These are the Symptoms..but whats the problem??

[FastestVIII]

Hi Guys! I am hoping ya'll can help me. For the last few weeks my girl aint been acting quite right.

At first she was idling funny, but only within the first few min of turning her on, and only at red light. I thought maybe the brake booster was leaking, but nope. It would just from .75 RPM to 1.25 RPM a few times, like reving itself lightly... Id let off the brake a few times and it would stop.

Then, 4 nights ago I was on the highway, doing maybe 65 with the radio up & headlights/AC on. The radio shut off and everything dimmed for a split second. I am not sure if the engine died or if I jsut let off the gas, but it instantly all came abck to normal./ Check traction message came on, then left... and all was fine within 5 seconds.

Yesterday I got into the car, turned it on, and all my presets and time reset?

Today I was pulling into a garage spot -overdrive off cause it was an uphill climb, barely rolling into the spot car stalled.. i ddint hear it, just saw the oil and battery lights - realized I wasnt moving. My foot was on the brake again.

Can anyone help me pin point where to even begin looking?

 

[UltimateSVT]

Welcome to the forum! How many miles on your MK8?

 

[NoLimit95]

Almost sounds like your alternator isn't putting out and you're running off reserve capacity with the battery. Check voltage output at idle.

 

[FastestVIII]

Welcome to the forum! How many miles on your MK8?

Thanks! Sorry Brother!

138 - car hs been well maintained and babied its life. Im guessing its a sensor going, or a burning wire

 

[ford nut]

Humm, what year car?
How many miles?
These cars are very picky when it comes to the electrical system.

I know when the alternator goes they put on one hell of a light show.
Get batt. checked, check what the alt is pushing out at idle.

 

[FastestVIII]

Almost sounds like your alternator isn't putting out and you're running off reserve capacity with the battery. Check voltage output at idle.

I thought this.. But my car starts right up after 8+ hours of dead time. Id expect the battery to be nearly dead if its constantly running the car.

 

[FastestVIII]

Humm, what year car?
How many miles?
These cars are very picky when it comes to the electrical system.

I know when the alternator goes they put on one hell of a light show.

1997

138k I think almost.

 

[NoLimit95]

I thought this.. But my car starts right up after 8+ hours of dead time. Id expect the battery to be nearly dead if its constantly running the car.

Not always, check the voltage. this could go on for weeks and then finally you will see a good light show and then the car will just die.

 

[ford nut]

I thought this.. But my car starts right up after 8+ hours of dead time. Id expect the battery to be nearly dead if its constantly running the car.

These cars will fool you.
It could be charging the batt. just low on volts while its running.
Mine was fine until the light show....then I was walking.

 

[FastestVIII]

Not always, check the voltage. this could go on for weeks and then finally you will see a good light show and then the car will just die.

These cars will fool you.
It could be charging the batt. just low on volts while its running.
Mine was fine until the light show....then I was walking.

Ehh Sounds Delightful. Ill stop by Autozone (Sighs) and do a voltage check.

I am fairly handy.. Mostly with simple stuff like brakes, oil changes, etc - Can I preform an alt swap? Any real knowledge needed?

 

[NoLimit95]

Ehh Sounds Delightful. Ill stop by Autozone (Sighs) and do a voltage check.

I am fairly handy.. Mostly with simple stuff like brakes, oil changes, etc - Can I preform an alt swap? Any real knowledge needed?

If you can put gas in the car, you can change an alternator on a Mark with ease. I can do one in a parking lot within 10 minutes. Off and one back on.

 

[fastmark1993]

Not really since the alt is right on top just take it off and reverse to install nothing special to do. Take pictures for each step if you are a forgetful person.

 

[FastestVIII]

If you can put gas in the car, you can change an alternator on a Mark with ease. I can do one in a parking lot within 10 minutes. Off and one back on.

Not really since the alt is right on top just take it off and reverse to install nothing special to do. Take pictures for each step if you are a forgetful person.

Only thing that makes me wonder is the belt.. never changed one or played with one. I keep them "fannggurrs" outta there

 

[NoLimit95]

Only thing that makes me wonder is the belt.. never changed one or played with one. I keep them "fannggurrs" outta there

Belt routing is under the hood for you to see unless someone peeled it off.

 

[fastmark1993]

Just loosen the tension of the belt with a 1/2 socket wrench and just remove the belt from the alt, if you take the belt right off there is a sticker on the front end under the hood that shows you the routing, it looks scary but it really isn't. On the tensioner you will see where the socket wrench goes.
Might want someones help getting the belt off though.

 

[ford nut]

Just loosen the tension of the belt with a 1/2 socket wrench and just remove the belt from the alt, if you take the belt right off there is a sticker on the front end under the hood that shows you the routing, it looks scary but it really isn't. On the tensioner you will see where the socket wrench goes.
Might want someones help getting the belt off though.

+1 real simple.
At 138 k I would check the bearing on the tensioner when I had apart, it can send you walking too... ask me how I know.

 

[FastestVIII]

+1 real simple.
At 138 k I would check the bearing on the tensioner when I had apart, it can send you walking too... ask me how I know.

How do you know??



Thankfully both the tensioner and the belt are fairly new!

 

[fastmark1993]

I had my belt snap when i did my water pump right
On my neck, it hurt more then when I got
My fingers run over.

 

[ford nut]

I had my belt snap when i did my water pump right
On my neck, it hurt more then when I got
My fingers run over.

Ouch......

Any pics?

That dam 93 I had stranded me more then I care to remember.

 

[fastmark1993]

I actually might lemme check LOL

 

[FastestVIII]

Ouch......

Any pics?

I actually might lemme check LOL

 

[fastmark1993]

Sadly I lost them when i reformatted my computer.

 

[LaserSVT]

Sounds like a weak alt to me. Actually I would put money on it being that. Dont get an AZ alt. Order one from Max or RockAuto.com

 

[FastestVIII]

Sounds like a weak alt to me. Actually I would put money on it being that. Dont get an AZ alt. Order one from Max or RockAuto.com

Yeah wouldnt even think about it - jsut gonna get tested there.

 

[NoLimit95]

Yeah wouldnt even think about it - jsut gonna get tested there.

Me and Laser also didn't want AZ alternators but we were forced to really have no option at the time. I already took a nap and 2 1/2 hours have passed and you still haven't had that thing checked lol.

If you have a battery charger, keep a good charge on the battery and it can last you until you get yourself a good rebuilt OEM alt but seriously, AZ and O'Reilly's alternators suck. Yes, they have the lifetime warranty but you spend a lifetime changing them out. Why do you think I got so fast at it?