big problem with my xfire, please help
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 103
Likes: 0
From: Sacramento, California
Re: big problem with my xfire, please help
Hi Muskrat,
My experience with alternators is that when they fail they fail completely. The rectifier, regulator and alternator just all completely quit. I've never seen an intermittent bug in one of those units. Just DOA.
Hope all this helps.
Rick
My experience with alternators is that when they fail they fail completely. The rectifier, regulator and alternator just all completely quit. I've never seen an intermittent bug in one of those units. Just DOA.
Hope all this helps.
Rick
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 6,636
Likes: 776
From: Orange County CA.
Re: big problem with my xfire, please help
Just another thought from an old timer. In the old days, when you pulled the battery cable and the car kept running when the generater/alternater were good, the only thing drawing juice was the col to feed the points. Today there is a much bigger draw to feed the ECU, electronic dash instruments and God only knows what else.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,459
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From: Warner Robins, GA
Re: big problem with my xfire, please help
Originally Posted by buniqueXF
I'd like to thank everyone for there help.....I went out this morning and fired it up and decided that i'd put the old crankshaft sensor back in to see what would happen....thinking to myself maybe i got another bad one.....WRONG!!!....With the old one back in i fired it up and back out of the driveway it seemed to be running ok so i went around the block a few times and it seemed all good so i pulled out onto the main road and ran it through the gears alittle. I got to about 4th and all of a sudden it just stoped accelerating. I coasted back into the subdivision and eventually to a stop but the car was still idling????WTF!!! I hit the gas with the clutch in and nothing happened, hit it again still nothing, now i'm getting concerened that this car is about to go all Toyota on me. I turn it off and right back on and everything is back to normal and drive it home. Well being at the end of my rope I decide that i'll try the hole battery situation....So I took one of the extra optima yellow tops that I had in the garage and hooked it up.....GOD DAMNIT if it has been running like a champ for 75 miles without even a hiccup, no cel, no problems at all. All i gotta say is i'm sorry i didn't listen to you guys sooner......Thanks again to all that gave me a hand in this, and sorry for another long post. 
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 4,525
Likes: 29
From: Puerto Rico
Re: big problem with my xfire, please help
My Crossfire is, and has been problem free, but my 300C started acting weird and long story short, changed the battery and all fixed! Also I've lost numerous office computers without a UPS because of low voltage, have you? Being in a hurricane zone and having been without power several times for a week. I can tell you when it comes back it's not stable and will burn out your computer. Why would a car's computerized systems be different? If the supply is faulty the car will act strange. I wish it weren't the case but it is. I'm happy for you that it was just the battery.
Les
Les
Administrator / Senior Member / Retired
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 18,104
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From: Aurora , ILL
Re: big problem with my xfire, please help
Originally Posted by buniqueXF
I took one of the extra optima that I had in the garage and hooked it up.....GOD DAMNIT if it has been running like a champ for 75 miles without even a hiccup, no cel, no problems at all.
All i gotta say is i'm sorry i didn't listen to you guys sooner.
All i gotta say is i'm sorry i didn't listen to you guys sooner.
Been reading this kind of story here far to often and the battery seems to be the culprit most of the time.
That is why my 04 got a new once last spring before it went bad.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 14,607
Likes: 38
From: IN
Re: big problem with my xfire, please help
got to have juice to run.....with anything today...including the old Harley...everything has new batteries in my garage...and they all have maintainers on them now...which I use to never believe in...I do now...lol
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 33
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From: Victoria B.C.
Re: big problem with my xfire, please help
Today I was driving and my 2004 died. It was like the fuel pump was turned off. No explanation..... just died. After about a half hour the car started and again I was on my way. 10 minutes later it died again. Can this also be the battery or is it likely the fuel pump or some other problem. My 2004 has about 150,000 km so say $120,000 miles on the original battery.
Any thoughts? Comments?
Thanks
Kim
Any thoughts? Comments?
Thanks
Kim
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 25,432
Likes: 648
From: Ontario
Re: big problem with my xfire, please help
Originally Posted by Keimpe
Today I was driving and my 2004 died. It was like the fuel pump was turned off. No explanation..... just died. After about a half hour the car started and again I was on my way. 10 minutes later it died again. Can this also be the battery or is it likely the fuel pump or some other problem. My 2004 has about 150,000 km so say $120,000 miles on the original battery.
Any thoughts? Comments?
Thanks
Kim
Any thoughts? Comments?
Thanks
Kim
Does the car turn over without starting or does it appear to be totally dead?
Whatever the reason, get a new battery as that is a long time for a battery and it owes you nothing.
https://www.crossfireforum.org/forum...tml#post430634
Last edited by onehundred80; Nov 8, 2010 at 07:23 AM.
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Victoria B.C.
Re: big problem with my xfire, please help
Well the description fits my issue exactly. It only started happening at a critical time. The engine died at an idle just before my boarding a ferry. Missed the Ferry as a result. Also it happens now more frequently . Funny that it starts if I wait long enough. I will be replaciing the battery and examining the relay board for possible repairs.
