need help..alt keeps going out
need help..alt keeps going out my alternator keeps going out and i have no idea why...the first time it went out was a few months ago but it was the original one so that was expected so i bought a remanufactured one from autozone. This one went out during a memorial day parade i was in, i revved my car and suddenly it was dead. So i got another one free and a week later i started my car one day and it was dead. Got another one free and this one went out when i got on it to pass someone. Got another one free and this one went out while i was racing an rsx. Finally they gave me my money back and i bought a slightly used factory one off of someone on this forum and at first it was working fine but then i noticed that the voltage started to fluctuate and my dash would start to flicker but it would only do it for a few seconds. Well anyway today I drove my car for a long time and i noticed that my voltage was low the whole time. It started out at 13.8 volts and after about an hour of driving it was down to 12.5 volts and now it just stays there. I know that is the voltage because i have a capacitor with an led voltage readout and my voltage gauge was almost in the red area. I thought it was just some crappy rebuilt alternators but now i really dunno what it is. Does anyone know what it could be?
if you have a system makes sure all your power wires arnt being grounded or anything. make sure all your grounds are good. make sure system turns off when radio turns off.
Make sure you have a good battery.
hope this helps
Make sure you have a good battery.
hope this helps
Originally Posted by 99DWPTA
if you have a system makes sure all your power wires arnt being grounded or anything. make sure all your grounds are good. make sure system turns off when radio turns off.
Make sure you have a good battery.
hope this helps
Make sure you have a good battery.
hope this helps
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,329
Likes: 346
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
Check your serpentine belt and tensioner to make sure that the belt isn't too loose or glazed so that it is slipping. Slipping causes excessive heat in the alternator that can destroy them quickly. Factory alternators are particularly sensitive to heat - that's why they have that cooling duct on the back. The fact that it seems to happen during hard acceleration suggests that belt slippage might be the problem.
Originally Posted by WhiteBird00
Check your serpentine belt and tensioner to make sure that the belt isn't too loose or glazed so that it is slipping. Slipping causes excessive heat in the alternator that can destroy them quickly. Factory alternators are particularly sensitive to heat - that's why they have that cooling duct on the back. The fact that it seems to happen during hard acceleration suggests that belt slippage might be the problem.
This sounds weird, but check your plug wires. We had a very similar problem a couple weeks back with a car, did the same thing, changed the alts several times and would act normal until some hard accel and the plug wire would arc to the header, throw the voltage off and blow the regulator on the alt. I might not be the prob, but wont hurt to check it out. G'luck, keep us updated. JP
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Originally Posted by Jip99z
This sounds weird, but check your plug wires. We had a very similar problem a couple weeks back with a car, did the same thing, changed the alts several times and would act normal until some hard accel and the plug wire would arc to the header, throw the voltage off and blow the regulator on the alt. I might not be the prob, but wont hurt to check it out. G'luck, keep us updated. JP
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,329
Likes: 346
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
I wouldn't go to the trouble (and expense) of replacing the belt if it seems okay. You can usually tell if belt slippage is causing alternator problems by looking for heat bluing of the alternator pulley or a shiny pulley (caused by the belt "polishing" the pulley).
I assume you've checked for all the usual things such as corrosion on the battery terminals, shorted cells in the battery, problems with the cables, etc.?
I assume you've checked for all the usual things such as corrosion on the battery terminals, shorted cells in the battery, problems with the cables, etc.?
Originally Posted by bigshastalm
dude buy a new battery and an ac delco reman. alternator total of about 200 and you should be good my denali did the same thing and that cured it
Originally Posted by WhiteBird00
I wouldn't go to the trouble (and expense) of replacing the belt if it seems okay. You can usually tell if belt slippage is causing alternator problems by looking for heat bluing of the alternator pulley or a shiny pulley (caused by the belt "polishing" the pulley).
I assume you've checked for all the usual things such as corrosion on the battery terminals, shorted cells in the battery, problems with the cables, etc.?
I assume you've checked for all the usual things such as corrosion on the battery terminals, shorted cells in the battery, problems with the cables, etc.?
I have the same problem, on a cold start the voltage will be 13.8 around there, but after driving for awhile it will drop down to the yellow especially if the cooling fans kick on.
Interesting you mentioned the power steering pulley as my power steering whines sometimes when I turn the wheel, and the fluid level is full. Keep us updated with any new info.
Interesting you mentioned the power steering pulley as my power steering whines sometimes when I turn the wheel, and the fluid level is full. Keep us updated with any new info.
Originally Posted by UCABlackChevy
I have the same problem, on a cold start the voltage will be 13.8 around there, but after driving for awhile it will drop down to the yellow especially if the cooling fans kick on.
Interesting you mentioned the power steering pulley as my power steering whines sometimes when I turn the wheel, and the fluid level is full. Keep us updated with any new info.
Interesting you mentioned the power steering pulley as my power steering whines sometimes when I turn the wheel, and the fluid level is full. Keep us updated with any new info.
Change the electrical connector on the regulator they are notorious for going bad and losing connection internally and not energizing the alternator. Ran across this a few times at work.
Originally Posted by 01WS6/tamu
Change the electrical connector on the regulator they are notorious for going bad and losing connection internally and not energizing the alternator. Ran across this a few times at work.
not the main lead off the back, there is a small gauge red wire that is connected with a four prong connector to the top of the alternator, i think its the exciter wire??? the part is 30ish unless you have a friend working at the dealership.
Originally Posted by BLK00M6
not the main lead off the back, there is a small gauge red wire that is connected with a four prong connector to the top of the alternator, i think its the exciter wire??? the part is 30ish unless you have a friend working at the dealership.
Originally Posted by Flamin' bird
Did you get this straightened out yet Jarad? Did you make it up to Jeff's ok?