<p>Reader Question

I have a 1987 Jeep Cherokee with the 4.0 Liter I-6 engine. I
have started having troubles with the electrical system. The
car starts just fine but as soon as I turn any electrical
accessory on such as lights or heater/ac, etc…

The enginehesitates and dies. I am thinking it is the alternator, but I
checked the votage at the battery when the car is running with
nothing electrical on and it reads 14.6 volts as does the dash
mounted volt meter. Could the alternator still be bad..not
putting out enough amps? or could it be something else? Please
help me!
Thanks,

Corey

Hey Corey

Yes, I think you probably have a bad alternator or a bad voltage
regulator…which should be inside your alternator (some models
had an external voltage regulator). I would get a rebuilt
alternator from your local auto parts store or have yours rebuilt
by a local alternator rebuilder shop.

Blessings,

Austin Davis

Hello again Austin

I took my alternator into my local Schucks store and they put in on their machine and it passed all of their tests. I put the alternator back in and it started and i turned on the lights and it did not hesitate or stall.

But after driving for about 15 mins with the lights on it started to choke itself and it died. I turned the lights off and it started back up, but i heard a hissing and discoverd the vacuum line for the MAP sensor to the throttle body had popped out of the throttle body.

I put it back in and when i turned the lights off and it started to hesitate I could hear it pop back out again. Whats going on! Please help.

Thanks,
Corey

Hello again Corey,

I have seen a lot of really strange things, but this is going to take the cake. You really need to get the alternator checked ON the vehicle, that is the correct way to check the charging system. Can you get a mechanic to run an electrical test on the vehicle for you?

I am not sure what is going on with your vacuum hose…is it oily feeling, if so it might need to be replaced so it fits tighter. Oil and rubber do not mix, and it causes the rubber to swell and work its way loose. there might be an oil leak that is dripping onto the vacuum hose??

Blessings,

Austin Davis