| Re: sevice soon/service now
I don't mean disrespect here, but I think you may want to keep the stereo turned down or use it less.
The engine is a 4.1 V8. It doesn't have a whole lot more power than many 4 cylinder engines. The engine and overall electrical system were not meant to generate the current required for a massive stereo, which weren't even heard of when this car was first designed and engineered almost 30 years ago. If I were you I'd take it easy on the stereo before you cause more serious damage to the car.
Drive it on the freeway for a half hour, at 65 mph, with NO electrical accessories running (including your stereo or headlights) at least twice a week. That will give the alternator a chance to charge the battery to where it needs to be to start your car.
Remember, the battery and alternator are constantly working back and forth - when you start the car, it pulls massive current from the battery to turn the starter, engine, and pump the fuel. After the engine starts and you release the ignition switch, the alternator begins to attempt to recharge the battery back to the level it was at before you started the car. After the battery is fully charged, all the electrical in the car runs off the alternator. Usually it's best when you drive on the freeway to get the battery charged back up.
When you introduce electrical accessories the engine and electrical system were not designed to handle, you decrease the alternator's ability to properly charge the battery and run the accessories by itself after the battery is charged. Hence, the alternator is always working hard and putting extra load on the engine. That might be where your check engine lights are comming from.
Last edited by Cadi1; 05-16-08 at 12:00 AM.
| 
Pull codes and find out what is tripping the Service light. How do you know you need a bigger alternator/battery? And if its running I would doubt your ECM is cooked - there is another problem somewhere.
