Experiencing electrical failure - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

Shinto · 09-12-2008

Last night I was on my way home and the "Service ABS" light came on followed a minute later by another about the SRS, then the SES light a few seconds later. I raced into the nearest parking lot and shut down. It wouldn't restart. I had to have my wife come out with the jumper cables and jump start it. It ran fine for about 2 miles and everything started happening again, this time I lost my headlights and dash lights and the engine began cutting out before shutting it down and jumping it again for a good 20 minutes. I started the car and ran as fast as I could and got it about a block from home before everything went dead shortly before the engine died and I had to bring to the side of the road dead stick. (Ironically I went right past a Sheriff's deputy at 45 mph in a 25 with no lights on to save power and he didn't seem to care...)

Strangely, the battery light never came on.

I highly suspect the alternator is dead and the engine was running off the battery until it ran out of juice. Anyone else experience this? Any other alternatives? Somehow, I'm not convinced its the ECM.

Also, I saw either here or another forum some time ago where someone came up with a method of swapping in a much cheaper L-98 or LT-1 alternator. Can someone point me in the right direction here?

Shinto · 09-12-2008

Just a quick follow up -- After charging the battery for a few hours now, voltage at the battery terminals is 12.27V with the engine running and 12.54V with the engine off. This seems to confirm my suspicion that the alternator isn't working and the engine is running off the battery. So how do you get to the alternator?

tccrab · 09-12-2008

Looks like you've got a plenum pull in your immediate future.
I've got extra gaskets & the right tools.
I'm up in Folsom, drop me a call if you'd like some help.

TomC
'90ZR1 #792

GOLDCYLON · 09-12-2008

Well im not sure about a plenum pull but I do know the Air cleaner unit and Air Horn and S-belt need to be removed. Are you sure TC I defer to you since I have never done the alternator job before but I sure gave that area a good look a couple of weeks ago when I did the Water pump

Sgreg · 09-12-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by GOLDCYLON

Well im not sure about a plenum pull but I do know the Air cleaner unit and Air Horn and S-belt need to be removed. Are you sure TC I defer to you since I have never done the alternator job before but I sure gave that area a good look a couple of weeks ago when I did the Water pump

Can be done without a plenum pull. Goldcylon has the right idea.

GOLDCYLON · 09-12-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sgreg

Can be done without a plenum pull. Goldcylon has the right idea.

Greg batten down the hatches bro its looking bad!!!!!!! Tell Ike to go Away Tinas not home !!!

tccrab · 09-12-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sgreg

Can be done without a plenum pull. Goldcylon has the right idea.

Thanks guys, good information.
Saves lots of time.
I wasn't sure if the plenum had to come off or not. It didn't look like there was enough room to wiggle it out from under there without lifting off the plenum. It's been a couple of years since I've been under the plenum (thank gosh).

TomC

Shinto · 09-13-2008

I put an oscilloscope on the alternator output while the car is running. There is a small noise component present, but it nearly didn't register. No DC and negligible AC signal.

Every place I've looked it seems to be special order (not a huge surprise, but still annoying). I called around the dealerships and one thinks he can have it today... Of course the price is considerably higher than a rebuilt ($250+tax and $18 core), but on the flip side, its new and I can have it today (maybe). BTW, the parts guy said that the part has been discontinued by GM, but there are about 14 left in the various zone warehouses.

Greg: That's the best news to come out of this whole episode. I really didn't want to get that far into the motor without replacing coils and injectors, but of course can't afford to do either right now.

Pete: That's the best price I've seen so far. Unfortunately, this is my daily driver and I need the part asap.

Tom: I'll give you a call as soon as I can procure the part. I may (or may not) have all the tools needed, but haven't dug this far into the engine before and don't have anything more than a generic Haynes manual. All my books on the ZR-1 and the LT-5 are in storage, so I don't even have a decent cutaway or exploded diagram. Your first hand knowledge could save me lots of time.

09-12-2008	#1
Shinto Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 16	Experiencing electrical failure Last night I was on my way home and the "Service ABS" light came on followed a minute later by another about the SRS, then the SES light a few seconds later. I raced into the nearest parking lot and shut down. It wouldn't restart. I had to have my wife come out with the jumper cables and jump start it. It ran fine for about 2 miles and everything started happening again, this time I lost my headlights and dash lights and the engine began cutting out before shutting it down and jumping it again for a good 20 minutes. I started the car and ran as fast as I could and got it about a block from home before everything went dead shortly before the engine died and I had to bring to the side of the road dead stick. (Ironically I went right past a Sheriff's deputy at 45 mph in a 25 with no lights on to save power and he didn't seem to care...) Strangely, the battery light never came on. I highly suspect the alternator is dead and the engine was running off the battery until it ran out of juice. Anyone else experience this? Any other alternatives? Somehow, I'm not convinced its the ECM. Also, I saw either here or another forum some time ago where someone came up with a method of swapping in a much cheaper L-98 or LT-1 alternator. Can someone point me in the right direction here? __________________ 1991 ZR-1 #1926 Black/Black, Borla Exhaust w/ X-pipe

