Car wont rev

[orionn2o]

Hey guys,

After a long day yesterday, (after driving round at least twice with no problems). I went to start the car and it starts no problem and then I get a christmas tree background with all the lights on :

SRS on
TCL off light on
ABS light on
Stability control light flashing.

The car just idles at 2000rpm approximately and wont respond to the aceelerator being pushed or anything.

The rev counter appears to flicker slightly as the Stability control light flickers on and off.

I also noticed that the stereo wouldn't turn on and the boost controller wasn't operating.


Has anyone got any thoughts that would help me out?

[Physician]

1] Check ALL fuses

2] Re-set ECU (by disconnecting battery)

If that doesn't work, ummm .........

[orionn2o]

Hmmm did that yesterday and couldn't find any dodgy fuses. Left the battery disconnected all night and re connected this morning and it still didnt work.

Only thing I noticed was that it was a bit weak on start up, so I'm wondering if the battery can't supply enough oooomph to start up all the electronics? Or maybe I'm just clutching at straws!

[Physician]

No, now you mention that - it could well be a dud battery.

EDIT: And have a search for 'alternator' as I believe others have had similar issues which were alternator related.

[BraindG]

yeah, sounds familair, what was the brightness of your heater controllers? quite dim? Mebbe got get yourself a cheapo volt meter from halfords, about a tenner.. then plug that up and see.. obviously should be 12v ish when off, and up to 16/17? i think when running

[Kieran]

Airflow meter connectors - might explain the not revving?

[White Lightning]

Does sound battery or alternator ish ...

[ritch_w]

battery on its way out
or
kinked or split vacuum hose

[orionn2o]

Are you saying battery on its way out as an idea? Or has this been known to happen to other peoples cars??

[ariddell]

When my battery died i also got a similar christmas tree effect. I couldn't get mine to start up at all though unless jump started.

[orionn2o]

when it did start, did it run badly? or all ok after that?

[ariddell]

When it had been jump started it was bloody awfull, really low idle, settled mostly but then when i drove away the ayc was going nuts, abs light flashing, tcl light on etc etc. Revved it for a while and it seemed to settle down.

Completely cured when i replaced the battery, these cars just really don't like it when voltages start to drop.

[orionn2o]

Fingers crossed my friend!

Purchase of new battery later and we'll see what happens !

[pezza]

When it had been jump started it was bloody awfull, really low idle, settled mostly but then when i drove away the ayc was going nuts, abs light flashing, tcl light on etc etc. Revved it for a while and it seemed to settle down.



Oh yess... brings back horrible memories.... it was the lower rated alternator and battery in mine that caused something similar.

Maybe this will affect your SRS check? Not sure if replacing battery will reset that code as I had to get my SRS warning light reset via the MUTII device. (also check whether the horn works)

[Kieran]

This may help?

http://www.clubvr4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11701&highlight=alternator

[orionn2o]

Thanks Kieran,

I found that thread earlier and its given me hope that this issue isn't massive!

I guess i'll know in an hour or 2 what the story is. Might try and jump it off of the other car. The battery has enough ooomph to start that car but I think the other systems are suffering so with the other car connected it may give the VR4 a boost.

If I score some luck from that, I'll be straight down to Halfords....

i presume VR4 isn't on the battery list in halfords so what size one do I need?? Anyone know off hand?

[BraindG]

it is on the list... lemme go check mine, i got one.

[BraindG]

hmm, the stickers worn off on top, and theres no other markings on it to give me a code.. sorry :( but it is a halfords one :) but im starting to doubt myself now whether it was in the book or not..

[ariddell]

It's not in the book but the specifications, size and terminal positions are exactly the same as listed in the book for the Nissan Micra believe it or not...

I can take a look at mine for the code for you this evening if you like.

[orionn2o]

Ohh that would be great!

[Nick VR4]

My book states Battery 75D23L or look for one for a Galant V6

[Kieran]

It's not in the book but the specifications, size and terminal positions are exactly the same as listed in the book for the Nissan Micra believe it or not...


That's true - But not recommended as that is the correct size for the 'Warm area specification' Galants/Legnums - which come with a weedy battery, less underseal and such. You'll soon find that a battery this small will struggle to start a VR-4 in a UK winter. To give you some perspective, the battery in my 1974 Colt Galant is bigger and chucks out 370 cranking amps - and that's with a weedy 1.6 litre 4-pot to start.

Nick VR-4's recommendation of the UK Galant V6-24 battery being a good match is sound advice. Look for something with around 500 plus cold cranking amps or above and you should be okay.

[orionn2o]

Cheers guys. I put the one from my escort in there and it al started and worked great. Went for a drive to halfords and didnt even make it there. Everything started shutting down. Would you expect this cos the battery is too small? Or do i have another problem?

[Nutter_John]

Sounds like it you are not getting any charge into the battery ?

[orionn2o]

Hmmm yes. They dont stock a vr4 battery in halfords! Can i just buy one thats 550 cca with 105 reserve hours?

[ariddell]

The only thing with the Galant V6 battery from memory is i think the terminals are on the wrong sides for the battery orientation in a Jap spec VR4.

Could be wrong though..

[orionn2o]

Is there a fuse anywhere on the alternator circuit? Would it just pump charging one day? Seems a coincidence that the cars rat around for 3 weeks and now its dead

[Nick VR4]

Fuse 21 = Alternator 120amps

And found this on Fuse 20 Fuse(+b) ???

[orionn2o]

Thanks. Looking under the car now. Where is fuse 20?

[orionn2o]

Ok new problem. Everything starts and runs. Now when i rev above 1500 rpm i get all the lights. And when i come off the gas they go off again. Im logged on on my phone so cant really search. Any quick thoughts?

