These are switched then.

The small stud is where the negative battery cable is grounding.... could it be?

 

if you pull the coolant hose that the heater valve is on from the back of the head and push it out of the way, there is a threaded hole under it that the ground is supposed to go to. THe ground for the engine harness goes on that small stud.

 

Sounds like a starter solenoid.

 

I'm sure you checked the voltage from the alternater but you might try changing the rerulator I had a problem like that on the 968.

 

I did. I see two grounds. One is a bolt, the other larger grounds are on the stud. However I added a second ground that goes from this ground to the headlight ground.

i have 3 thoughts on what it is.

1. Something to do with the starter still
2. Voltage Regulator
3. A broken power wire somewhere.... grounding the alternator out.... ?

 

Take it for a short run, shut it off and carefully touch the alt. pulley.
If it is quite hot the belt is slipping. Tighten the crap out of it.
If you can twist the belt more than 1/4 turn with your fingers it is too loose.

 

i agree that the starter could be messed up in the solenoid. If the power from the battery isnt feeding the power to the alternator it wont charge. I would say regulator but you swapped alternators. Check ur wires to the alternator and the blue/red wire plug just behind the brake booster that is to the alternator as well.

 

If the voltage goes up and down with the turn indicators, its probably the grounds.

 

No go! I cant figure this out for *****!

There has to be a short somewhere

 

Did you check the grounding cable from the block to the car? Also, check the starter itself - if the part of the starter that contacts the block is dirty/painted over/whatever, that will mess up the starter. The starter uses the metal housing as its ground, which then goes to the engine block, which then goes through the ground wire from the block to the battery. So check the starter mounting surface and block grounds.

 

It starts fine too now! Its just now the voltage drops randomly when driving! Wahhh im stumped.

 

How fast does the voltage drop/come back up? Could it be something with the alternator belt slipping or something?

 

Well it seems this problem has come back, but so far putting the trickle charger on it at night has kept it up enough to drive it everyday to school. I bought this car btw.