Mk1 1.4i losing power

[Scatman]

My car had a wierd problem not too long ago...
I tried to start the car, and nothing, dead, not even the interior light was working. Got the Pajero around and threw the jumpers on the cars' batteries. Still dead after 5 minutes... Then the battery starts to get some life, and within like 3 minutes it was fully charged. Tried swinging the engine, and it wouldn't fire up, just swings.

So I noticed that the cluster lights weren't coming on when I switched the park lights on... So this got me thinking that there must be a fuse or something that's gone, and I checked every single fuse in the fuse box. All fine, except for the rear window demister, so I replaced it...

Then i remembered the two big-ass fuses that sit next to the battery, 50A and 80A fuses. I pulled the 50A fuse out, and checked it, it was fine. When i put it back though, the car's alarm went off, and the doors tried to lock themselves (luckily I had the drivers' side door open). So I cleaned the fuse's terminals with some rough sanding paper, and put the 50A fuse back in. Drove around for about 30mins to get the battery fully charged again, and then the car started spluttering, and idled erratically, and eventually died, with me stranded about 2km's from home...

Pulled the fuse out again, and bent the contacts in opposite directions (sort of like a person doing a split). Car has been running fine for the past month now, but I think I need to clamp the 50A & 80A fuse-holders a bit near the battery so they will make better contact with the fuses?

I've noticed that my friend's citi (2004) does not have these two big fuses next to his battery? Where are his' situated then?

[Phat B - WP]

This morning there's a whining sound coming from somewhere in front of the car, either the dash or engine bay. It gets louder the faster you drive. Played with the lights and it went away. Played with the lights again and the sound came back. Decided to leave the lights off and there was no more noise.

[panic-mechanic]

Alternators do that.........

[Phat B - WP]

Alternators do that.........

Thanks panic, I'll look into that.

But this is getting a bit much, seems like everything is breaking at the same time.

[panic-mechanic]

What you going to look into?. Every alternator on every car will whine when you draw extra current from it(like when you switch your lights on). Specially if your battery is a bit low or on it's way out. It's quite normal.

[Phat B - WP]

What you going to look into?. Every alternator on every car will whine when you draw extra current from it(like when you switch your lights on). Specially if your battery is a bit low or on it's way out. It's quite normal.

It's an abnormal sound, it hasn't happened before either. Sounds like I'm running a turbo or super charger. Plus the clock was again reset to 00:00 and the water temp light came on sporadically. Add this to what happened yesterday, this is anything but normal!

[panic-mechanic]

OK I'll go s l o w l y see if you can keep up. IF you have a bad battery or if you have an electrical problem which places a huge load on your car the alternator will make up for it. To do that it draws a much bigger current and thus it will be whining. SO what the alternator is doing is normal. What is cuasing it isn't So don't fix the alternator - that is simply doing it's job. Find the other buggerup (bad battery, bad earth, bad connection at a fuse junction etc.etc.)

[Phat B - WP]

OK I'll go s l o w l y see if you can keep up. IF you have a bad battery or if you have an electrical problem which places a huge load on your car the alternator will make up for it. To do that it draws a much bigger current and thus it will be whining. SO what the alternator is doing is normal. What is cuasing it isn't So don't fix the alternator - that is simply doing it's job. Find the other buggerup (bad battery, bad earth, bad connection at a fuse junction etc.etc.)

Why do you have to be such a wise ass? You could've said that to start off with. If I knew everything about cars I wouldn't have asked for help on a forum. Geez Louise!

[panic-mechanic]

Why do you have to be such a wise ass

I basically did answer it - you just didn't get it.

See I told you this....

What you going to look into?. Every alternator on every car will whine when you draw extra current from it(like when you switch your lights on). Specially if your battery is a bit low or on it's way out. It's quite normal.

[4ePikanini]

I would change the coil just for incase.

+1

[FARAD78]

Hi Im having a similar issue. i have an 1.4i 05 model. She just loses power and comes back to normal after few seconds, have to idea whats going on, Ive changed the main pump and still doing samething. Any suggestions???