Charging issues

[gfxbss]

This is on my '97 2.3 5spd.

A week or so ago, I was getting a CEL. When I had it read, I was told that my idle air control valve was bad. The following weekend, I pulled the upper intake(I finally got to do those last two plugs...) I cleaned the throttle body, MAF, air idler and upper intake. I also replace all of the gaskets. Put it all back together, and the CEL is gone.

However, since then I have had a charging issue. Everything will run great until I apply either my break or clutch, then my lights dim and I begin to lose power. Sometimes I lose enough to completely stall out.

I pulled the alternator. It tested fine. I pulled the battery from my '98 2.5 and put it in the '97, same issue. I am down to checking wires and connections with my multimeter.

I am curious if anyone has any thoughts on what else it could be. It seems odd to me that it just started when I cleaned and replaced gaskets....

Thanks,

Tyler

 

[Mark_88]

Check the body ground...not sure if you actually have one but the older 2.3's have one that connects about center of the firewall...if not...check all wire connections...you have an open ground somewhere...may just be loose...or a short somwhere...check all the electrical connections that you may have disturbed...

 

[gfxbss]

Mark,

Thanks for the reply. I have been checking grounds, but was unaware that there may be one about the center of the firewall.

When I get the time, I'll check it.

Thanks again,

Tyler

 

[Earl43P]

Usually braided, it goes from the wiper motor bolt to the intake or head.

 

[gfxbss]

Earl, thanks for the exact location.

On that note, that ground was also fine.

I ended up taking it to a shop. All is well now. Apparently they don't know what they did to fix it. They checked the MAF on the oscilloscope. It was putting out a rough signal. At that point, they pulled it off and put it back on and the signal was fine....

After that, it runs great again...... No idea why that would cause my bat not to charge, but it's doing fine now.

 

[Mark_88]

The MAF sensor could have been shorting out...but, who knows...good thing you got it sorted out...this kind of weather we need all the battery charge we can get...