Sidekick Shuts off

[donna13pa]

I have a 1992 Sidekick with the 16valve engine.

All of a sudden the thing shuts off under an electrical load.

It runs fine until you have to use the headlights, wipers and stereo....then bam, it shuts off.

We have had the alternator out 2 times and had it tested, and it test fine.

Replaced the battery a year ago.

Any ideas on what else to try...>Can't drive it in the winter with this type of problem.

[jtgh]

Can you keep it running wiith a hot foot ( pressing gas pedal as it dies = hot foot)
YES, then you have IDLE circuit failure.
NO?
then:

I will guess that the voltage to the ECU drops below 10v and car stops.
this is normal for the ECU but not for car.

the way to find this , if you do not have a voltmeter ( i wouldnt run any car without a dash VM , saved me , so many times ...)

do you have a hand held volt meter (dmm dvom, dvm ,etc)

If not , the buy one of those little , LED Cig light sticks sold at every auto parts store.
it will tell you if your voltgage is good.
while parked, starting and driving.

Please forget what you did in the past and fix the today problem.
measure the voltage and you will find the answer.


it could just be a loose fan belt.
corroded battery terminals.
dead alternator ,
shorted cell in the battery.

You do not need to remove anything to trouble shoot this problem. really !

I have a cig plug , that has 2 wires.
black ground to a female jack in a plug and the red thru a 1000 home resistor.
the resistor is protection , in case I drop the red wire to ground ,(no smoke)

then I plug the jack into my $3 harbor freight DMM, now I can start ,drive and park and look at the voltage in real time.
way better than any LED tester that is.

you didnt state your ambient temperatures and that is important but;
at room temp.
12.65 vdc is charged battery.
14.7 vdc when engine is running.
if voltage drops below any of these values , you have a problem ( unless cranking)

My Car Is Strange

dies


may things can kill an engine but yours has the ear mark of electical.
my first link can get you an answer fast.

keep in mind, that you can replace all the parts, alternator, battery and still have the problem. ( on some cars even a bad GEN light in the dash can kill an alternator)
check all black ground wires in the engine compartment.
clean both (on one) ends of the main battery cables and at the starter .
same for DIZZY ground wires, and anyothers on the Intake manifold or thermostat housing , these grounds are very important or the ECU WILL Go goofy.

good day, and keep us posted.

cheers