Went to the dragstrip today with my friend (well I met him there, although one of my other friends rode with me), even though it was in the mid 80's with like 80% humidity when we got there.  My friend wanted to run his civic that he just got done swapping the engine so I brought my STE.  I had been planning to go on this day for a while, got the day off work, so I was ready to go.  I packed the car up and went to start it and it wouldn't turn over.  Shorted the terminals on the starter together and it started right up...kinda weird.  Probably shouldn't have driven it there, that was like a sign or something, but I had been planning it, so I was gonna go.  Anyways, drove there, no problems at all. (other than it being hot and me having no A/C)  Got to the track, took everything out of the car, adjusted air pressure, and made some runs.  Keep in mind its 35 degrees warmer with a lot more humidity then when I ran my 14.695.  The first run made me pretty frustrated, but it wasn't too bad...it went 15.329 @ 88.51 w/2.262 60' (and a .503 light if anyone cares).  I was shifting myself and it hit the limiter on the 1-2 shift, I didn't brake torque either...no tire spin at all.  Went again and ran even worse, 15.487 @ 88.63 w/2.366 60'.  I was not too happy about that, but hey, not much I could do about it.  Went again and pulled a 15.198 @ 89.46 w/2.236 60'.  It didn't seem like that great of a run, but I didn't miss any shifts or anything and got no tire spin.  I realized what the problem was on this run though...the turbo was making about 6psi boost, and not only that but it was taking forever to spool (not making 6psi until a little over 4k), and I was getting pretty pissed because I expected at least 14's out of it.  So I made some adjustments to my boost controller and went once more, obviously whatever I did wrong was bad, the car got 2psi boost and went 16.449 @ 80.49 w/2.269 60', and that is officially the first time I have ever lost to a Civic...he went 15.529 (it wasn't my freind though).  I was pissed now...I can't have civics running around beating me!!!  I pulled the vacuum lines off the turbo and tightened up all the hoses.  This run it got a whopping 4psi and went 16.222 @ 84.42 w/2.318 60'...better than the last run, but not much.  I was pissed now, because without the wastegate opening it was only getting 4psi boost....now I know the turbo is on its way out, so I figured it was done then.  Not only that, but on a few of the runs,  I had to get under the car and start it by shorting the terminals on the starter together again.  I parked the car and got something to eat.  

Came back to the car and my friend with the Civic had just shown up.  The best he ran before the engine swap was a 19.8...so he knew today would be an improvement.  He wanted to run my STE, especially after I told him about my boost problems.  It was fine with me, so we lined up and ran (it was about 2 hours later now).  He missed 2nd gear and went 17.273 @ 79.94, while I went 15.722 @ 86.71...better but not too great, it was getting the boost back.   We ran again and I went 15.069 @ 88.95 w/ 2.176 60 (best run of the day)...my friend went 17.462 @ 81.36 because he missed 2nd gear again.  I quit at this point, because the car was back to at least where it was at the beginning of the day, but still not great.  Not only that, but it was getting late, the staging lanes had a long line, and I had stuff to pack up.  Had to start the car by shorting the terminals again (and had to the two starts before then), and then when I went to the gas station 5 miles down the road, I had to do it there as well.  I put gas in the car and drove home.  Well, when I started the car up at the gas station the wonderful little volt light came on on the dash.  I turned off everything except the headlights (it was dark...I had to have them on), I even turned off the dash lights and everything.  Well, after driving for a half hour the turn signals weren't flashing anymore, they would just stay on so I stopped using them.  Eventually the dash lights woudln't turn on if i wanted them to.  The anti-lock light on the dash (I pulled the fuse, so the light is always on) started to flash and eventually went out.  The only light being the volt light.  The speedometer started reading higher and the tach started reading lower, it read 110mph and 500rpm the last time I looked at it.  The headlights may as well have not even been on.  Eventually the engine started missing and I knew I was almost done.  I ended up being able to drive for one hour from the time the light came on to when the car quit running.  I had called my dad earlier and told him my alternator (I'm assuming) quit and I didn't think I would make it home, so I called him when it did quit and he brought me the extra battery we keep lying around.  I drove the last 15 minutes home on that.  Of course I had to start the car by shorting the terminals this time too.  Thats how the car sits now.  It needs an alternator, possibly a starter (need to figure out why it won't start unless I short the terminals), and probably a new turbo.

So, needless to say, I've had better nights.  Anyways, I thought I would share this with you.  My friend called my when I was on my way home and told me that after feathering the car into 2nd gear (he thinks there is something wrong with the tranny) he went 16.2...which is quite an improvement over the 19.8 it did when he got it.

Shawn

i wouldn't doubt the bad alternator was the cause of hard starting and running slower than you expected at the track.

if a diode in the alternater goes bad the alternater will put out AC voltage  
which can cause the the engine to run ruf and hessitate because the pcm can't use ACV

sorry to hear that bro.  sounds like its definitely a alternator problem. I dont know anything about turbo's lol so good luck on that.

Quote from: systemfilesorry to hear that bro.  sounds like its definitely a alternator problem. I dont know anything about turbo's lol so good luck on that.

Your signature probably needs to go as it would fall under "not work safe" for some people. :wink:

systemfile...PM sent. 8)