dsmith09876

WEll i was on my way out last night with the girl and im watching my voltage go down and down and down so i start heading home and my gauges turn off then it starts boggin out about half way so i pull over and check by this point its still running but i shut it off. then i try to start it agian and it sounds like the battery is dead so my dad came and gave me a jump an let it charge for a little then i raced home with it and made it... barely.... i charged the battery all last night and it starts right up this morning volts are right were they should be high 13's to 14 and i start driving up the street and down t ake it for a ride and it seems ok the volts when i came back were at about 13.6 and it started at 14. Im really not sure if its an alternator or not because i was gunna rip that out thismorning and throw another in but now im thinkin it could just be the battery?? im not sure how old the batt is but its an optima battery it seems pretty new i just got this car about 3 or 4 months ago...ive heard that there is a litte red wire on the alternator and if that comes loose or undone it coudl cause low voltage problems and im going to go check that. if any one has any advice i would appreciate it thanks

mattraypharbor

iTrader: (2)

alternator is gone get a new one.

dsmith09876

i have had alternator problems before in my truck and when it dies it diesn nothing no lights no nothing the lights could turn on and **** but it might have been running off the battery idk

darom

iTrader: (2)

Before replacing your alternator, start your car and measure the voltage on your battery with a voltmeter (the gauge inside the car is not accurate). If it shows constant 14.4-14.6V, your alternator is working. Next step have your Dad rev your engine RPMs, see if the voltage stays at about the same level. Take the car for a test drive, come back, let the car idle, repeat the same test.
Make sure all the ground cables have good clean terminals, check the positive cable from the alternator going to the battery. Your can check resistance on that cable as well (engine off).

tylerdj

iTrader: (31)

Autozone or most part stores will test your battery and alternator for free.

dsmith09876

auto zone is garbage yeah i wasnt looking at that gauge i have another one and its digital and says it but yeah ill try thanks

tylerdj

iTrader: (31)

Everyone knows they're garbage, but they can test a battery just fine.

dsmith09876

lol yeah

Alt

iTrader: (6)

Now what happens if when you rev the car a little and when its comming back down in rev's the voltage takes a considerable drop and then goes back to normal. Is that also an alternator issue?

Jon5212

iTrader: (2)

Yes it sounds like the voltage regulator is going out or bad diodes. Autozone can test your alternator, they hook the machine up to your car running and it puts a load on the electrical system.

Alt

iTrader: (6)

Thanks Jon, looks like I have another thing to add to my list of parts.

jman0322

iTrader: (6)

I just went through the same thing and it was my alternator. Mine was caused by the power steering leak I had though. Be careful though because there is no slack on that red wire.

dsmith09876

well i just ripped the altoernator out went to autozone to get a new one got the old one tested and it was good so i thouhgt it was the battery brouught that down and it was good toop... any ideas????

Jon5212

iTrader: (2)

Thats weird, maybe you have a bad ground then?
Edit: If it cranks over and holds a charge your battery is good... so I'm thinking maybe the tester is faulty at autozone for the alternator or you have bad ground. Because when the engine is running it does not rely on the battery for power unless your alternator quits.

darom

iTrader: (2)

Make sure all the gound cables and a positive cable are good, clean and show little resistance. Find the ground cables going to the block, check those. Definitely re-check the positive cable going from your alternator to the battery.