Jump to content
SAU Community

Recommended Posts

Hi guys got myself into mischief today.

So the story goes my R33 gtst sat for a month and a half while I went on holidays and then installed a new front mount intercooler.

I tried to start it today after finishing of the install but the car wouldn't start. It just made a one solid click noise when I turned the key. I asked my mate to come around and jump it for me assuming the battery had just gone flat.

When we tried to jump it nothing happened and the positive terminal on my battery started to glow red! I was like what the hell? so we disconnected the leads and noticed smoke coming from under my bonnet. When I looked under the bonnet I noticed a small flame coming out of the alternator.

A cheeky spray of the fire extinguisher and we tried jumping it again and it started, however it was idling crap and kept running out of juice. While it was idling I noticed the battery light was staying on and my audio was not working (suspected I have blown a fuse there while jumping it).

So do you guys reckon it would have just been the alternator flogged out (I'm picking up a brand new one tomorrow) or is there something else to look for?

Cheers guys!

(PS: the alternator was making a quiet grinding noise once started)

Link to comment
https://www.sau.com.au/forums/topic/428824-alternator-problems/
Share on other sites

How did it sound when it did turn over? Did it spin over quickly or was it slowly? It sounds like the starter is cactus, drawing a too many amps causing the terminal to glow, or possibly the motor was hydraulically locked? Was the negative jumper lead on your car connected to the negative terminal on your battery or to an earth on the motor? Also, ensure you check all fusible links, fuses and wiring.

Sounds like the altenator wasnt the original problem but it may be an issue now. Got a multimeter?

Start the car and check the voltage and report back.

battery terminal glowing red is not good. Is there any voltage at all out of the battery? If it is not a sealed battery check the fluid levels. If one or more look like they have no liquid in them then it might be a battery issue.

I placed the negative on the bolt holding the strut brace in.

So I replaced the alternator today with a brand new Bosch unit then jump started it. Worked straight away then I gave it some revs till the battery light disappeared, took it for a drive and it was nice and crisp. Until the engine warmed up and it started to surge.

Tried to baby it home but the surging got so bad it was trying to stall in first gear with foot flat to the floor with a lot of jerking. Car stalled on the side of the road and would not start, made the same one click noise and nothing :(

Got it towed home and I have parked it up and trying to forget it exists haha.

So any ideas on what the problem could be? Might tackle all the fuses tomorrow.

I also noticed that while it was surging like a champ the airbag light was flickering on my dash? Wtf?

Replaced all the fuses and put a new battery in today and the car is fixed :D drove it for 3hours straight without a hiccup.

Thanks guys great help. Never new putting a fmic on would give me this much headache haha and be such a simple problem to fix :S.

I think I was thinking to much into it.

  • 2 months later...

When I had probs with battery in my R33 GTST

I jumped it with only a 400a starter kit if you

jump start do it from terminals in engine bay on right side

of car front terminal positive ( there are 2 positive terminals )

Negative on earth strut at back of box this will give you direct feed

to the starter motor for maximum current when starting

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Similar Content

  • Latest Posts

    • GTSBoy on your suggestion on another thread I had a look at those injectors and ended up getting them because of the quality.  Got the expensive ones.  
    • Hey guys been looking everywhere to try and find the correct gtr hood latch support part number but only found the first half and when I search with that number it sends me to an r34. The first part I found was 62515. If anyone could help me with the rest then I’d really appreciate it. Or if there’s some alternative hood latch support that would work even better cause I can’t find any for sale. (Searched on upgarage, partsouq,buyee,rhdjapan) 
    • If you've only done the upper control arms on the rear, AND you have changed their length (by more than about 1mm) to set the camber you want, then you will definitely need/want to install traction arms also. Adjusting the camber arms on their own WILL introduce bump steer and make the car unpleasant to drive. Most owners have no idea that their car could behave infinitely better than what they put up with. I'm not entirely sure what the Stageas need, but I am thinking that unless you have massive front spring rates and pretty soft rear springs, you have waaaay too much rear bar. Oversteer city, in my estimation. Combined with possible excessive bump steer from maladjusted arms, that could be a recipe for nastiness. ATR43SS2 is not a highflow. It is an outright replacement turbo. It's a little bit bigger than the largest highflow profile that Tao does. Probably a solid 300rwkW turbo where the bigger highflows will be about 30-40rwkW less. Nevertheless, we're only talking about ~300 rwkW, which is well within the abilities of the stock ECu to run with a Nistune on board. I would do so without hesitation - and I will be doing so when I get my finger out and actually get the injectors and AFM installed. But, if you would prefer to drop a whole lot more money on the ECU side, then I suspect you're looking at Haltech. The Haltech fanbois here will all spout on about all the available engine protection you can have, that you can't have with the Nistune option. And they're right. But it doesn't really come for free either. You will spend more money on extra sensors and the like, plus the work to install them. If the engine was built and therefore represented a big investment to protect, then I'd say definitely do it. If you view the current (and forever into the future) shortage of replacement engines as something to prompt similar protection, then also, do it. If you see a destroyed RB25 as an opportunity to put in a Mercedes or other V12 (like I kinda do)... then your perception of the risk/reward might differ. These are good injectors. You can also get a "better" set of the same with more flow matching, for more $$. 1000cc is where you will want to be. You will need an R35 AFM and adapter tube if you want to stay with Nistuned stock ECU. Otherwise, if going Haltech, you can ignore. As for intercooler. Just about anything will do. You're only talking about ~300rwkW. Just put a big core in there. Be aware that return flows do add significant pressure drop and will cost power and will make the turbo work harder to achieve the same goals. If you can manage a proper crossflow, do it. I'm keeping my very good return flow because I'm only expecting to be in the ~250rwkW range, and will live with whatever outcome I get.
    • I have a heap that i have collected if you want some authentic ones still. Pm me if your interested!
×
×
  • Create New...