atxz/28maro

iTrader: (2)

Started 2 months ago, my voltmeter was jumping from 11-14 volts back and forth when hot, went to autozone did a load test came back bad battery, it was an autozone gold top and they replaced it on the spot, ran fine

3 Days later it did the same thing, but after a few hours it wouldn't charge at all, dead guage. drove it to autozone, had them test the system again came back bad alternator. drove it home pulled it out and brought it back. tested good on their machine, i called bullshit cause i left there 2 hours ago, and they said it wasn't charging. the manager finally gave me a new one.

now 4 days later, the alternator goes completely dead, no charge, no voltmeter jumping.

I have a passport hardwired and it has a voltmeter so i'm going off that also, not just the dummy guage...

Is there an external voltage regulator or something I need to check?
Should I be looking for bad grounds or something?
Is it just crappy autozone stuff and i need to go thorugh 8 to find one that works? (went thru 8 5.0 starters to find one that worked from autozone for my stang)

please any suggestions would help


Thanks in advance

Grimes

iTrader: (3)

i'd check the small exciter wire that goes to the top of the alternator. if it's damaged even a little bit, it your alternator will act really jumpy like that.

atxz/28maro

iTrader: (2)

pulled it, went to autozone, tested bad. they gave me a new one, popped it in and reading 13.9. we'll see how long this one lasts