I have a 97 Z28 and have been having some electrical issues lately. After I start my car and put it into Drive everything seems fine, but then the power seems to cut out (the radio turns off, check gauges light flashes once, and the abs inop light comes on) for just a second, but then all of the electrical stuff works again. It is just a instantanious thing and the only side effect I notice is that the abs inop stays on. The volts drop pretty low while I am stoped and the car is in gear (about 12v). Sometimes while i am crusing the speedometer needle will jump up and down eraticly. If I turn my lights on the needles will jump and then go back to normal. I am thinking that itis a problem with a bad ground and this weekend I will searh for the problem. If you have any suggestions please give me your $.02. Thanks
Kyle

 

Kind of strange but it does sound like a loose connection somewheres, or a corroded wire. Of course you'd remove, clean, and tighten the battery terminals, take a close look at the wires when you do, try to pull the terminal off the wire. I think the ground cable from the batt goes to both frame rails, but I'm not sure on that. Check the alt to batt wire too, it seems like it's a little skimpy, esp if you have a system. There's a copper ribbon wire that's a ground from the driver's side head(at the ign coil) and it runs to the frame. I don't know where the PCM ground is off hand, but I'd track that down too. Swing by autozone or checker they can test your alt while it's still in the car, and wash the battery down with baking soda solution. That should get you started, keep us posted.

 

Thanks...any more ideas from people would be great...ttt

 

Dont you have an underdrive pulley?. If so is the altinator overdriven?

 

No, I never put it on.

 

I would check all the chasis grounds and check the positive wire going to the alt.

 

I cleaned all of the grounds and connections, and the problems are gone!