General Maintenance & Repairs Leaks | Squeaks | Clunks | Rattles | Grinds
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by: CARiD

New Alternator??

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jan 29, 2010 | 11:11 AM
  #1  
Happytokr's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Katy TX
Default New Alternator??

Ok here is the deal. This car has been hell for the past year but here we go. I finally got the car running ok. Today I was driving to work and hit a pretty good high water spot at about 30 mph. The car cranks fine but when I hit the gas the voltage gage pegs to 18 volts. Does this sound like an alternator to you guys. Thanks Gods of LS1Tech! BTW car is a 2001 Pontiac WS6 A4!
Reply
Old Jan 29, 2010 | 11:13 AM
  #2  
LS6427's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 11,289
Likes: 13
From: South Florida
Default

No problem at all, it just needs to dry out. Just give it a little time. If while you are driving you want to keep the volts out of the red, just turn on your headlights, on high-beam if neccessary, a/c fan on high helps too. So does the rear defroster if you have it.

This happens to me every time I clean my engine for about 1 full day or so.

.
Reply
Old Jan 29, 2010 | 11:24 AM
  #3  
Happytokr's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Katy TX
Default

I had all accessories on (headlights, high beam, heater on HI, Radio, interior lights). And when I was driving around the parking lot I was in the damn thing wouldnt come out the red or 18 volts. Do you think I should let it sit or have it towed home??
Reply
Old Jan 29, 2010 | 11:34 AM
  #4  
LS6427's Avatar
Banned
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 11,289
Likes: 13
From: South Florida
Default

Originally Posted by Happytokr
I had all accessories on (headlights, high beam, heater on HI, Radio, interior lights). And when I was driving around the parking lot I was in the damn thing wouldnt come out the red or 18 volts. Do you think I should let it sit or have it towed home??
No, you can drive it like that to get it home. It should start coming out the red as your engine bay heats up and starts to dry things out.

.
Reply
Old Jan 29, 2010 | 11:46 AM
  #5  
Happytokr's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Katy TX
Default

Ok thanks for all your help!
Reply
Old Jan 30, 2010 | 09:47 AM
  #6  
jamezruiz's Avatar
Teching In
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Default

the same thing happened to me!! i washed/rinsed the engine bay, and a couple of days later on a rainy night, the battery volt meter was reading 18, and the idle was preety high mid 1000k to 2000k, i drove like that and it was fine, next day, car just kept starting up at 18volts, turned the fog lights and headlights, it blew them all, put the high beams and it blew them too. couple of days later, car starts up just fine, and i replaced an Idle Air Control Valve and my battery
Reply
Old Jan 31, 2010 | 06:04 PM
  #7  
Happytokr's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
From: Katy TX
Default

Started the car today and it acted funny for a while but now everything is ok. Thank god was not looking forward to changing the alternator......AGAIN!
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:27 PM.

story-0
10 Reasons Daily Driving a Swap Project SUCKS! (& 1 Reason to Do It Anyway)

Slideshow: 10 reasons daily-driving a swap project might not be for you. Or is it?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-17 09:39:05


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Gifts Neither Your Dad Nor Grad Will Shove Into the 'Trinket Drawer'

Don't get dad new socks or a grill brush this year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 14:55:56


VIEW MORE
story-2
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

Slideshow: We take a close look at the ONE and Artidiag 800BT2 diagnostic tools from Topdon and the reasons to buy one over the other.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-06-18 10:26:23


VIEW MORE
story-3
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 18:23:54


VIEW MORE
story-4
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-5
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-6
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-7
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-9
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE