voltage question
05-02-2010, 05:09 PM
#17
Three Wheelin'
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Phoenix, Az
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I have a similar problem.
when i bought my 944 1 year ago, the alternator would do stay at 12v, i had a problem one day where my stereo cut down and went into safety mode, i checked my stereo wiring and found no problem so i took it to advance auto where they tested my electrical system and said that all was fine until i put a heavy load on the system (i turned on the AC) and the alternator voltage dropped to just under 12v.
i replaced that alternator and for the first week my meter stayed at 14+v, then suddenly it dropped down to 12v again, and now varies between 12 and 14 depending on the weather. the cooler it is outside the higher my needle stays, but since i live in Florida, that's not often.
is that a voltage regulator thing?
I thought it might be a loose wire somewhere or a nut not tightened but i couldn't find a problem, Elliot (drifta944) looked for a bad ground connection for me and couldn't find anything.
i don't take her on long trips now because I'm nervous of getting stranded.
when i bought my 944 1 year ago, the alternator would do stay at 12v, i had a problem one day where my stereo cut down and went into safety mode, i checked my stereo wiring and found no problem so i took it to advance auto where they tested my electrical system and said that all was fine until i put a heavy load on the system (i turned on the AC) and the alternator voltage dropped to just under 12v.
i replaced that alternator and for the first week my meter stayed at 14+v, then suddenly it dropped down to 12v again, and now varies between 12 and 14 depending on the weather. the cooler it is outside the higher my needle stays, but since i live in Florida, that's not often.
is that a voltage regulator thing?
I thought it might be a loose wire somewhere or a nut not tightened but i couldn't find a problem, Elliot (drifta944) looked for a bad ground connection for me and couldn't find anything.
i don't take her on long trips now because I'm nervous of getting stranded.
in the morning you'll see a little higher voltage and as the batt is recharged, after starting, the voltage will drop a needle width or so but not a 2 volt swing.
if you replaced the alernator with a new/rebuilt, it should've had a new vr but if you replaced it with something used, who's to say it didn't need a vr also.
fwiw:
when i replaced the alt on the 87951, i got a bad one and it had to be exchanged.
87951
