Here is the scenario: I am driving and a light in the panel shows "check engine". If I stop at a light suddenly car shakes a little and battery pointer (arm) moves down very suddenly and car nearly stalls (but it does not). This happens a lot mainly when I stop after "check engine" light. If I keep driving fast nothing happens. My car is a FORD EXPLORER 1994. thanks for helping this poor car illiterate man!
2006-11-22 15:50:40 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Car Makes ➔ Other - Car Makes
It would be best to have it scanned for diagnostic codes at a repair shop. The codes will be the most helpful piece of information. It could have an IAC valve problem, but this does not usually set a check engine lamp. I would guess with your vehicle and age, that you are getting a check engine lamp for lean banks on the engine, with leaking intake manifold gaskets, common for this model. The idle will get progressively worse as the gaskets get worse, and does it surge or idle dip when cold? A proper diagnosis is needed. The battery needle falls, because the engine speed drops suddenly, below normal idle.
2006-11-22 15:56:05 · answer #1 · answered by yugie29 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
maybe your serpentine belt tension arm may be going out and the belt is loose, ever notice issues with the power steering cutting off and on? alternator could just be crapping out and need replacing use a multimeter and measure the voltage at the battery with the engine off (should be like 12.5 volts) and then test the battery while the engine runs (somewhere around 14-16 volts) and then test the alternator while the engine runs (should be again in the 14-16 volt range), that should help trouble shoot it and eliminate some possibilities
2016-05-22 20:36:49 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've seen this before and actually I myself have misdiagnosed this same problem before. I, like a few who have answered before me, have misdiagnosed this as an alternator failure when in fact there was actually a problem in the IAC motor operation. I found on a similar problem that the IAC motor was stuck and it would lower the RPM to the point where the alternator would not charge, but there was no MIL illuminated on this car.
Long story short, check, or have your mechanic check, the IAC motor first.
2006-11-22 18:38:36 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As with most computer cars and trucks ,when the voltage drops below a certain point the pcm can`t function right.need to have charging system and batt checked out.
2006-11-23 06:19:31 · answer #4 · answered by deltech 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
May be the alternator. If you go to Auto Zone or something similar, I believe that they can test it for free.
2006-11-22 15:53:13 · answer #5 · answered by amoroushotmama 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like the altenator is failing.
2006-11-22 15:58:53 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