Alternator not charging as well after H/C install
07-06-2006, 11:00 PM
#1
Alternator not charging as well after H/C install Don't really know where to put this but I wanted the input of people that have done their own h/c installs. I recently did one (I've had 4 different cams in my car) and now my lights flicker at idle and my voltage gauge drops into the red. I've looked at every wire that might have been touched during the swap but I don't see anything abnormal. Is there anything in the charging system that could have been effected during a h/c install? Is it possible that maybe my belt is slipping or the crank pulley isn't on right? Or is it just a coincidence since my car has 107k miles and still on the stock alternator? Anyone want to help me out since my brain is fried?
07-06-2006, 11:06 PM
#2
Could be a coincidence or possibly a bad ground. If you've gone over every wire it's probably just the safest bet to pick up an alternator from autozone and see if it fixes it. However, I'd probably say to check the connections at your battery, if they are loose or have corrosion it can cause problems like you're saying.
07-06-2006, 11:08 PM
#3
Originally Posted by ArcticZ28
Could be a coincidence or possibly a bad ground. If you've gone over every wire it's probably just the safest bet to pick up an alternator from autozone and see if it fixes it. However, I'd probably say to check the connections at your battery, if they are loose or have corrosion it can cause problems like you're saying.
07-06-2006, 11:33 PM
#5
Originally Posted by ArcticZ28
I dunno, sounds like a grounding issue. Are you sure the cables on the back of the head are grounded properly? Those are the only ones I can think of that you would be messing with for a H/C install.
07-07-2006, 12:33 AM
#6
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I'd say alternator checkup. Could always take yours off and bring it into a shop that car run some tests on it. That'll tell yah pretty quick what's up. Plus if you've done a ton of work on your car dropping an alternator ain't a big deal either. 
That's what I'd do anyhow.
That's what I'd do anyhow.
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07-07-2006, 09:52 AM
#8
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Check the "exciter wire" on the alternator. Its the small wire that plugs into the alternator. People tend to break these, or they tend to start breaking apart in the wire.
07-07-2006, 10:18 AM
#9
Just to let you know that I've had the same thing happen to me after a head install. I was driving in the rain about 1000 miles after the install and then all my electrical stuff cut off. I got a new alternator from AutoZone and now it's all good. I'm thinking since my splash guard near the alternator isn't on right that some water got up to where it's not supposed to go and shorted it out. I bet if you get a new alternator, you'll be just fine.
