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  #1  
Old 08-22-2011, 11:53 AM
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Unhappy Car Just died.

I was on the highway going through a toll. I went to accelerate out of the toll and there was no power, all the lights came on on the dash and I lost power steering.

Luckily there was a place to pull off so I did and contemplated calling a flatbed. I tried to restart it and it started back up so i went into a nearby truckstop, drove it around a couple of times and went home.

It drove fine after, no lights on the dash. Only my rough idle. I have no clue what happened. I need the car tonight but I'm afraid it will die in a worse place. Any Ideas?
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  #2  
Old 08-22-2011, 12:10 PM
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Re: Car Just died.

All the lights on the dash means an alternator problem usually. Have a look at the alternator and all the wires around/connected to it.
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  #3  
Old 08-22-2011, 12:44 PM
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Re: Car Just died.

Quote:
Originally Posted by icingdeath88 View Post
All the lights on the dash means an alternator problem usually. Have a look at the alternator and all the wires around/connected to it.
He is the member who won the Maniac Electric 160A high-output alternator at Reading. I know that would not have failed. he probably has not installed it yet and is running with the old one. But this does not sound like an alternator issue.


If you have access to a voltmeter, check the voltage at the battery while running. 11.5V or less means the alternator is not charging and you are running on battery power alone.
.
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R.I.P. 2010 Subaru Outback Limited 2.5 CVT...338,000 miles. Totaled by a 1,300 lb. COW March 4, 2016

2014 Hyundai Avante Limited ...178,000 miles. Actually quieter and smoother than the Outback

2007 Mazda Miata MX-5 PRHT...102,000 miles.
Plenty of parts, service and windshields.


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Last edited by svxcess; 08-23-2011 at 07:45 AM.
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  #4  
Old 08-22-2011, 12:44 PM
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Re: Car Just died.

The car died, which will also cause the lights to come on, the fact that is started back makes me doubt it's the alt....maybe just stumbled enough to kill it when you pulled out, as you did say you have a rough idle.
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  #5  
Old 08-22-2011, 01:15 PM
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Re: Car Just died.

I also doubt that it is the alternator. if the alternator went out, causing the dash lights to come on, they would have stayed on when the car was restarted.

Even if the alternator died earlier, and he was running on battery power alone until it died, it would not have started up again.

Could have been something momentarily in the fuel line or a MAF issue.

.
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1996 Polo Green LSi #216..138,100 miles...SOLD

JFICX8659TH100216.....Date of Manufacture: November 16, 1995.....
Fuji Heavy Industries..Ōta North Plant....Ōta City,. Gunma Prefecture, Japan

In-Service Date: January 2, 1997



"The Pristine Green Polo Machine”
First Polo Green on the Network
First Clear front turn signals, JDM Alcyone hood emblem, rear panel, and BOXER engine cover on the Network (US) (2000)
First 5000K HID factory fog lights (2007)
First SVX JDM BBS wheels on a USDM SVX (2013)

HID lighting (5000K) for headlight and H3 fog lights, PIAA SuperExtreme 120W high beams, rebuilt EG33 longblock, Cometic head gaskets, Phase II flexplate, AMR aluminum radiator with custom silicone hoses, 160A high-output alternator in aluminum-ceramic coated case, new design alternator wiring upgrade v.4, rare factory headlight protectors, refinished JDM BBS mesh aluminum wheels and custom, polished billet aluminum new hex center caps, LED grille mod, R1 Concepts high-carbon cryo slotted rotors, Akebono ceramic pads, Goodridge S/S braided brake lines, Smallcar Stage 1 shift kit, ThermalTech aluminum/ceramic-coated valve covers, Energy Suspension urethane front & rear swaybar bushings, Bontrager22 rear swaybar with QS Components Chromoly Teflon/Kevlar endlinks, "$15.00/5 minute" suspension mod. Hella Supertone horns, Custom stainless steel exhaust system with 2" headpipes, Magnaflow cats, AeroTurbine AR25 resonator /AWD "Bullet" muffler.


R.I.P. 2010 Subaru Outback Limited 2.5 CVT...338,000 miles. Totaled by a 1,300 lb. COW March 4, 2016

2014 Hyundai Avante Limited ...178,000 miles. Actually quieter and smoother than the Outback

2007 Mazda Miata MX-5 PRHT...102,000 miles.
Plenty of parts, service and windshields.


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Last edited by svxcess; 08-22-2011 at 09:13 PM.
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  #6  
Old 08-22-2011, 07:29 PM
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Re: Car Just died.

No idea what it was, drive it and it is fine now, never happened before. Maybe it was bad gas.
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  #7  
Old 08-22-2011, 09:27 PM
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Re: Car Just died.

Almost everytime I have had stalling it has been related to a malfunctioning MAF. You may want to spray it with MAF cleaner.
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  #8  
Old 08-23-2011, 07:17 AM
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Re: Car Just died.

