Tired of being Robbed!

[nocarexp]

Help! I have been being robbed for the entire year I have owned my car... Problem: My 95 PA has a intermitted drain on the battery.. i.e., sometimes the car runs with no problem, then suddenly, the voltage meter begins dropping!! Sometimes it rises back up, sometimes it doesnt, sometimes it just keeps bouncing between 9-14 volts!! when I park it, the voltage meter bounces accompanied by a Very Audible 'Click' with each bounce... The 'Click' is coming from in or around the engine, in front of the drivers side under the hood. I have replace the EGR, Idle Air Control, new battery/alternator, Fuel injection modulator, Spark plugs/wires... Does anyone have another idea on what could be doing this? I believe if I find the source of the 'Click', I'll solve the problem!!! Please help, noone i've been to has a CLUE!!!

 

[Daconiam]

I would say it is the alternator (voltage regulator in the alternator). I believe they can be check for free at Pep Boys/Autozone etc...

Regardless of the electrical load, the voltage should remain fairly constant (the job of the voltage regulator in the alternator).

 

[HotZ28]

Here is how the 94-95 charging system works. The PCM monitors battery voltage, and when voltage drops to a predetermined level (usually 12.5v) the PCM grounds the regulator to allow charging to take place. With the engine running, voltage should never drop below 12.5v and will normally charge at about 13.2v with a fully charged battery. If the battery voltage is lower than 12.67v (full charge) the alternator output could go as high as 14v-15v depending on how low the battery charge is. I know you replaced the alternator, but was it the right one for this application? If so, you may have a bad quad driver in the PCM, which would require replacing the PCM. 94-95 PCM's are known to be failure prone. See schematic below for details.

 

[dcraig1000]

why would you replace all of those parts before checking or replacing the starting/charging components?

 

[UltraMartyr]

why would you replace all of those parts before checking or replacing the starting/charging components?

It may be that he didn't replace those components one at a time thinking they may have been the culprit, but rather that he was simply enlightening us on recent work done, helping us eliminate possible culprits of the "clicking." After all it is a 95 PA, and probably needed that work done anyways.

His name is "nocarexp" and from that, I can infer that he does not think of himself as an expert. He obviously replaced the battery and alternator which is the first place to go with an issue like this, the other components he replaced are reasonable and as I stated before, probably in need. He is here because he has hit a wall, and needs some help, not criticism.😉

I wish I could be of some help, but I'm a novice.

 

[dcraig1000]

its not criticism. its a question. if he replaced something for a different problem then it would have been nice to know what that problem is/was. help is what everyone is here for, but the op has to give a little more info, thats all.

 

[Enslow]

I agree, it was not criticism. It was my thought that he was duped into changing those things by a garage mechanic. There's a real difference between the Shade Tree Mechanic and the Shady Tree Mechanic. 😉

 

[nocarexp]

...thought I had placed a post in yesterday, but I havent seen it, so here we go again... I replaced the other components one at a time in an attempt to stop the problem described in the original thread... HotZ28 may have the solution with the replacement of the PCM.... I also havent changed the throttle control sensor...? I dont feel criticized by the questions, I followed the advice of my Mechanic (who also happens to work at Advance Auto Parts) and helpful virtual mechanics online. I may not know much about motor vehicles, but I am very conversant in Computer Science, lol! Anyway, thank you all for responding. The car had sat under a tree for about 2 years before I bought it.. (I hear every body going "Ahhh, no wonder!" lol!) and the intial problem has persisted through all the changes and upgrades.... additionally, I have had the engine rebuilt, A 34,000 mile salvaged tranny put it, new fuel filter, new fuel injection modulator, wires/hoses. Everything has been recently checked again for defects and/or faulty installation. I used Oreilly's and autozone's free services as well as Advances... I know this is chatty, but I want everyone to feel comfortable that I told them everything... Thanks All! 😱