mikehawk
Active Member
- Joined
- March 6, 2006
- Messages
- 61
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- South Florida
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 91 EB 4x4
This past weekend I modified my stock airbox so that it draws air from a 3" abs pipe in the fenderwell instead of the stock piece that is routed up to the grill with the flex pipe drawing hot air off the exhaust heat shield. Well, while removing the stock piece I was a bit rough with it. Instead of taking everything apart and unbolting everything, I tried to take a short cut and just yank it out because I figured "#### it, it's plastic, it'll rip right out." Well, after some serious yanking it finally came out. Got the new intake set-up on there, and it ran great for the test run.
Now, the next time I went to start the explorer I got some electrical problems. The voltage gauge was bouncing around the high side, and when I hit the brakes the radio would cut out. Also, when I rev the engine up in neutral, or when driving and the RPMs get up over 1500 the battery light comes on. I brought it back to the house, the next time I go to start it the thing is DEAD. Nothing electrical works, no engine crank, no door locks, no dome lights, nothing. Then a couple hours later I try again and it starts right up, but with the same symptoms. I get the old trusty voltmeter out and hook up to the battery. Engine off, about 12.65v, engine running, the volts bounce between 13.7 and 13.8, when I rev the engine in nuetral volts jump as high as 14.5, then when I turn the headlights on with truck idling the volts drop down to 12, the engine stumbles then the idle picks up to 1200-1500 for a while then gradually drops back down.
So, I shut the engine off and pull the headlamp fuse under the hood. It's reading 11volts and th electrical systems is dead. An hour or two later, I check the same fuse port and it's reading 12.65 and the electrical system works again. WTF? I tried taking out the battery and trey so I could get a look headlight wires, but I couldn't figure out how to get the trey out. It almost looked like it had rivets holding it down.
Now, the next time I went to start the explorer I got some electrical problems. The voltage gauge was bouncing around the high side, and when I hit the brakes the radio would cut out. Also, when I rev the engine up in neutral, or when driving and the RPMs get up over 1500 the battery light comes on. I brought it back to the house, the next time I go to start it the thing is DEAD. Nothing electrical works, no engine crank, no door locks, no dome lights, nothing. Then a couple hours later I try again and it starts right up, but with the same symptoms. I get the old trusty voltmeter out and hook up to the battery. Engine off, about 12.65v, engine running, the volts bounce between 13.7 and 13.8, when I rev the engine in nuetral volts jump as high as 14.5, then when I turn the headlights on with truck idling the volts drop down to 12, the engine stumbles then the idle picks up to 1200-1500 for a while then gradually drops back down.
So, I shut the engine off and pull the headlamp fuse under the hood. It's reading 11volts and th electrical systems is dead. An hour or two later, I check the same fuse port and it's reading 12.65 and the electrical system works again. WTF? I tried taking out the battery and trey so I could get a look headlight wires, but I couldn't figure out how to get the trey out. It almost looked like it had rivets holding it down.
It was the battery cables, Turd Furguson is back up and running again. The old ground cables were green, and the screw that bolted one of the grounds to the body was completely green, too. Kinda funny how it gave out right after I modified the intake. I guess I jarred something loose.
