expieriencing some problems

[Dragon1993]

hey, I'm kinda needing some peoples opinions. Yesterday while I was at work I went to go get lunch. When I started my explorer it was running funny. The voltometer and rpms kept fluctuating up and down at idle. When I backed out and started to go across the parking light the engine kept cutting out and in like the whole thing lost power for a second. The engine would stop a second and the dash lights all came on like when you turn the key on but don't start the engine then the engine would pick up again. I pulled it over to the side and had my brother come out. We couldn't find anything visibly wrong but it kept fluctuating. I decided to go ahead and change getting food since it seemed to smooth out and run normal. When I went to take off onto the road the engine died. When I tried to restart it I didn't even get a click as if the battery was completely drained but it started fine when I tried it again. It ran normal after that then when I went to start her to go home it behaved like my battery was drained again. I wasn't even getting the light on under the hood when it was up. We jumped her relatively easily. She cranked over as soon as the cables were hooked up which seems odd to me for a battery that's completely drained. She ran normal all the way home and to work again this morning. When I went to leave it started fluctuating on the voltometer and rpms again but ran normal after I cut it off and restarted it.

At first I was thinking it almost seemed like it was getting a correct fuel mixture or something but my dad proposed another idea that something else could be wrong causing it to briefly see a complete drop in electricity. I don't know what it is but I can't see anything visibly wrong with any mechanical component I was able to inspect so the best I can figure it may be something electrical.

The biggest problem I'm having is that it's not turning on the check engine light or anything and there are no codes in the computer. The battery being dead for no apparent reason could just be a coincidence and just be going bad considering its over 2 years old and this explorer has a history of eating batteries every 2 years.

She's a 1993 Explorer Sport 2 door 2wd. I can't seem to get it to do it when I really have time or the tools to really go through a troubleshooting session so I was wondering if anyone has experienced anything like this before.

 

[Tbars4]

...You are having an alternator or alt wiring problem...

 

[Dragon1993]

wow, that was quick. I'm gonna check the wiring first cause of the 193000 miles on my explorer the alt has only about 20000 miles on it max so I hope it's the wiring and not the alt itself as it's one of the newest components in the vehicle...besides the water pump.

any suggestions on how to go about checking this out. Anything specific to look for with the wiring?

 

[Tbars4]

...Bad wires will take a new alt out and may be why your alt is newer...

...Be sure to also check your ground cable from your battery...they usually corrode on the inside of the jacket with no external signs of damage...

 

[Dragon1993]

thanks for the advice...hopefully I can make it to this weekend when I'll have the free time to check this out and have the money to fix it. I'll let you know what I find.

 

[Dragon1993]

hey, well, I decided to go down to advance to have my battery tested cause my explorer has been known to eat batteries in roughly 2 years and it's been like 2 and a half since the last battery.

Good news is the battery is good. Better news, had the alt tested and it's ok. Bad news, I think I found my problem. The negative battery clamp in on its last legs. and several of the bundle of wires going to it were loose...in fact one in particular was only hanging in there by a few strands. The nut on the back side of the clamp that bolts the wire clamp down on one side has pulled through the terminal clamp like the metal just corroded away.

I rigged it up so the wires stay connected as best as possible. Gonna fix it tommorrow after I get paid and hope that really is the problem.

I didn't trace the one wire that really was loose on it. I'm certain I could of pulled it out with little effort. Anyway, though I didn't trace it I think it may be related to the alt. Does the alt have a wire that runs to battery negative? I'm not certain as I've never followed all the wires under the hood and all.

 

[jg09]

Yeah, your problem is definitely in the battery cable. A friend of mine had that problem with his VW GTi. It's an easy fix if you don't have a rat's nest of aftermarket components wired in (yes, I do the occasional work on sub-compacts, stop laughing). He had a security system, sound system, driving lights, and a bunch of other things spliced into his cables that made it a ***** to change.

 

[Tbars4]

...Oh Grasshopper, The path I have led you to will hold all your answers...

...I've always wanted to say that..:

EDIT: For really good replacement cables, this might help..
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1919603&postcount=499

 

[Dragon1993]

yeah, the only aftermarket component I had was the amp for my subs but the subs and amp were stolen from my x so I have the cable disconnected fromthe battery right now. The ground was connected to the body in the back though. The actual cables look good but they were fairly new. The negative clamp is screwed though. And all the little wires from the different things are starting to look a tad corroded on the ends. There aren't long enough to really cut off though. I guess I could add wire to lengthen them but I don't know the guage for all the smaller ones.

I may just replace the whole battery cable though considering there is no telling what kind of damage could have been done to it from the insecure connection at the terminal clamp. In my experience with electrical components unsecure connections can reak havoc on the wires.

Any suggestions on what to do with the smaller wires coming to the terminal clamps because I don't thing i have enough slack to just cut the ends and they are corroding on the ends pretty bad.

 

[Tbars4]

...Your info don't show your mk/model or where you are from..:scratch:...I myself would contact Kbabiak on the bottom of the forums page for the stock wires..

 

[Dragon1993]

you know, I do still need to update my info with the make/model and all that good stuff.

I'm just worried about the wires from the components since as I said the larger battery cables are fairly new. Atleast my brother claims they are and he used to own the x.