I am having the oddest electrical problems with the beater right now. Here goes:

I think there are two seperate problems.
1. The battery doesnt charge. The battery is new and I just replaced the alternator.

2. Everything on the interior has started not working. At first it was just little things. Nothing would work if the motor was not actually running (on position did nothing). The seatbelts wouldnt work, the stereo wouldnt work. etc.
Now, nothing is working at all. No seatbelts, no heater/fan, no rear defrost or wiper, no foglights.
What does still work from the dash is the rear sprayer, the winshield wipers, the hazards, the stereo, the headlights, the turn signals, and the horn.

Any ideas are welcome.


*Edit, this is a 92 2.0 non turbo DSM

Did you check your alternator fuse? That will cause all kinds of problems. CVD, what kind of car is it. I didn't know you had a winter car. If its a DSM that fuse is in the engine compartment fuse box. On a 1G its a 80A and on a 2G its a 100A.

CRAIG

does the car start? if not it could be a bad ignition switch.

It is a 92 Eclipse NT, original post edited.

The car starts and runs otherwise just fine. I will check the alternator fuse.

It was suggested that maybe it could be a short somewhere, because the car ran for about 100 miles on a brand new battery before it died.

Yeah CVD, I would be willing to bet its the alternator fuse. It does strange shit to make you think its something else but it something really simple. Sometimes it even seems like its the ECU.

CRAIG

I think the alternator fuse is in fact blown, where would I pick a new one up?

You can get them at any parts store CVD. I think Jet and I bought some at Auto Zone. They are just a couple of bucks.

CVD, did that work?

I didnt have time to run to the store yesterday. Today isnt looking real good either, but I will let you know as soon as I try it.

Thanks for the help so far though

Chris

my money is also altenator related (fuse or unit itself).

The unit is fine, pull the fuse from your soap-bar just to make sure before you buy anything.

Fuses are cheap. wont pull the talons fuse.

regardless of whether it WAS bad, its broken now. it borke when I took the cap off to look inside. Im thinking that it was therefor already bad.

Replaced the fuse FINALLY. When I try to put the ground back on the battery it throws some hardcore sparks. Im thinking there is a MAJOR short somewhere.

do any fuses blow when you try to connect the battery -?

adam

When I bring your ECU back to you, I'd be willing to take a look at the car.Shorts of that magnitude are usually very easy to locate.

Cool thanks.

I replaced the 85amp fuse with a 100amp fuse (they had no 85amp). it has not blown yet, after probably half a dozen experiments.

With the alternator unplugged I can reconnect the battery just fine. I dont know if that means squat though. I will try putting the plug into the old alternator tomorrow and seeing what happens.

Chris

The chances aren't great, but that extra 15amps can cause a lot of damage.