Our basically stock 96 Cobra has been experiencing parasitic voltage loss recently while sitting. It doesn't get driven much lately, but has been running just fine until a week ago when all of a sudden the battery would go flat after sitting for only two days. I dropped in a spare optima battery and it fired up fine, checked the voltage at the battery and it was 14.0v so I figured the alternator was charging it. Well, it was dead again in two days. I got the idea to take the alternator off and have Advance auto check it. It checked fine. So i put it back on and the car runs worse. It idles, but now it pops loudly in the exhaust (turn downs). I pulled the plugs, all were mint except one (#5) that had just slight discoloration. I double checked the plug wires which are four year old ford performance wires and they in the correct order, so I know the firing order isn't off. It pulls perfect vacuum at idle 20". The coils which are original checked ok on primary/secondary. I disconnected the EGR vacuum line and it improved but still popped occasionally. I have no CEL showing. I'm wondering if this is an EGR or IAC issue. BTW the fuel press is around 40# line off. Stock fuel pump I believe.
Any Suggestions? Ideas? It baffles me how removing/reinstalling the alternator caused this.
Any Suggestions? Ideas? It baffles me how removing/reinstalling the alternator caused this.
