Ok,, I know this discussion has come up all the time but I 've done a search through and done some reading on some previous posts and my problem sounds similar to some others. Anyways was driving my car yesterday and first the ASR light and ABS inop light came on. Parked for a while came back drove the car and now it's running like crap sputtering at low rpm range and today low trac light comes on and still runs rough. My only guesses at this point is maybe opti, alternator going bad or short somewhere. Anyone ever experience same sort of junk on their camaro? Any advice is appreciated. I've checked the mass air,,it's clean. Battery terminals are clean as well. Thanks.

 

Your assumption is probably correct about an electrical problem. If you are suffering a brown out, anything could happen. The first critical point is to be sure the battery is good. By that I mean, it accepts a charge and can carry a load. Once that's done, check to be sure the alternator is putting out by measuring accross the battery while the engine is running with a DC voltmeter. It should show around 14 volts. If it's still no good, be sure to check the positive cluster, the grounds near that and the ground on the frame and the engine to be sure they are clean and shiney. If it's still low, the alternator needs replacing.

If all that is good, be sure to put the meter on AC volts and check from the negative battery terminal to the alternator output post and be sure to measure .03VAC or less. Any higher is an indication the diodes are bad. If they leak AC on the dc line, the ECM could have fits.


good luck
Dave