[Shotimes] electrical flicker

[George Fourchy]

On Sat, 16 Aug 2003 22:41:59 -0700, Kirk \(remote location\) wrote:

>OK im ready to depart Tulsa and My Plus starts to flicker tht lights, and
>wanted to install. Performed the wiggle test on everthing under the hood and
>it turned up nothing. it acts like the key is being turned on and off, but
>barely for a second then it will flicker on and off then be ok for a bit.

A bit hard to understand here....the headlights flicker sometimes while turned on,
and the whole car will intermittently quit once in a while, but pick right back up?

To me, that sounds like two different things.  The engine quitting and picking up
sounds like a bad connection at either the battery or the power and/or ground leads
to the PCM.  There is a small single wire coming off the positive terminal of the
battery, which goes directly to the PCM.  If this isn't getting constant power, the
PCM will not function, the fuel pump will quit, or not start, and the CE light will
be dimmer than the antilock brake light with the key on and engine off (THIS is the
big clue as to the problem...no power to the PCM).  That was my problem with the
Plus from Hell.  The final fix for it was a new positive battery terminal connector
to the positive cable, and making sure the PCM power lead was securely connected to
it.  The ground for the PCM can also cause problems...it goes to the fender directly
behind the battery.

The light problem sounds like a bad connection somewhere in the lighting circuit. 
Do they flicker at exactly the same time as the engine quits?  If so, that is
something significant, and will require the use of an Electrical-Vacuum
Troubleshooting Manual, and/or a wiring diagram, to determine which hot wires are
common both to the lights and the primary ignition/PCM circuitry.   As long as the
alternator is putting out good current, the battery terminals can be loose at the
battery and everything will work.  It won't start well, or at all (if they are off
the battery), but it will run if it is already running.  The lights won't flicker
and the engine won't quit as long as the connection between the positive cable to
the starter or solenoid and the small wire to the PCM are securely connected, AND
the alternator is good and putting out good current.  

George