trey1010

iTrader: (3)

Lately my car has had problems. I have to jump it to start and even after driving for a while it is dead again within 30 mins. The battery is new and the alternator is new. It doesn't read hardly any voltage use while off. ... I once a few years ago broke the exciter wire and had to replace it. Its possible my connection came loose. could my symptoms. Be Due to that wire?

LS6427

iTrader: (2)

Of course. If the exciter wire is not making the proper connection, the PCM will not tell the alternator to charge.

Have the new battery checked.....it could be a dud.....

If you need the wire, this is a good piece.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Alternator-Wiring-Harness-Connector-Pigtail-98-02-LS1-GM-Camaro-and-Trans-Am-/290857389902?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item43b8738f4e&vxp=mtr
.

RPM WS6

iTrader: (3)

one fast zo6

iTrader: (490)

good info to know.

trey1010

iTrader: (3)

I need to cut back the wire that comes from the pcm some, but it doesn't have much excess wire and is already a pain to get to. Any tips?

Also if the exciter wire were actually bad, would my car run fine once started like it does? Once started it runs perfectly fine.

NickBatman

It will run just fine. But thethe battery will die rather quickly because the pcm isn't able to tell the alternator to charge the battery. So without the exciter wire, the alternator just becomes another pulley.

ska4life07

iTrader: (2)

If the wire comes up short, then you're probably just going to have to crimp/solder more wire to the existing wire.

1 FMF

iTrader: (1)

use a digital voltmeter, also known as a multimeter.

with the engine having been off more than a few hours, ideally off overnight,
with engine off ignition key off, measure the voltage across the battery terminals...

it should be above 12.0 volts, and you should not see higher than around 12.6 volts,
it will be less than 13.0 volts.

then start the engine and let idle.

measure the voltage across the battery terminals again with the meter... with engine running... if the voltage does not show higher than 13.5 volts then you have an alternator charging problem.
if the voltage does not change, and shows lower, than what you measured prior to starting engine then it can very well be the alternator is not charging. At this point, based on what you have said, the first thing you should check is that exciter wire.

if you don't have and need to buy a multimeter, you don't need to spend more than ~$30 to get a decent one.
here is a decent one: http://www.sears.com/craftsman-multi...p-03482141000P

i prefer auto-ranging:http://www.sears.com/craftsman-mini-...&blockType=G15

all you need is to measure voltage and be able to tell a difference between 12.x volts to 13.x or 14.x volts to one decimal place,
a multimeter from harbor freight would also be fine for $6 http://www.harborfreight.com/7-funct...ter-98025.html