General Miata Chat A place to talk about anything Miata

Car wont stay on...

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 10-27-2006, 12:13 AM
  #1  
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
Newbsauce's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NoVA
Posts: 2,299
Total Cats: 2
Default Car wont stay on...

Well my idle has been lumpy, its been glugging on the start, and the car seems to stall out when I turn on the lights. Well tonight LUCKILY just as I pulled into my neighborhood as I was coasting in, boom.. the engine died. Now the interesting part is.. the batt "charge" light came on.. the lights stayed on.. and when I parked it.. I checked to see if it could crank..and it could, but it died in like 5 seconds. Alternator? Bad ground? Battery? Feedback please.
Newbsauce is offline  
Old 10-27-2006, 06:55 AM
  #2  
Senior Member
iTrader: (14)
 
brgracer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Ambler, PA
Posts: 1,275
Total Cats: 1
Default

I was wondering how long it'd be before something on your car broke.

My vote is for that damn vpc.

Seriously, sounds like the alternator. Get a voltmeter to check the battery voltage and you could also disconnect the negative side and check the current between the negative battery cable to ground to check for a dark current draw.
brgracer is offline  
Old 10-27-2006, 08:06 AM
  #3  
Elite Member
iTrader: (3)
 
Mach929's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: lansdale PA
Posts: 2,494
Total Cats: 0
Default

i hate alt/battery problems. i always just replace both just to be done with it. I'm on my 3rd alternator on the miata btw
Mach929 is offline  
Old 10-27-2006, 08:36 AM
  #4  
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
Newbsauce's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NoVA
Posts: 2,299
Total Cats: 2
Default

Originally Posted by brgracer
I was wondering how long it'd be before something on your car broke.

My vote is for that damn vpc.
You are a firm believer in the anti-vpcism. You wait til I post my MAF'less numbers damnit!
Newbsauce is offline  
Old 10-27-2006, 08:44 AM
  #5  
Elite Member
iTrader: (5)
 
m2cupcar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 7,486
Total Cats: 372
Default

You can get a $20 meter that will measure current per brgracer's suggestion. My Miata showed 4.5 milliamps, but others have seen as much as 20. Check your ground that runs from the neg batt terminal down to the ppf near the fuel filter.
m2cupcar is offline  
Old 10-27-2006, 09:59 AM
  #6  
Elite Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
 
Newbsauce's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NoVA
Posts: 2,299
Total Cats: 2
Default

Thanks for the input guys.. I will be sure to test it today.. for some reason I have a feeling I have a bad ground
Newbsauce is offline  
Old 10-27-2006, 10:28 AM
  #7  
Elite Member
iTrader: (5)
 
m2cupcar's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Atlanta
Posts: 7,486
Total Cats: 372
Default

bad grounds have been the source my electrical problems more the once
m2cupcar is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
EricJ
Suspension, Brakes, Drivetrain
7
09-11-2021 11:10 PM
satisfied
MEGAsquirt
144
11-05-2018 04:05 PM
EErockMiata
MEGAsquirt
6
09-24-2015 09:49 AM
TheNomad
Engine Performance
3
09-21-2015 10:20 PM
pineda92
Meet and Greet
4
09-20-2015 09:22 PM



Quick Reply: Car wont stay on...



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:30 PM.