Recently, my 87 4 cylinder has started to flash the battery light after starting the car. The battery is a few months old and still fresh. The connections are secure as well. When the battery light flashes, and this only occurs randomly, the car will jerk when I press the gas and there is a low chirping sound.

All in all, the oddest thing I have yet to encounter. I am thinking of changing the alternator and wanted to check here first. Is it possible that the alternator is bad? If not, what could be the issue.

On another topic, I was told by a mechanic that a VSS sensor could be the cause of my Fiero's automatic shifting. She shifts, but its hard at times. I am getting a VSS error code and plan on changing it. But could it be the correct issue for the shifting issue?

Your battery flashing/car jerkinenss problem could be explained by your alternator seizing up from worn bearings. As it starts to seize, it will put an extra load on the engine which you'll feel particularly at low RPMs, and it may chirp the belt if the resistance exceeds the belts grip. This will also cause your charging light to flicker since the alternator voltage will drop below the battery voltage.

As for your shifting problem, the Fiero automatic is not ECM controlled except for the torque converter clutch, which is like a mini clutch in a manual transmission. It's only supposed to be activated once the ECM senses your road speed and engine vacuum conditions meet certain criteria. You can try unplugging the TCC and going for a drive. The tranny won't go into "fourth" gear (really just third gear with TCC activated), but if it smoothes out your shifting, then it's probably the TCC that's either faulty or the ECM that's activating it when it's not supposed to because of a faulty VSS or MAP sensor.

Bloozberry is right...I alt was going bad and did the exact same thing.The bearing was going bad and seizing up. Changed alt and alls well..

A. test/replace the alt...

B. VSS give shift problem, no... Governor Yes. Governor, lives under VSS, can cause late or no shift. Dirt can cause it. Caution... Governor has small spring. Mess them up and tranny will not shift until you call a tranny shop.
Problem... VSS Error too? Governor or VSS has problems... VSS, could be a electrical problem. Gear drives the governor and another gear drives the VSS. If governor has gear problem, it's a tranny shop job.

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