09-12-2008	#2
Shinto Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 16	Re: Experiencing electrical failure Just a quick follow up -- After charging the battery for a few hours now, voltage at the battery terminals is 12.27V with the engine running and 12.54V with the engine off. This seems to confirm my suspicion that the alternator isn't working and the engine is running off the battery. So how do you get to the alternator? __________________ 1991 ZR-1 #1926 Black/Black, Borla Exhaust w/ X-pipe

09-12-2008	#3
tccrab Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Folsom CA Posts: 1,655	Re: Experiencing electrical failure Looks like you've got a plenum pull in your immediate future. I've got extra gaskets & the right tools. I'm up in Folsom, drop me a call if you'd like some help. TomC '90ZR1 #792 __________________ TomC '90ZR1 #792 Honorary Pirate [B]If it ain't FUN, you're doing something terribly WRONG. [/B]

09-12-2008	#4
GOLDCYLON Join Date: May 2007 Location: Peoria, AZ Posts: 9,155	Re: Experiencing electrical failure Well im not sure about a plenum pull but I do know the Air cleaner unit and Air Horn and S-belt need to be removed. Are you sure TC I defer to you since I have never done the alternator job before but I sure gave that area a good look a couple of weeks ago when I did the Water pump __________________ GOLDCYLON - 91 ZR-1 #2014 GOLDCYLON - 90 ZR-1 #2794, 4L60e (Formerly Schrade's) GOLDCYLON - 11 CTS-V Arizona State Director 91 WHITE/BLACK #2014. 380 P&P&PCed,Ported Heads, Jeal Long tubes, Corsa Exhaust/FIKSE FM-5s /LED TLs, LED Headlights, Front Wilwood 6 piston narrowlite calipers and rear Wilwood caliper street shop mod,CNCed Coolant Pipes,TPI Cvr,Filter cover,Stainless Bolts, DRM/DOM PROM /ZFDOC mod build #102,DRLs,BMAD with stainless Debris Screen,Coplan Air Blaster, Pioneer APP Radio 4,Brey-Krause HB,Sub Bar,Fire extinguisher seat mount,DRM Coilovers,LEDs everywhere,Compass mirror (orange),V1 DIC hidden display, Homelink sun visor, Carbon Fiber top x3 and APSIS Carbon Fiber interior, APSIS CF Steering Wheel/NAPA Leather, Banski trailing arms, Guldstrand front suspension,urethane bushings from Prothane (total suspension) ZFDoc drive shaft safety loop, raptor shift light (orange),AO engineering louver front plate, Console seat cushion, 96CE seats with black custom Sheepskins, ss billet catch can,Viper remote entry/alarm,Cragar Rear Louvers,LED side louver lights, Dewitts Radiator with SPAL fans and a Woods 160 T-Stat 90 RED/BLACK #2794. 4L60e Automatic Stage V by RPM Transmission, TCI Dedicated TCM, OBX Stainless Headers, Corsa Exhaust, SAN Secondaries and Haibeck PROM, Exotic Muscle Coil overs, LED Interior Lights, LED Tail Lights, LED Headlights, 94 Sport seats with black custom Sheepskins , Cragar rear louvers, GS Front calipers, Banski Trailing arms, APSIS Carbon Fiber steering wheel, Front and Rear Baer Eradispeeds, DRLs, Guldstrand front suspension,urethane bushings from Prothane (total suspension), Dewitt's Raditor with Dual SPAL fans and a Haibeck 170 T-Stat 11 RED/GREY CTS-V

09-13-2008	#8
Shinto Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 16	Re: Experiencing electrical failure I put an oscilloscope on the alternator output while the car is running. There is a small noise component present, but it nearly didn't register. No DC and negligible AC signal. Every place I've looked it seems to be special order (not a huge surprise, but still annoying). I called around the dealerships and one thinks he can have it today... Of course the price is considerably higher than a rebuilt ($250+tax and $18 core), but on the flip side, its new and I can have it today (maybe). BTW, the parts guy said that the part has been discontinued by GM, but there are about 14 left in the various zone warehouses. Greg: That's the best news to come out of this whole episode. I really didn't want to get that far into the motor without replacing coils and injectors, but of course can't afford to do either right now. Pete: That's the best price I've seen so far. Unfortunately, this is my daily driver and I need the part asap. Tom: I'll give you a call as soon as I can procure the part. I may (or may not) have all the tools needed, but haven't dug this far into the engine before and don't have anything more than a generic Haynes manual. All my books on the ZR-1 and the LT-5 are in storage, so I don't even have a decent cutaway or exploded diagram. Your first hand knowledge could save me lots of time. __________________ 1991 ZR-1 #1926 Black/Black, Borla Exhaust w/ X-pipe