Car help, any auto mechanics out there?

[thefox]

Ok, my roommate has been having some trouble with his car for the last few days. First off the history of the car.

It is a 2001 Ford Escort, 4 cyl, 5 speed with 89,000 miles (I will double check the year and mileage with him). Around Thanksgiving time he had the alternator and battery replaced, then just before Christmas he had the alternator and battery replaced again. Now his car will randomly shut off, sometimes while going 65 mph, sometimes while stopping at a stop sign, ect. It just loses power, the lights dim and it shuts off, but it will start right back up. Also when driving he can put it in neutral and let the rpm’s drop, sometimes they will drop below 1,000 and the lights will dim.

Any ideas as to the problem?

[icp4life162005]

Turn up the idle and try to check/replace alt. wires and grounds. and check for parsitic draw. maybe some thing is grounding out where it shoudn't be. And its not because its a ford its because its a escort. it really sounds like an electrical gremlin.

[Nick_R_23]

Check the actual key ignition switch. Ive had several go bad over the years on different cars and they all did something different but it was weird either way.

Dont turn up the idle just yet. That is a common mistake a lot of people make. They stick the idle up thinking problem solved, when the thing that actually caused the problem remains unfixed. Has it been idling like that the whole time he's owned it? Has it been gradual, or did it just suddenly start idling like this? If so, there is probly something causing it to idle weird, TPS, choke (esp if its an electric choke -- my CRX did this), or more likely something thats electricly operated that would affect the idle.

Have you guys tried reading the ECU codes? Those can at least point you somewhat closer in the right direction most of the time.

-Nick :TrikesOwn

[J.D.]

The lights are going to dim because the alternator puts out 13.8-14.2 volts approx. and the battery is only at about 12.6. I found some TSB's for these vehicles and it seems they have some troubles with vacuum leaks, would be a good place to start. If you don't find that, there's any number of things it could be, that's something that's kinda hard to diagnose over the net.....

[icp4life162005]

I said adjust the idle because my car did that minus the electrical problem and it was the idle, just wasn't high enough. I didn't have codes or anything though.

[Nick_R_23]

No offense meant, just pointing out that he may want to check other things first.


yea then he'd just have to change the tranny every time he has had to change the alternator

You got that one right lol :lol:

-Nick :TrikesOwn

[Gunnar]

Does the engine light come on? If it does it could be some darned sensor going bad. Go to Harbor freight and get a 30.00 code reader. might help. Crank sensor just went out in the wifes jeep and it wouldnt go above 28000 rpms toped out at 40 mph. Just an idea though

[Greiver430x]

Check and make sure your battery terminals are tight before all else, if the ground is lose it will make some cars do all sorts of weird stuff. make sure that the ground is also getting a good conection to the motor where it is bolted down. Just my two cents though.