[SOLVED] M42 stalling issue (VIDEO)

[kkamakasi]

Posting for my cousin.. About two days ago, we went for a 20 min drive and came to the destination.
We turned the car off for about 2 min while I was waiting for my passenger to get in the car.

Once everyone was in the car, he tried to start the car again but... nothing.
He tried cranking it but starter wouldn't turn. We just got the "click" as if the battery was out of juice.

I went to the trunk and wiggled the battery around. Got back into the car and he tried to start the car and it started right up.
However, from this point on, it will not hold idle.

I will let the video do the talking. What could be the issue?
Has anyone experienced a similar symptom?

Don't worry about the big "THUD" at around 0:33 in the video. That's not the car...

[Poorboyz]

A bad connection at the battery can cause that.

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[kkamakasi]

Also, another thing is... it runs fine above idle.
It just won't hold idle. So if I give it gas, it runs perfectly okay and so I can even drive on the highway without any issues.

I read somewhere (jeep forum maybe?) that it could be a case of bad battery. Since above idle, the alternator is putting out enough juice to keep the car running fine but during idle, the battery is bad so the car will not idle...
Is this a possibility?

[Thizzelle]

it's a battery, battery connection or alternator problem.

[kkamakasi]

^ I'm a sucker for details and technicalities...
Could you elaborate on how/why a faulty battery/alternator may cause such symptoms?

As far as I knew, once the car started, there was no need for the battery since the alternator was generating electricity. I guess it would be a problem if the alternator was faulty but why the battery? If the car starts, then it's not the battery that is at fault, is it?

Can a low voltage cause an issue with the car idling correctly? If so, why?

[Vtec?lol]

this seems like a combo problem. First fix all the connections at the battery, starter, and alternator.
Then you can diagnose further.
If it starts fine but still dies at idle, test te battery adn give it a full charge if good.
If it still stalls, it's time to rebuild or replace your alt.

[willworkfore30s]

Weak ground from the passenger side (I believe) of the motor to the frame cause similar issues with my m42. A couple turns of the wrench got her back to good.

[kkamakasi]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I will certainly start with the connections at the battery and alternator and see if that fixes the problem.

When this happened, the first thing that both of us thought of was a vacuum leak.
What makes you guys think the battery/alternator is the problem vs. vacuum leak?

[Poorboyz]

You said in your original post that you tried to start the car and got nothing, just a click like the battery was dead. Vacuum leak doesn't cause the starter not to engage. You then said you messed with the battery cables and the car started right up...again...nothing to do with vacuum.

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[kkamakasi]

You said in your original post that you tried to start the car and got nothing, just a click like the battery was dead. Vacuum leak doesn't cause the starter not to engage. You then said you messed with the battery cables and the car started right up...again...nothing to do with vacuum.

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I get your logic there... but since messing with the battery, the car starts but will not hold idle. So you still think this is an electrical problem?..

[Vtec?lol]

Try cleaning your icv. Unplug it and see if it cuts off

[kkamakasi]

Try cleaning your icv. Unplug it and see if it cuts off

That is on my list to do if I can't fix it by messing with the battery.

So the ICV is under the metal intake manifold, correct?
And apparently, I need to have handy some new hose clamps?

[Thizzelle]

start with checking all connections and ground first like vtec said

[Poorboyz]

I get your logic there... but since messing with the battery, the car starts but will not hold idle. So you still think this is an electrical problem?..

Yes. Check for corrosion on the cables, check the grounds, maybe even add an extra ground for testing purposes.

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[kkamakasi]

So I removed the battery and got it fully charged at Autozone. They did a load test and the batterry checked out. So I put the new battery in the car and cleaned all the terminals and connections and voila! She starts and idles like a dream.

so the pressing issue has been resolved but I am going to stop by Autozone tomorrow to have them check the alternator cause I have a sneaking suspicion that its not charging the battery.

Anyways, issue solved!!! Thanks a bunch r3v peeps!