wcs20

okay here we go I have an 04 85k with 23k on new engine well heres my problem I recently got AP pulley and I got a misfire flash check engine light so I upgraded to ls2 ignition setup (whole ignition system spark plugs, ignition wires) well the misfires stopped but whole new issue arose out of no where I got in my car and it would not start did the deflooding and got rid of the fuel that was in there plugs still look great checked my battery its new with only 6 months on it and checked the terminals all good even brush wired them clean and still nothing now I checked the alternator bad alternator so got new one and checked before install it worked still wouldn't start had my buddy jump me and it started! after a little driving battery light came on drove fine but the battery light was on when i turned it off after a good drive it wouldn't start so i replaced all the terminals and checked the alternator ground and cleaned it well i am stumped.... any suggestions please help me...

Brettus

iTrader: (2)

where did you ground the coils ?

wcs20

I grounded it at the negative battery terminal... is there a better place...

Brettus

iTrader: (2)

most people ground them on the engine block - same place that the battery ground goes to . Could be worth a shot

also - where did you get the wiring harness ?

wcs20

ebay it works it ran for two weeks no prob with it but then this... you are talking about the one by the alternator or am I way off... and in what general area is the one you are talking about... thank you in advance...

wcs20

but could this be whats causing my odd voltage issues...

Brettus

iTrader: (2)

No - the one just above the oil pan/below the spark plugs on same side of engine as coils .

You didn't mention a voltage problem ?
What voltage do you see at battery when turning over the engine ?

wcs20

well when turned over and running the battery goes between 12.8-13.6... but as noted before had all tested after this test been a long day lol...

Brettus

iTrader: (2)

Should be over 14v when running - if not that could be your alternator .
When turning it over to start it should be around 10.5-11v

wcs20

my problem exactly but I had the alternator tested before being put on... but maybe i will remove it and have it retested... but could the bad ground cause that kind of fluctuation in voltage?

wcs20

well thank you brettus... i will check the ground first then do a second alternator check... again any other advice so i can tackle it tomorrow incase this is not my issue would be thankful I am all open to any suggestions saves me time in randomly searching through some of the obviouse won't start threads...

wcs20

Could it be a bad fuse or something of that nature I just don't see how it could be running great for a month then crap out on me

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

I got your PM but I'll respond here. The problem is that it could be a few things. Do you have the stock ignition? If so, put it back on just to rule out the homemade ebay junk. My guess is on the homemade ignition. Sure it worked fine for a bit, then it likely crapped out.

wcs20

Okay update got it to start on its own drove a while then the batt. light came on and I parked it turned it off waited a bit tried to crank and same as before would not start... " 9krpmrx8" just switched back to stock ignition coil packs and... nada unfortunately but on the first run when it cranked for the record it was originaly holding at 14.38-14.48 then after a small drive and sat running for a bit dipped back to 13.3-13.6...

wcs20

it was a good idea though I jumped it drove it and still got the same stuff as before... checked the fuses... could it be a relay... bc i am running out of ideas...

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Sounds to me like your alternator, where did you have it tested? I had issues with mine, had it rebuilt twice, and still had issues. I ended up getting a replacement stock alternator off ebay from a wrecked 8 and never had problems again. Even when they rebuild them there is something that they were missing that was not getting fixed. Each time it was rebuilt it would last 6 months to a year and then fail again.

Brettus

iTrader: (2)

Also : check your starter motor speed here ...

https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-trouble-shooting-95/hard-starting-suspect-your-starter-motor-check-out-207244/

xexok

Alternators seem to be hit or miss in all the cars I have had. The alternator can test 100% fine and then 20 miles down the road it might die, it just depends what parts are failing on it.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Yeah I had a nightmare situation where my alternator actually overcharged ruining my ABS module, window switches, lights, etc. to the tune of $2400+ and initially the dealership said the alternator was fine (even though the battery boiled over) then they wanted to replace a bunch of unrelated crap and said I needed a new battery (it was new already) and that they could not do any further diagnosis until I replaced the battery.

So I picked my car up and told them to FU. I ended up removing the alternator myself and it was the alternator shop i took it too who diagnosed it and told me it was overcharging. They rebuilt it and I took teh car to another dealer to have the ABS module and everything else replaced under my extended warranty (awesome). But then it failed again (luckily undercharging this time), they rebuilt it under their warranty and then a year later it failed again. I could have gotten it rebuilt again but instead just replaced it.

troy0boy

i had the same problem around 2 weeks ago, i started my car one morning and it was cranking very slow, and my car seemed to have very low voltage, so i pulled my battery starter and alternator. to my surprise everything was good except for my battery. it was dead. so i put it on the charger over night and it started right up. then around 2 hours later (after driving for around 30 minutes) it sounded like it was cranking fast but didnt start. almost like a hot start issue. but when i connected jumper cables to it , it fired right up! then i started diagnosing things like parsasitic drain and other things that might bring down the cca on my battery. so i disconnected all aftermarket elictrical devices connected to my batter including...led lights, subwoofer amp, and radio. next morning.... it started right up no problem! so i plugged one thing in at a time to see if they would drain the battery and to my surprise it was my aftermarket radio so i made all new connections and plugged everything back in and put new fuses in and its been perfectly fine ever since. hope this helps!!!!

wcs20

thanks still no luck i have checked all the fuses just now I am goin to take back the new alternator it is autozone alternator... maybe get another one and have them test it before i leave...

thank you everyone will keep posted on what it is or could be once I figure it out again any other suggestions does help