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

bad alternator? I NEED HELP!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 12, 2010 | 12:59 AM
  #1  
camaro1275's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Default bad alternator? I NEED HELP!

to make a long story short.. i was drving down the road when i noticed the voltage on my battery in my 00 ss super low.. luckily made it home went to the auto parts store and bought a new one.. slapped that sucker on and had my buddy jump me and it turned on and stayed on for only about a minute.. the charge in the battery wasnt gettin charged while the car was on ... could it be that i bought a bad alternator from the auto part store or could there be something wrong with my wiring.. a few days before i noticed the battery level getting low but it never gave me a problem is there a fuse for the alternator or something.... i need help any input will do
Reply
Old Feb 12, 2010 | 06:02 AM
  #2  
fleetmgr's Avatar
TECH Addict
 
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,012
Likes: 0
From: Tulsa, OK
Default

Bad alternators right out of the box aren't uncommon, especially if you bought a reman. Always have them test it for you before you take it home.
Reply
Old Feb 12, 2010 | 06:10 AM
  #3  
eseibel67's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
Photogenic
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,781
Likes: 4
From: Kitchener, ON
Default

Before you do anything, charge your battery with a plug-in charger.
Reply
Old Feb 13, 2010 | 02:31 PM
  #4  
camaro1275's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Default

took it back off and tested it at the auto parts store everything checked out fine... i dunno what the deal is .. the only things left would be , a worn out belt... its squeeks a little bit, or i have an electrical problem .. gonna change the belt .. goin cheap first..
Reply
Old Feb 13, 2010 | 02:45 PM
  #5  
Ghost666's Avatar
Staging Lane
 
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
Default

could check all the connections for corrosion that will case problems too did they check your old alternator as well? may not be bad if its corrosion on the connections you could fix that for free.
Reply
Old Feb 13, 2010 | 03:30 PM
  #6  
MUSTANGBRKR02's Avatar
12 Second Club
iTrader: (91)
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 4,599
Likes: 5
From: Maine
Default

check all of your connections first. The cables on these cars get corrosion from the terminals that walk up the cable.
Reply
Old Feb 13, 2010 | 04:44 PM
  #7  
camaro1275's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Exclamation NEED HELP with ALTERNATOR

pulled my alternator beacuse it was bad, went the the store bought another one (rebuilt).. bolted it on made sure allt he connections were on correctly, and still no charging is being done to the battery... i took it off took it back and had them test the new alternator, it checked out fine, i bolted it back on and changed my belt , still no charge being transfered to the battery ... im seriously stumped!.... i dunno whats the problem all the electrical connections look fine, does my battery have to be fully charged when put a new alternator on, i had a friend jump me and it held a charge a little under 13 volts while the car was on the cables .. as soon as he took them off, the car started to die.. i dunno what the deal is.. some one plz help!!!!
Reply
Old Feb 13, 2010 | 04:57 PM
  #8  
RPM WS6's Avatar
LS1Tech Administrator
20 Year Member
Shutterbug
Community Builder
Community Influencer
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,647
Likes: 2,574
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
Default

If the battery is totally shot it will reject the charge from the alternator. Sounds like this may be your issue.

Sometimes, people damage or forget to connect that little red field/exciter wire on the top of the alternator when doing a swap, and notice poor charging from the new alternator. But even without that wire, it will still charge, just not very well (probably only see about 11 volts). Sounds like in your case, you're not seeing any charging of the battery AT ALL.

If the alternator checked out ok, and you're sure that the battery cables and ground connections are good, then I'd try a new battery next.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-5

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-7

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-8

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Feb 13, 2010 | 05:04 PM
  #9  
camaro1275's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Default

thats my next thing to do .. i ran the battery dead dry like 4 times.. im gonna go buy a new one .. i really hope its the battery cuz its pissing me off .. ive taken the alternator off like 4 times lol.. thanks for input bud
Reply
Old Feb 13, 2010 | 05:19 PM
  #10  
dmaxman06's Avatar
Registered User
 
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: morenci az
Default

yeah batterys dont like to be run dead the plates inside start cracking and flaking buy a optima there expensive but soo worth it cuz they dont fall apart like wet batterys and last a lot longer
Reply
Old Feb 13, 2010 | 05:24 PM
  #11  
camaro1275's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
Default

i think i found my problem, the thick black wire running fromt he alternator to the poistive battery terminal is sliced a bit, i guess it touched one of the pulleys and it ate through the plastice casing and cut some of the wires inside.. im pretty sure thats my problem.
Reply
Old Mar 24, 2010 | 12:07 PM
  #12  
lvbroham1's Avatar
On The Tree
 
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: Ft. Lee, VA
Default

did fixing that wire get rid of your problems?
Reply
Old Apr 7, 2010 | 01:20 AM
  #13  
Empatho's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
15 Year Member
iTrader: (16)
 
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,078
Likes: 1
From: Internet
Default

+1
did it fix it?
Reply
Old Apr 7, 2010 | 08:43 AM
  #14  
THE SHOP's Avatar
On The Tree
 
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
Default

Always wiring lmao....
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:39 AM.

story-0
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 | 2026-05-28 11:05:11


VIEW MORE
story-1
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-2
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-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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
story-8
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-9
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE