Car won't stay running

**408WS6** · 11-14-2006, 05:28 AM

I am having trouble with my car starting and staying started. It will fire-up just fine, then run for 10 seconds or so, then the tach and speedometer needles will start going crazy, then die. My battery needs recharging everytime I do this. Is this a bad alternator? I would have thought it would have run longer than just a few seconds on a bad alternator.

I had the center console out and was installing a shifter before this happened. I thought maybe I misplaced a wire, but I checked and all wires and everything appeared ok.

An electrical problem no doubt, but the only thing I can really come up with is the alternator is bad.

Any ideas? Help!!!!

**SSpdDmon** · 11-14-2006, 10:04 AM

Check all grounds. If a ground wire is loose or corroded, it'll cause those kinds of issues.

**Steve Crowe** · 11-14-2006, 01:25 PM

then the tach and speedometer needles will start going crazy

Classic sign of a failing alternator. The gauges go crazy because it's throwing a ton of noise into the electrical system.

**408WS6** · 11-14-2006, 03:42 PM

I will try all of the above. Thanks!

BadBlueBird* · 11-14-2006, 03:48 PM

Originally Posted by Steve Crowe

Classic sign of a failing alternator. The gauges go crazy because it's throwing a ton of noise into the electrical system.

first thing I thought of as well

**408WS6** · 11-14-2006, 06:54 PM

Hey guys, I found the problem. It was one of the wires going to the O2 sensor and it was grounding itself out on the header. I didn't get my wiring harness tucked in very well when I change out my convertor. Thats what I get for being sloppy I guess. Works great now. Thanks for all the help.