Alternator Voltage Regulator or Diodes Bad? UPDATE
10-31-2009, 10:13 PM
#16
Team Owner
are these check with a load done at idle?? If so then i would say they seem to be OK, check the system loaded at 2K RPM
11-01-2009, 12:44 AM
#17
Electron Wrangler
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
Lifetime Rennlist
Member
I'm not sure I'd conclude this.. That the battery voltage is higher than the jump post suggests the alternator isn't keeping up with total system demands (as does the absolute voltage level) and that it isn't charging the battery...
This seems to point to an alternator issue to me... having the battery properly load tested may still be a good idea...
Alan
This seems to point to an alternator issue to me... having the battery properly load tested may still be a good idea...
Alan
11-01-2009, 11:30 PM
#18
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
Well, I put the battery on the charger today and left it running in automatic until it stopped charging. I bought a new battery hydrometer and checked each cell after the auto-shutoff of my charger. All the cells showed specific gravity of 1.200 to 1.205. The scale on the hydrometer showed this as being right on the borderline between discharged and half-charge while the WSM calls 1.20 half-charge. I put the battery back on the charger and kicked the charger over to manual mode to eliminate premature auto cut-off of my charger as the reason for the low S.G. After another 3 hours charging at 3-4 amps the S.G. did not change at all. I took the battery to Advanced Auto parts as it is their brand battery with a purchase date of 04/2008. The counter man ran an electronic load test, which of course showed A-OK. Was not willing to do anything to stand behind their battery until I badgered him about the S.G. being low (eyes glazed over at this point.)
He finally agrees to cover the battery and we go to ring it up and I get a lesson in battery warranties. They only extend to the original purchaser. Since this is the battery that was in the car when I bought it he won't do anything even though the battery is only 20 months old and it has a 36 month full replacement warranty. I was going try jacking up Advance via a phone call to their corporate office but checked several other manufacturers and their warranties also only extend to the original purchaser.
I guess I am spoiled by so many things having a lifetime warranty (like Craftsman tools) that I never considered that a battery that usually lasts many years nowadays would not have a transferable warranty. Oh well lesson learned.
On a positive not I did get the new door restraint and window guides installed in the drivers door today as well as repairing a broken wire the the harness from the drivers door to the dash. Not sure what the wire was for but hopefully it will cure my Central Locks.
Mike
He finally agrees to cover the battery and we go to ring it up and I get a lesson in battery warranties. They only extend to the original purchaser. Since this is the battery that was in the car when I bought it he won't do anything even though the battery is only 20 months old and it has a 36 month full replacement warranty. I was going try jacking up Advance via a phone call to their corporate office but checked several other manufacturers and their warranties also only extend to the original purchaser. I guess I am spoiled by so many things having a lifetime warranty (like Craftsman tools) that I never considered that a battery that usually lasts many years nowadays would not have a transferable warranty. Oh well lesson learned.On a positive not I did get the new door restraint and window guides installed in the drivers door today as well as repairing a broken wire the the harness from the drivers door to the dash. Not sure what the wire was for but hopefully it will cure my Central Locks.
Mike
