1993 Mazda B2200 Electricity Cutting Out

ZACKARYTUCKER87

MEMBER
1993 MAZDA B2200
2.2L
4 CYL
2WD
MANUAL
171,000 MILES

I will turn on my lights and push my brake pedal at the same time and my radio will shut off then on.
When decelerating I sometimes lose electricity and my entire system will shut off and back on really quick.
Sometimes I will be sitting and idling at 0mph and the entire system will shut off and back on really quick.
Sometimes I will drive off from a stand still and going into first gear, the rpms bog down like normal and the lights dim all the way off and my entire system will die and quickly turn back on.

Thank you for your assistance.

1 Reply

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,727 POSTS

There's two things you can look at. First, follow the smaller battery positive wire to an under-hood fuse box if you have that and be sure the connection is clean and tight. Follow the smaller negative wire to the body and check that one too.

Next, have the charging system professionally load-tested for maximum current output and "ripple" voltage. When the generator has one bad diode of the six, it will only develop a maximum of one third of its rated output. 30 amps from the common 90 amp generator isn't enough to run the entire electrical system under all conditions. The battery will have to make up the difference, and it has a lower voltage than the generator. The clue here is the problem appears to occur when higher current is briefly needed and isn't available or when engine speed is low which is where all generators are very inefficient and don't develop their full output.