Need help with electrical problem

[0rion]

BTW, what are the common causes for an alt to go bad, besides poor quality and old age?

using a garden hose to clean your engine.


sorry, couldn't resist.

[kool-aide]

ok, so my engine bay is completely dry, but I have water drops on top of the patter around the fill caps, hmmm.... That sounds bad and like it is getting too much juice through it. I think i'm just gunna pull the alt. I'm getting nervous being around my battery while the car runs at such i high output.

[kool-aide]

using a garden hose to clean your engine.


sorry, couldn't resist.

Hey, i walked into that one.

[kool-aide]

well sitting in the driveway wouldn't get it to read more than 14.30ish. However rev the engine would get it to bounce between 13.7ish upto 14s and you could see the lights dim and brighten. The only time I can see to get it to hit 18 is while driving, which i can't do with a meter on it, i wish i could, but i like my meter.

[kool-aide]

well i spent the evening trying to get the car to act up, no luck, so i took off the alt and had it tested. It passed but made a squeeky noise when you turned it. The guy said the bearing was going bad. Considering how much it jumped around tonight i bought a new one. The new one is holding steady at 14.28-14.30, just about dead on no movement. I got the life time warranty one, so the garden hose and alt can have their little duals and fights,

The only problem i had was the voltage dropped at WOT getting on the highway for a split second, then recovered. Considering what i've put my car through and the possibility a new battery may be next. I would say a little voltage dive once is not to shabby.

tomorrow will be the big test. It never fails that i go to work and the last mile, bam, something happens.

[0rion]

well i spent the evening trying to get the car to act up, no luck, so i took off the alt and had it tested. It passed but made a squeeky noise when you turned it. The guy said the bearing was going bad. Considering how much it jumped around tonight i bought a new one. The new one is holding steady at 14.28-14.30, just about dead on no movement. I got the life time warranty one, so the garden hose and alt can have their little duals and fights,

The only problem i had was the voltage dropped at WOT getting on the highway for a split second, then recovered. Considering what i've put my car through and the possibility a new battery may be next. I would say a little voltage dive once is not to shabby.

tomorrow will be the big test. It never fails that i go to work and the last mile, bam, something happens.

do like I did and just stop going to work altogether.


Let us know how everything works out.

[kool-aide]

oh i wish, i need a vacation bad.

so far so good. the last mile was eh okay. I have my fingers crossed. for 130 bucks i sure hope this fixes it.

honestly i'm still surprised i haven't blown up more stuff in the car. I've arced across the accumulator and pos bat side a few times, once with my watch, ouch.

[blue02Z]

hope its fixed

[kool-aide]

me too. So far so good.

The only thing I noticed, and never noticed before. Is at WOT it will drop to about 13 for a second and then come back to normal.

I don't know if this is normal. It happened on yesterday's test drive and today. It only happens at a WOT and each time i was at a slow roll or no more than 30 mph when i punched it.

[Sunset T/A]

Hope you did not get the computer wet, up under the cowl on the passenger side.

[Redphoenix1998]

It's easy to check your grounds. What it sounds like is you possibly have a loose ground somewhere in there. There is a grounding strap that goes to the back of the alt. I know, it's grounded by the block, well, I thought that too and left it loose and well, the alt took a dump, gauges went haywire, and voltage plummeted. There is also a ground behind the drivers side cylinder head, and the grounds on the fenders. Check the negative batt cable as well, it grounds straight to the block and the chassis. Start there. If you have corrosion on the ring terminals, clean them up. It sounds like you have really high resistance somewhere and som bad grounds.

[kool-aide]

yeah the alt ground was on tight, that was a problem. I hade a hell of a time getting the double nuts loose. I did see other grounds going other places, but didn't check. The new alt is working perfectly and seems to have been the problem. Maybe the old one had a regualtor going out. I know the bearing was going bad too.

thanks i will remember the grounds for next time.

Cuz every one knows I will be hosing it again.