Starting and running problems

[sleepsilvia]

I'm having a problem with my 93 240SX. The car won't start unless its jumped off, otherwise the starter clicks rapidly. It will run fine for a short time but the idle is a little low, but then it starts acting sluggish and the tach and speedo jump around. When I brake the rpm's dip down very low and dies. When I remove the ground cable from the battery it idles a bit better but dies once I push in the brake pedal. It has a new battery ground cable and new positive terminal. Any help would be great, thanks.

[ezb57e]

The starter clicking rapidly is a symptom of low battery voltage.
Either the battery is worn out, its getting drained while the car is shut off, or its not being recharged when the engine is running.
You need an accurate battery/starter/charging system test done.
Taking the ground cable off while the engine is running is very bad for the alternator. It stresses the diodes and can damage them. This is the kind of backyard stuff people should forget about.
Your base idle speed may be too low but wait until you get the battery/charging issues resolved to check that.

[waxdnuggz]

Buy a cheap dmm. Test the voltage while the car is off and when on. While on the car should read 12.9-13.9v while off it should read 11.2-12.4ish. If thats not what you get go get your alt tested at notozone or disvanced auto tighten your terminals all the way down and try to twist them. If they twist replace them with tighter leads.

[Lobo240sx]

Sounds like your battery terminals aren't tightened down all the way. When you put the new terminal on, did you use a wire brush to resurface the new terminal and post??

I'd try that first if you didn't have an initial alternator issue. Most of the time, you test an alternator at a O'Reillys / AutoZone, it will come back good since it doesn't have a load on it.

[waxdnuggz]

Everytime ive had an alt test done there they always have me turn everything I have on and rev the motor to 2k. Thats putting load on it.

[sleepsilvia]

All terminals are tightened down, I drove it about two miles earlier and it died on me. All interior lights and the headlights were very dim, I'm thinking it may be the alternator.

[waxdnuggz]

Sounds exactly like an alt

[Lobo240sx]

Everytime ive had an alt test done there they always have me turn everything I have on and rev the motor to 2k. Thats putting load on it.

You are correct on that kind of test. I was referring to actually taking it off the Car and testing it inside the store.

Your alternator is jacked bro.

[sleepsilvia]

Sorry for the late update, i tested the old one and it failed. Put a new one in and its been fine since. Thanks for the help