Trying to locate any place where there might be bad wires or something blown...



Don't need to read this, but this is my issue...

Having problem with Car...
1. Stereo has a couple times randomly just gone out. Then comes back on. Also shifter-light went out. And cigarettelighters fuse blew.
2. Engine shuts off while driving--seems to be just when not giving it any or much gas, like coasting--and if it keeps coasting, sometimes will just come back on.
3. Sometimes engine will not start from park--related to engine shutting off, it is the same. Engine turns and turns, but will not start. Then it will just start, sometimes in 1 minute, sometimes only if I leave it for 30 minutes. I can't tell when. In any case, when the car starts it runs like a dream.
4. Battery recently went completely dead. Hook up to another car battery, starts right away. Charged it at Walmart. Was good, and I was runnign it, but the engine just stopped again, the way it does, and tried to start it, but the battery went empty very vast. This battery thing is a new problem, cause the not-starting/stalling thing went on for a while before there was any battery issue.

So far...
1. Battery good, juice to alternator terminal stud, tested with volt-meter. Load-tested battery and alternator. Both are within specs.
2. Considering wiring problem. In addition to maybe fuel pump/filter problem...
3. Don't know much about engines but what I'm saying as I go along.

 

Any CEL codes?

 

that sounds more like an alternator issue to me do you have an excessive stereo system or alarm or something along those lines that would draw unneccesary power

 

No, but I think stereo I have is hooked up wrong. Came that way from the previous owner. Makes a buzzing-whining noise. Could that cause my engine to stop randomly though? I often just keep the faceplate off, actually.

For specs, I was thinking to find a place where those common electrical lines might connect, and see if I can locate a bad wire or fuse. As you can see, I'm totally just trying to sherlock it out, not knowing too much mechanics.

 

a bad alternator would do this or a failing ground i would pull alternator off and have it tested make sure its connected properly and then start checking the grounds on everything when you replaced battery did you replace the terminals... i might be using the wrong word and excuse my brain fart but im referring to the metal circles that go onto the battery.... if the connection to the battery fails it would explain your issue next time you cant get it to start pop hood and wiggle battery cables and see if that fixes it

 

Today I load-tested my alternator and my battery. Both are within specs.
Checking the grounds? What does that mean, exactly. How would I do that?

 

all of your ground wires make sure they are tight

 

So, I have taken it to the shop. My battery was finished. They put one of theirs in and drove it around. They said my stereo was drawing 7 Volts when the car was off. (But I doubt that, cause my battery would have been dead much sooner. They were pretty hopeless mechanics anyways, and totally overcharged me for doing no real work. Also charged me to test the battery twice, the first time telling me it was fine.) However, they were sure they had solved the problem. ...the stereo is unhooked since then, though
Anyway, so NEW BATTERY. Seemed to be fine. But within 24 hours it didn't start , just like before. Battery will crank the starter for as long as you like, but it will not turn over. Leave it, though, and sometime, maybe 2 minutes, maybe 30. It will start just fine. No telling when. It has continued to do this, and basically does it almost every time I go somewhere. Either doesn't start, or just shuts itself off while driving.
I am totally stumped, and very frustrated, because I would fix it, but I can't find what to fix. And the mechanics (at a the original shop and also at another shop) say they can't really do anything with it. Just wait for it to happen, then look at it. But what is there to see?

 

you have a parasitic leak.... something is wired to a constant hot and pulling power all the time which is draining your battery... the colder it guess the more starting issues your gunna have you need to find out what is drawing power in the car while its off something is definately wired wrong... had a similiar issue in my friends mazda when the car was off his stereo stayed on because he had it wired to a hot wire straight to the battery(idk which idiot shop installed that) just remember just because the face plate is off doesnt mean the stereo isnt pulling power

 

id still be cautious though if the leak is just small the alternator should prolong the amount of time the battery will be able to turn car over i would still consider replacing yours