my 1990 BERETTA GTZ - need HELP ASAP

[tvc3-gtz]

I have 1990 Beretta GTZ H/O that is having issues. I drove it home from a trip to NY, and about 1/3 of the way into the trip the gauges went all crazy and the speedometer started reading 120 mph while I was doing around 50-60mph. When I would turn on the heater on and off, the gauges would move again out of whack, and sometimes the tachometer would also get stuck at max rpm.

The car would buckle a little if the heat was on and the headlights were turned on for a moment when they were first turned on, and then it would keeping running normally after that. The issues now is that it wont start at all, completely dead, no power. Do you think this is just an alternator issue? or is it a deeper rooted problem? It's frustrating taking the bus to work, had to do it this morning and I want the car back up and running ASAP.

*Plz help I am part of the Beretta family, but I am so unfamiliar with the q4 olds engine that I am confused as to what to do.. I know the 3.1L Beretta GT engine but not this Quad four, although I do love it.

[DTMAce]

Battery connections are bad, or the battery is. Check all the main cables at the battery, follow them to where they go and check the other ends, check the alternator hookups too.

Have the battery tested.

[spacecadetz26]

sounds like your alternator took a crap and you were running on the battery.

[DTMAce]

I would hope that he had the sense to see if the volts were running low on the dash, if that was the case though. Usually if the alternator dies, you still can run on a battery for a fair bit of ways before it starts going goofy Been there, done that. But yes, the alternator could have died too and the battery may be fine.

Still due to what seems to me the randomness of it, I look more at a faulty connection.

[tvc3-gtz]

ok, so a new alternator and battery sounds like it was needed anyways.. makes sense since my alternator had to work double since my old mechanic left the battery connected while it was stored at the garage. So it probably got overworked...

now for the real question...

how hard is it to change it by yourself?

[3X00-Modified]

Should be pretty easy on a quad motor...

[spacecadetz26]

its easier on a quad than a 3.1

[scd88ga]

I'm going to have to agree with Steph on this one. It sounds like the voltage regulator in your alternator had a massive freak out session while giving it's last hurrah in life before dieing and running down your battery. I think your battery may still be good if you put it on a tester/charger. But, if the battery is old, it never hurts to get a new one especially in Winter! Good luck!

[tvc3-gtz]

do you think my dashboard is permanently damaged and "stuck" in the position that its in right now? (apparently my parked car is traveling at 20+mph right now) lol.

if my dashboard is permanently damaged, how hard would it be to convert it to digital dash since i have the wires (harness) and dashboard

[DTMAce]

Just to be sure, have them TESTED before just rushing out and buying new stuff. You can have that done at almost any auto parts place. Just have to get the battery and alternator to them.

I would think that once you have power the dash will reset itself just fine.

[scd88ga]

Just to be sure, have them TESTED before just rushing out and buying new stuff.

I would think that once you have power the dash will reset itself just fine.

Yup and Yup!