you. What is battery voltage when car is running if it's around13.5-14.2 it wold be charging. Are the cables corroded like the pos and neg?Are the terminals clean at battery?
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Wednesday, July 3rd, 2013 AT 10:07 AM
Tiny
SUZYTHESUNFIRE
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
Terminals and battery cables r new The battery voltage dropped from 11.5 to 10.4 and is still dropping if its not the alternator how does the alternator give the battery power which wire would that b also would I get power on the red wire from the pic with the ingnition on the off position
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Wednesday, July 3rd, 2013 AT 10:36 AM
Tiny
SUZYTHESUNFIRE
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
I thought this was weird to wen the battery was in the car while running it was dropping it dropped all the way to 7 volts or so I took the batter out checked the voltage and it read 11.5 volts
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Wednesday, July 3rd, 2013 AT 10:54 AM
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
If it's the red wire from starter that would be hot all the time. I really don't know what to tell you for a diagnosis on this. Sorry
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Wednesday, July 3rd, 2013 AT 11:58 AM

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