the nightmare never ends. please make it stop. please.

[cybillized]

so im still distraught over the conundrum that is my 1986 turbo z. still runs on 3 cylinders most of the time. doesnt want to get out of its own way until 2500 rpms. 4 alternators 2 power modules and 2 batteries and the car still wont charge. hooked up another external voltage regulator to patch up the charging issue. i gotta drive this car 40 miles everyday. not much down time for it. checked all the wiring. cant find any problems there.
original power module. had codes 16, 23 and 47. replaced alternator, can do with my eyes closed now. replaced air charge sensor and pigtail. replaced battery. then replaced power module. code 23 gone, still left with 16 and 47. did the tests on the module, alternator, had to recharge the battery because it was drained so bad. still giving me crap. but besides the charging issue, it seemed to run a bit better. changed out power module, under warranty anyway, still doesnt want to charge. now code 21 has presented itself,
sometimes in the morning, or if the car has been sitting for a while, when i start it it will run for a couple of seconds then die.thinking that is a fuel delivery problem. the car will run off of what is in the fuel rail then quits when the fuel runs out. hit the key the second time and it will start right up.
now with the external voltage regulator hooked up, it overcharges. i know it is probably the simplest thing to fix. but i have been dealing with it for so long that i think im making it more complicated than it really is. i have been all over the board reading old topics and trying to research the issues. but im spent, frustrated and ready to get rid of the curse, buy a transmission for my suburban and highjack a gas station so i can afford the gas for it.
if anyone has any suggestions please let me know. i cant afford to throw parts at it anylonger. thanx justin.

[Screamin4banger]

Suggestion # 1: take deep breath

Suggestion #2 : if you are going to replace the power module under warranty, I would think the thing to do would be put the wiring back to factory (get that ext. VR outta there) so you can eliminate the possibility of it being a botched job. The power module has the vr in it.

I don't really know your car. Is it stock?

[cybillized]

the external regulator didnt exsist until yesterday. i went to run some erands and the battery light came on, volt gauge was at 11. checked with a meter and the battery and alternator, car off and running, was floating around 11.7-11.9. so i couldnt take it any longer and just hooked the other regulator back up.
the car is completely stock. no upgrades or anything like that.
i have that first suggestion covered. i stop, take deep breaths until i get light headed and fall and hit my head on the ground. then i get back up and start working again.

[Screamin4banger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cybillized the external regulator didnt exsist until yesterday. i went to run some erands and the battery light came on, volt gauge was at 11. checked with a meter and the battery and alternator, car off and running, was floating around 11.7-11.9. so i couldnt take it any longer and just hooked the other regulator back up. the car is completely stock. no upgrades or anything like that. i have that first suggestion covered. i stop, take deep breaths until i get light headed and fall and hit my head on the ground. then i get back up and start working again.

That doesn't change the fact that the power module should be controlling the charge. It sounds like you bought a reman'd power module. So, i would be looking at the harness because 1- you know the alt can (over)charge. 2- the PM should have a good VR in it.
I'm just worried that however you hooked that VR up is going to fry the new PMs as fast as you can put them in. Whoever gave you a warranty on them is going to soon tell you to pound sand when you try to return it.
Get a wiring diagram if you don't already have one and make sure to put everything back correct and check for - breaks, shorts, whatever - and then put a good power module in it.

[turbokid]

time for some fsm's and start tracing wires.
The 3 cylinders part is not good either. I would check wires, plugs etc.
Not good to run a car with problems

[turbopac]

justin call me and i will help you, maybe sunday ?-sam

[cybillized]

ok. i had followed some directions that i found on here in regards to wiring up the external voltage regulator. what if i just delete the internal regulator completely? i have searched for problems with the wires. i never found anything major. some splits here and there, but i wrapped them. the only thing left to do to be 100% sure is rewire the charging system. im gonna need therapy after all this.
sam ill be here all day sunday. if you want to stop by your more than welcome. thanx.

[Screamin4banger]

Quote:

Originally Posted by cybillized im gonna need therapy after all this.

Refer to suggestion #1 - take a deep breath - its only a car.

[cybillized]

i know. its the only means of transportation that i have right now. so trying to fix it and use it kinda sux.

[Mystryguy]

your driving the car on 3 cyl? Thats a disaster waiting to happen.... check your cap/rotor then check the resistance on the plug wires .. and make sure all contacts are clean and wires are fully engaged in the cap.

[cybillized]

#4 cylinder doesnt like to do much until 2500 rpms. anything under that is a skip here and there. cap, rotor wires plugs- all new.