stock Posted February 1, 2015 Share Posted February 1, 2015 Hey guys, my car has been having a little bit of an electrical problem. The car will not start unless it gets jumped. I went out and bought a new battery, terminals, spark plugs, spark plug wires, and even an alternator. The volts are constantly moving up and down, and every time I give it a little rev, it sounds like it wants to cut off or eventually does cut off. I'm pretty new to all of this, if someone could chime in and help that would be GREAT. The only reason the car is running, is from a jump. After I shut it off, it will not turn back on by itself. Here's a video for a better understanding. https://www.youtube.com/watch?x-yt-ts=1422579428&v=K2v9Hi6CsGQ&x-yt-cl=85114404 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewZed Posted February 1, 2015 Share Posted February 1, 2015 Looks like a bad alternator. Even though you replaced it. The need for a jump with a new battery suggests a short, killing the battery, then when you jump it, the load from charging the dead battery, or the short, or both, kills the alternator again. I would first verify no short circuits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stock Posted February 1, 2015 Author Share Posted February 1, 2015 I don't even know where to begin to look for a short. Just hope its nothing serious Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NewZed Posted February 1, 2015 Share Posted February 1, 2015 (edited) If you don't know how to find a short you need to find some help. Replacing more parts isn't going to get it done. It may not be a short but that's one of the simplest electrical problems to diagnose. It could just be something always on and killing your battery. If that's the case, you'll get a spark when you reconnect the battery and everything is supposed to be off. Edited February 1, 2015 by NewZed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stock Posted February 1, 2015 Author Share Posted February 1, 2015 If you don't know how to find a short you need to find some help. Replacing more parts isn't going to get it done. It may not be a short but that's one of the simplest electrical problems to diagnose. It could just be something always on and killing your battery. If that's the case, you'll get a spark when you reconnect the battery and everything is supposed to be off. Yeah I got someone that's going to look at it sometime this week, and hopefully we can find that short or whatever it may be. Thanks man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RebekahsZ Posted February 1, 2015 Share Posted February 1, 2015 I assume you have taken your battery to be tested at the parts store? That's where I always start electrical trouble-shooting. It is the time of year for batteries to crap out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktm Posted February 1, 2015 Share Posted February 1, 2015 Looks like a bad alternator. Even though you replaced it. The need for a jump with a new battery suggests a short, killing the battery, then when you jump it, the load from charging the dead battery, or the short, or both, kills the alternator again. I would first verify no short circuits. My experience with a short would cut the engine and then it would fire back up to life. However, if this is the case, I would strongly suggest looking at where the battery positive cable connects to the alternator. If you are using JCI mounts and the "stock" alternator position for an LS1 (from a Camaro), it mounts down low on the driver side. The battery connection to the alternator is very close to the JCI mount. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SUNNY Z Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 What engine harness? Assuming its a 1 wire alternator, does it have the proper resistor in the exciter wire? Verified +12V to exciter wire? Have you had the alternator checked, or checked output voltage? 1. Load test batter 2. Check alternator output voltage (sounds like this is erratic) 3. Verify exciter wire voltage and resistor. 4. Detailed report back Electrical stuff can be a PITA to diagnose, but that should give you a good leg up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeeZ Posted February 7, 2015 Share Posted February 7, 2015 (edited) Having the same problem with an LS1 swap. We could not find the power drain, so I just installed a battery cut off behind the passenger seat. Now the issue is remembering to turn it of the off position when I park the car. Edited February 7, 2015 by GeeZ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alainburon Posted February 9, 2015 Share Posted February 9, 2015 Battery cut off is always and option however all power drains can be found. All you need is a good multimeter, electrical drawings of the car in question, some familiarity of how the new engine was wired into the existing electrical system and a lot of patience. Electrical/electronics knowledge would not hurt either. Troubleshooting an electrical problem on the forums is not going to be easy as there are so many varaibles to consider not to mention all these cars are not wired exactly the same especially when you do an LS swap. Good luck sir, electrical problems suck but I think you are taking the right approach and have someone take a look at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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