Thank you for responding so quickly and completely.
Kim
Thank you for responding so quickly and completely.
Kim
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Victoria B.C.
Re: big problem with my xfire, please help
Hey Guys
I followed the instructions to the letter. Removed the relay and took it to an electrical engineer friend who has the where with all and know how to solder the connections. In any case he did a fantastic job. Even redid some others he thought were questionable. Long story short I was up and running and so pleased with myself for venturing into unknown territory.
Yesterday I was coming home and had to stop to pick up some groceries. The car would not start when I returned from the store. After waiting about ten minutes it started. The check engine light is on. I didnt dare drive the Xfire to work today and borrowed my wifes chariot.
I suppose it might be that sensor problem that seems similar?
I followed the instructions to the letter. Removed the relay and took it to an electrical engineer friend who has the where with all and know how to solder the connections. In any case he did a fantastic job. Even redid some others he thought were questionable. Long story short I was up and running and so pleased with myself for venturing into unknown territory.
Yesterday I was coming home and had to stop to pick up some groceries. The car would not start when I returned from the store. After waiting about ten minutes it started. The check engine light is on. I didnt dare drive the Xfire to work today and borrowed my wifes chariot.
I suppose it might be that sensor problem that seems similar?
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 482
Likes: 4
From: Arvada, CO
Re: big problem with my xfire, please help
Well, it depends.
If the engine is cranking over, but will not fire up, then it is most likely the Crankshaft Position Sensor. Possibly even the Camshaft Position sensor, but those fail on a much less frequent basis.
If the engine never cranks over at all, you just turn the key, and nothing happens, then its typically the Relay Control Module acting up. Just have your friend double check his handy work.
If the car acts weird while driving, then it might be the battery, like what was the original issue in this thread, I believe, or the one that sparked the debate.
As for the debate about alternator issues, one thing no one has mentioned as of yet:
In todays cars, there is logic in the ECM that can tell the alternator to activate an additional set of windings in order to produce more energy to recharge the battery quicker, and also to deactivate those winding, so that the car saves a bit of gasoline, since the engine doesn't have to work as hard to spin the alternator.
Its entirely possible that with a weak battery, the car doesn't have enough stable voltage, and the alternator isn't putting out enough juice to keep the car running reliably when fully warmed up when the ECM powers down the alternator.
BC.
If the engine is cranking over, but will not fire up, then it is most likely the Crankshaft Position Sensor. Possibly even the Camshaft Position sensor, but those fail on a much less frequent basis.
If the engine never cranks over at all, you just turn the key, and nothing happens, then its typically the Relay Control Module acting up. Just have your friend double check his handy work.
If the car acts weird while driving, then it might be the battery, like what was the original issue in this thread, I believe, or the one that sparked the debate.
As for the debate about alternator issues, one thing no one has mentioned as of yet:
In todays cars, there is logic in the ECM that can tell the alternator to activate an additional set of windings in order to produce more energy to recharge the battery quicker, and also to deactivate those winding, so that the car saves a bit of gasoline, since the engine doesn't have to work as hard to spin the alternator.
Its entirely possible that with a weak battery, the car doesn't have enough stable voltage, and the alternator isn't putting out enough juice to keep the car running reliably when fully warmed up when the ECM powers down the alternator.
BC.
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 25,432
Likes: 648
From: Ontario
Re: big problem with my xfire, please help
Originally Posted by Bladecutter
If the engine never cranks over at all, you just turn the key, and nothing happens, then its typically the Relay Control Module acting up. Just have your friend double check his handy work.
The car will not turn over if the starting system is at fault somewhere or the electronic throttle control (ETC) is faulty, in which case the starter is made in operative presumably so the car does not start at full throttle.
Its entirely possible that with a weak battery, the car doesn't have enough stable voltage, and the alternator isn't putting out enough juice to keep the car running reliably when fully warmed up when the ECM powers down the alternator.
If there is a weak battery the alternator will supply current, there will possibly be a dimming of the lights.
The alternator is there to supply power as needed, it does not take a rest when it or the car gets warm.
The alternator is self regulating as long as it is working properly. It supplies power to the battery and the dash panel light if something is wrong.
Correct me if I'm wrong but that's my thinking on the subject.
Last edited by onehundred80; Nov 17, 2010 at 02:01 PM.
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Victoria B.C.
Re: big problem with my xfire, please help
Hi
There is more than enough juice in the battery.
When I turn the key the engine turns over like a top.
Just does not want to start.
I have every confidence in the work done on the relay as each solder looks totally solid shiney and as they should be.
So when I go to start. The engine does turn over well. No light dimming no oddities with electronbics. Just no start.
Keimpe
There is more than enough juice in the battery.
When I turn the key the engine turns over like a top.
Just does not want to start.
I have every confidence in the work done on the relay as each solder looks totally solid shiney and as they should be.
So when I go to start. The engine does turn over well. No light dimming no oddities with electronbics. Just no start.
Keimpe
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