Help Diagnosis needed

[viperrmike]

I have a 97 GTS With Roe over the last couple weeks I have had it die several times. It would start fine at first. I would be driving and would just die when i started to cross intersection after 10 min time? I'd get it jumped and would start and run for a bit. Thought bad battery? Took back to store and had low amps replaced under warranty. Drove it again and it did it again? Thought bad alternator? Took it out and took to Advanced Auto Parts, tested was bad got replaced, installed, and it died again? This time I let it sit for like 10 min, it would start and run for 5 min. Limped it home, sitting in garage. Thinking bad fuel filter? loose electrical somewhere? Bad CPU? Any other ideas? Now I have till spring to get it figured out so no big hurry. I enjoy the challenge of trying to do as much myself as i can safely, but may need to take in if no ideas. Any help appreciated.

 

[Jack B]

Buy an inexpensive OBDII scan tool and see what the error code is.

 

[DrumrBoy]

Good advice on the OBDII reader....inexpensive ones can be had for less than $50 bucks and its great to now what the codes are. I can almost feel the issue you're describing; it's happened to me on another car. In that case it was a ground wire FWIW.

Some other thoughts (but no answers unfortunately); if the fuel filter is clogged, the car may run but when you drop the hammer, it'll sputter and go lean. That doesn't sound like your issue since it dies even when you're not at WOT.

PCM's don't go bad often.

The fact that your battery was low and that when replaced, your alternator tested bad.... suggests that something ain't right in the charging/storage system (I'm a genius, I know ;-). I have had an alternator go bad (again not in the Viper) and traded the bad one in on a new-in-box one from a local parts store and had the new one been bad also. Of course, I found that out AFTER I installed it to no avail. Sounds like a one in a million chance of that happening but apparently its more like one in 2000 or something. If you have the energy, check the new alternator's output or take it out and have it tested......at least then you'll know its good.

 

[SNKEBIT]

I would say a bad connection somewhere. Maybe a bad ground.

 

[NI-KA]

The bad old alternator could have cooked the new battery.

 

[aloushi]

had similar problems with other cars, might wanna try tps (throttle position sensor) if you get it from advanced and it's not the problem just return it in new condition for a full refund

 

[uvbnbit]

re-set PCM after battery replaced? could it be an issue with the VEC (assuming that's what you have)? cam/crank sensor?

 

[viperrmike]

I have OBD II no error codes on it I checked?

 

[MTGTS]

fuel pump?

 

[viperrmike]

I had battery tender on and went out and battery dead? Probable bad battery? Will take out battery and alternator to get both checked. Keep you informed.

 

[Red Snake]

fuel pump?

This would be my guess. Are you still running the stock pump with a BAP?

 

[viperrmike]

yes and have voltage pump booster from Roe

 

[DrumrBoy]

I had battery tender on and went out and battery dead? Probable bad battery? Will take out battery and alternator to get both checked. Keep you informed.

That's definitely a bad battery....Tender will always charge a battery that's not compromised. You still have to figure out what made the battery go bad, did it have a flaky cell when you bought it (this was the new one right) did an unusual load/short kill it quickly and corrupt a cell?

 

[viperrmike]

I took battery out dead replaced at Sears, would not take a charge. Took out alternator, bad, getting replaced .
going to take in for electical check will let you know what it turns up. Probably next week?

Thanks

 

[viperrmike]

follow-up, was bad computer for superchatger and CPU took 11 months to get fixxed now running again need to get cards loaded to VEC-2, but back on road.

 

[speedracervr4]

Geez, 11 months!!That *****, glad you got it fixed though.

 

[EllowViper]

follow-up, was bad computer for superchatger and CPU took 11 months to get fixxed now running again need to get cards loaded to VEC-2, but back on road.

Its early and I haven't had my gallon of coffee yet...but that has to be one of the most confusing posts I've seen. I take it the VEC fried a card since by definition, that is the only 'computer for the supercharger?' My VEC did very similar things but only under boost...so instead of chasing gremlins, I opted for the SCT and 2-bar MAP. No more VEC for me.

 

[mrbob]

mrbob here get a hold of me , check your pm's iam in town , can help with vec