I'd agree in telling you to check the MAF. The alternator is a non issue IMO.
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  #9  
Old 08-23-2011, 10:07 AM
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Re: Car Just died.

What are you running for an air cleaner?
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Old 08-23-2011, 12:14 PM
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Re: Car Just died.

Do you remember where the car was idling at before it died? Did it just blog out when you step on the gas? If it was blogging, I agree with the other guy saying its your MAF acting up.
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  #11  
Old 08-23-2011, 04:32 PM
92snowmachine 92snowmachine is offline
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Re: Car Just died.

good news about the maf is that you can just unplug it if it's making your car stall out, so at least you can know you will get home
bad news is it's not cheap
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Old 08-23-2011, 07:51 PM
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Re: Car Just died.

Quote:
Originally Posted by 92snowmachine View Post
good news about the maf is that you can just unplug it if it's making your car stall out, so at least you can know you will get home
bad news is it's not cheap
??????

Unplugged MAF=Engine no run
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  #13  
Old 08-23-2011, 08:23 PM
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Re: Car Just died.

Quote:
Originally Posted by radarwhiz View Post
??????

Unplugged MAF=Engine no run
If you unplug it after the car's already on. If you unplug it and then start the car, it will run surprisingly well.
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  #14  
Old 08-23-2011, 10:18 PM
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Re: Car Just died.

Quote:
Originally Posted by 92snowmachine View Post
good news about the maf is that you can just unplug it if it's making your car stall out, so at least you can know you will get home
bad news is it's not cheap
Quote:
Originally Posted by icingdeath88 View Post
If you unplug it after the car's already on. If you unplug it and then start the car, it will run surprisingly well.
That is not my experience at all.

I was at Reading a couple of years ago with my hood up and a member had asked me to start my car so they could hear my new exhaust system.

I started it up and it immediately died; some warning lights on the dash. Tried starting it again and it fired up and immediately died once again.

Confused and concerned, I looked carefully under my hood, everything looked perfectly normal. No evidence of anything wrong

While still confused, YT came over, gave me a knowing smile, went straight to the MAF and gave the connector a "click" and told me to start the car.

Quite a few chuckles when it fired right up and ran perfectly.


Seems that YT had unplugged my MAF when I wasn't looking and reconnected it to look normal, but it plug was not clipped positively into place was not making a solid connection.


Punk'd again.


.
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1996 Polo Green LSi #216..138,100 miles...SOLD

JFICX8659TH100216.....Date of Manufacture: November 16, 1995.....
Fuji Heavy Industries..Ōta North Plant....Ōta City,. Gunma Prefecture, Japan

In-Service Date: January 2, 1997



"The Pristine Green Polo Machine”
First Polo Green on the Network
First Clear front turn signals, JDM Alcyone hood emblem, rear panel, and BOXER engine cover on the Network (US) (2000)
First 5000K HID factory fog lights (2007)
First SVX JDM BBS wheels on a USDM SVX (2013)

HID lighting (5000K) for headlight and H3 fog lights, PIAA SuperExtreme 120W high beams, rebuilt EG33 longblock, Cometic head gaskets, Phase II flexplate, AMR aluminum radiator with custom silicone hoses, 160A high-output alternator in aluminum-ceramic coated case, new design alternator wiring upgrade v.4, rare factory headlight protectors, refinished JDM BBS mesh aluminum wheels and custom, polished billet aluminum new hex center caps, LED grille mod, R1 Concepts high-carbon cryo slotted rotors, Akebono ceramic pads, Goodridge S/S braided brake lines, Smallcar Stage 1 shift kit, ThermalTech aluminum/ceramic-coated valve covers, Energy Suspension urethane front & rear swaybar bushings, Bontrager22 rear swaybar with QS Components Chromoly Teflon/Kevlar endlinks, "$15.00/5 minute" suspension mod. Hella Supertone horns, Custom stainless steel exhaust system with 2" headpipes, Magnaflow cats, AeroTurbine AR25 resonator /AWD "Bullet" muffler.


R.I.P. 2010 Subaru Outback Limited 2.5 CVT...338,000 miles. Totaled by a 1,300 lb. COW March 4, 2016

2014 Hyundai Avante Limited ...178,000 miles. Actually quieter and smoother than the Outback

2007 Mazda Miata MX-5 PRHT...102,000 miles.
Plenty of parts, service and windshields.


4th Registered Network member —2/21/2001

My NEW locker..I...My Email..I..Wikipedia/SVX .

.

Last edited by svxcess; 08-23-2011 at 10:25 PM.
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  #15  
Old 08-24-2011, 12:02 PM
92snowmachine 92snowmachine is offline
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Re: Car Just died.

if the maf isn't all the way plugged in it can cause a lot of problems but if the computer doesn't see anything from the maf it substitutes an inferred value based on rpm
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