steve000

iTrader: (54)

My 99 LSX bird has a bad battery drain where it would die overnight. I unplugged the positive terminal going to the fuse box to isolate the starter and alternator. I found my alternator was drawing 8-9 amps when the red 1-wire pigtail was plugged in. I took it off, no draw, back on and it was back to the 8-9 range. Help!!

sjsingle1

iTrader: (1)

alts draw voltage??

steve000

iTrader: (54)

I checked the amp draw by using a volt meter in line with negative terminal

Paul Bell

iTrader: (9)

You cannot check amperage draw with a volt meter. If you put a voltmeter in series with the alternator and the battery, you may see the small voltage needs of the PCM.

You cannot put a voltmeter between the battery's negative terminal and the alternator-the alternator has no negative connection other than it's case. The car's battery is grounded to the body and engine block.

joecar

To measure current draw, the DMM has to be used in ammeter mode.

steve000

iTrader: (54)

Edit: it was a multi-meter not a volt meter