[orionn2o]

I wonder if its going over voltage or something? Is there a regulator or something that could be causing probs? Im soo pissed off. I thought it was all sorted!

[caishanvr4]

If it aint solved soon you may have to get in touch with a mitsu dealer as a very last resort.

[mpau009]

What faults do you get with the DIY diagnostic test?

Might give you some insights, almost sounds like its falling into safe mode for some reason.

Good luck getting it sorted.

[orionn2o]

Thanks.

The revving thing is cured, that was due to not enough power in the battery which was cos it was old and didnt charge up too well.

Now I've replaced the battery, things are looking more promising. Just need to solve the business with it appearing to go over voltage. (this may not be happening, but it looks that way!)

Going to run the diagnostic code checker thing tonight and see if i get any error codes. In a way I'm kind of hoping that I get one or two so that I have things to check!

[BraindG]

did you buy a volt meter aswell? if so whats that reading during each stage of revving?

[orionn2o]

Yes I've grabbed my volt meter from work today so i'll do the tests tonight?

What do we need to know? Voltage at 1000 , 2000 and 3000??

And i presume I'm expecting about 12 ish volts at tickover and 14/15 at increased engine revs?

[BraindG]

12 on off, and about 14/15 or something like that on tick over.. when i get dressed ill go out and check mine.. but, not sure mine is a good test bed cos ive got voltage issues myself.

[orionn2o]

Thanks for that, much appreciated!

Its well handy having a few cars to compare results with.

Having read Kierans dramas with the alternator, i'm not looking forward to that being the problem!

[BraindG]

heh! no, its not fun... did you read my issues i had with mine? /pan

[BraindG]

If not, here (http://www.clubvr4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10200&highlight=altenator) it is.

im still having some problems now, perhaps the same issues is reoccuring /shrug.

I get buzzing, and car doesnt start for about 20 turns of the key. However i have noticed that happens when the voltage is a bit low before i turn the car off. if i rev the car a bit, and keep an eye on the volts raising it will start first time next time.

[orionn2o]

Just read it all... Looks like a rollercoaster of of jobs and thinking its fixed, then its not.... Thats how I feel now !

Just to clarify for anyone still read at this point.

Current symptoms are:

1. TCL, ABS SRS and skiddy light comes on at above 1500 rpm
2. As I revved it last night above 1500 a headlight bulb blew (could be coincidence)
3. Yesterday when I had a smaller battery in, it killed the battery within 5 miles.

[BraindG]

Its hard to say really, best bet is get yourself a volt meter on it, see what the powers actually doing. Should give us a much better idea of whats going on, or atleast point us towards something, rather than guessing.

[stuartturbo]

best bet as said put a meter across it over charging seems a good bet

[orionn2o]

Ok got the figures . At idle i got 14 ish volts.
1000 rpm was 16v and 2000 rpm was 19v .
Bit high i fear!

[BraindG]

what about higher that 2k?

when im on the way home ill keep an eye on the volts, and report back then.

[stuartturbo]

screwed ALternator
It may be possible to replace the Regulator on the Alternator only rather than a full alt
I have done this on other makes of cars

[orionn2o]

I was thinkin it may be screwed. I was funnily enough wondering how hard it would be to change the regulator since im and electronic engineer! Didnt take the car above 2k cos i wasnt sure if theres anything likely to get damaged from too higher voltage. It appears to be enough to piss off the tcl and abs and srs. So didnt fancy more grief! Just gotta get the badboy out of the car now!

[stuartturbo]

Just had a quick look at the pdf manual and the reg is listed as a repair item but?? if you can get the reg is a diff matter

Please click here (http://www.clubvr4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5507) and select 16_Engine_Electrical

Edited sorry Stuart...
Barry

[Paul Beazer]

I was thinkin it may be screwed. I was funnily enough wondering how hard it would be to change the regulator since im and electronic engineer! Didnt take the car above 2k cos i wasnt sure if theres anything likely to get damaged from too higher voltage. It appears to be enough to piss off the tcl and abs and srs. So didnt fancy more grief! Just gotta get the badboy out of the car now!
Ho ho ho, good luck, should be out by xmas! I expect Kieran will be along to really worry you later!

[BraindG]

k, deffo an issue..

mine idles about 13ish, and at up to 6k it goes to about 15.

[orionn2o]

Ah thats interestin. Which pdf file is that? Thanks for looking. When i get it out, will have to see if i can get to the reg and find a part number or similar? Are we agreed that the next logical step is to definitely get the alternator out?

[stuartturbo]

Just had a quick look at the pdf manual and the reg is listed as a repair item but?? if you can get the reg is a diff matter

Please click here (http://www.clubvr4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5507) and select 16_Engine_Electrical

Edited sorry Stuart...
Barry
cheers barry was it the direct link?

[Nutter_John]

The electric system on a car normally operates upto around 16v , normal values are around 13.7->14.7 but can go as high as 16v . If you are seeing 19v then I would suggest that you do not turn the car anymore as at somepoint you may damage something very very expensive .

Maybe check with Zedy1 regarding a regulator or alternator etc

[BraindG]

cheers barry was it the direct link?
yeah, its was, no offence though but its something im trying to sort out so that we can link to them directly, but non members cannea access it if they click on it.

work in progress :zzz:

[Paul C]

Knackered regulator=overexcitation=overvoltage=battery blowing up.

pushing 19v into battery that only takes 14v charge will seriously f**k it up and could potentially blow. You could fry your ecu at these voltages.looks a bit of nasty task to change the alternator. Good Luck