OK...So went out to the supermaket today, and it was 100F outside, so I put the A/C on "auto" and the radio on. The supermarket is about 2 miles away, and on the trip, I notice the "SYS" code blinking. After the supermarket, I start the car and drive around the parking lot, no SYS code, great. I notice I'm low on gas so I drive down to the gas station. On the way, I stop on an upwards incline, and the car seems to want to die out. A/C gets weak, car stuttered, and the radio volume dropped to nothing. I figured the little amount of gas I had in the tank was sloshing to the back, so I turned off A/C and radio, and got on flat land, and it was alright to the gas station. I filled up, got back in my car, turned my A/C and radio back on, and everything seemed alright. I took the long way home to make sure all the problems were worked out, but about halfway there, my radio cuts out again, and I look, and my battery charge is at like 0. I panic, cut the A/C and radio, and as I'm driving it goes back up to where it should be. I keep experimenting with A/C and radio combos, and it turns out when the A/C comes on, the battery drains until the A/C is cut. This is the not the first time I've used the A/C in the heat, but this is the first time this happened. The only thing I can think of that might have anythign to do with it is last night, I went over two large speed bumps with my worn-out shocks, and bottomed out a bit. Didn't bust my oil pan or anything, but perhaps I knocked something else loose? Any ideas, guys? It's too hot not to have A/C here! :(

 

it sounds like a dead alternator.

check all the connections to the battery and alternator are good.

heat will kill a battery, too...

 

Oops, completely forgot to mention that the battery is about 5 months old. Guess I'll have to get my alternator tested, but could it be the problem if it charges up as soon as the A/C is turned off?

MF

 

A/C blower is a big draw and you might want to check the blower harness. It's only 12 gauge and it's not fused, nor are the terminals soldered. Usually the wires will melt or short the Blower Control Module if the motor is worn out If the harness is discolored you might consider replacing the blower motor and/or pulling the connector apart and soldering the leads. Otherwise, this sounds like an alternator problem. Charge the battery before installing a new one.

 

Remove your battery cables (neg first), clean the cable lugs and battery terminals and reconnect (neg last). Charge the battery up with a battery charger. Even with the a/c and radio on, your battery voltage with the engine running should be 14+ engine cold, and 13+ engine hot. If not, your alternator is suspect, have it tested. Your symptoms are of poor battery cable connections.

 

Thanks for all the great info guys. Took me nearly a whole day to get the battery out (first time..taking that panel off is tricky without the proper tools), but once I got it charged I had the alternator tested. Turns out it's not putting out nearly enough power. So now I have to hunt for a good deal on an alternator, and hope that my problems go away afterward. Thanks again. :)

MF

 

Why did you remove the battery? You can charge the battery while it is in place.

 

Well, yeah, with the proper equipment, one could charge the battery while it's still in there, but I just brought it down to the local 24/hr autoparts store and left it with them for an hour to charge.

MF

 

All you need is a battery charger.

 

Well, got my alternator in last night with a friend's help. There was a tricky part or two, but once we got it together the car ran right...for about %50 of the night. Judging from the new symptoms, we thought "loose connection" somewhere, so the next morning I went out, and checked out the alternator connections... Seems like my friend only hand-tightened the alt->batt. wire!!! So I put on a little conductive grease, took out my new ratchet and went to town. Drove it around all day yesterday and some tonite without any problems at all.. PSHEW!! Cruised around with the top down...no amount of traffic could wipe the renewed grin off my face!! :) THANKS GUYS!! :cheers:

MF