Problem w/ my alternator I think.. Please help
03-03-2002, 08:33 PM
#1
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Problem w/ my alternator I think.. Please help
Here are the symptoms.. Driving along I notice that the lights are dim.. I look down and notice that the voltage meter is not registering anything.. Then the car dies.. Luckily by a walmart.. I get a new battery so I can get home and it is dead when i get there.. So i pull my alternator and take it to the autoparts store for testing ..They say it is good..
So what can be the problem?
So what can be the problem?
03-03-2002, 09:49 PM
#2
Three Wheelin'
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It sounds like you have a short circuit somewhere. I would check the main wires from the battery to the fuse panel, starter and alternator. Those wires are not fused so that is where I would check first.
03-03-2002, 11:03 PM
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Hm. Do these cars have a separate voltage regulator or is it incorporated in the alternator somewhere?... because on another car, I'd say voltage regulator.
Thaddeus
Thaddeus
03-04-2002, 11:53 AM
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The regulator is inside the alternator in this case. I'd also suspect a short somewhere. If you've added any "toys" (stereo, power amp, etc) I'd start with checking those. FWIW, I have seen an internal short on a 944 alternator that was caused by the twisting of the posts when tightening/loosening the 2 nuts on the alternator. The symptom was that the battery was charging, but the idiot light on the dash was lit. I had a dead short between the 2 posts.
-Bob P.
-Bob P.
03-04-2002, 07:44 PM
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well after many hours of screwing around w/ it I ran a new wire from the rear of the alternator to the battery.. Everything is now OK.. No idead how that 6gauge wire died but it did somehow.
03-05-2002, 11:00 AM
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Burning Brakes
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easy alternator check.. Put voltmeter on battery before starting. check reading.. start car. put voltmeter on battery again.. should read over original battery voltage.. most batteries read like 12.5 at standstill.. good reading at running is at least 13.5.. volts DC..