Ok, here is the problem. You charge the battery to full power. Start the car and let it run. It will run fine as long as the car is running. You kill it and start it a few times and no problems. Now the batt feel weak. It's not charging or holding a charge. What the hell could it be? I've got it down to the Battery is gone, the Alt. is dead or the voltage regulater is gone. Any imput would help.
first guess would be the v.r.
if you have a known good battery from another vehicle, put it in and try it first.
I've got a bad v.r. in my alt on my 92 F150, sucker will drain a battery plumb dead in 2 days...
:dunce: Yeah, i need to fix it, but ya know, i SO love driving the chevy 4x4...:beatyoass: *mumbles somethin about a POS chivvie*
Well my plan is to have Autozone test the Alt, trade the battery ( it's on warrenty) and get a new V.R. If the Alt is bad I'll replace it new payday.
Get a multimeter and see if tha alt is charging before you go wasting everyones time trading/testing stuff.
Scott
What #'s should I be getting?
12v(ish) with everything off, 14.5v(or so) running.
Any decent shop should also have a "load tester", basically it clamps onto the battery posts with the car running, they crank up the dial to put a huge load on the system, and see if the alternator can maintain its output.
So take her to a shop and ask them, Take the Alt. off and test it at Napa, Autozone..., or Just buy a new 3G later down the road and suck it up for now
Go to oreilly's, napa, autohole, etc etc, and ask them to test the alternator. No sense in spending bucks to get a 3G right now, sounds like you may have other work to look into first.
Yeah, check the output on the alt. first, if it tests good, you need to look into your wiring, and connections..might even be as simple as grimy dirty batter cable ends or terminal connections.
Let us know....
Just put a multimeter over the battery terminals and start the car. You should have about 13.5-14V with it running and nothing else on. Then turn on the lights, heater fan, etc and see what the voltage does. It should stay pretty constant if everything is working properly.
I'll do it when I get home from work and keep you all posted ( I'm leaving now) If it doesn't get those #'s what should I do then? V.R. change?
I just put a new alt. on it and it still doesn't charge. It has to be the V. regulater or the battery, which they also said was dead. My question is where to the 3 "plugs" on the back to on my new Alt? Pics to explane in a few min's
These wires are what connects to the Alt on my car.
(http://img1.putfile.com/thumb/11/32114175171.jpg) (http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=4020032)
This Is where I guessed them to go. The big on on the big stud, the one with the black stripe on the back stud and the blue/orange wire on the white stud. Is this right?
(http://img1.putfile.com/thumb/11/32114175249.jpg) (http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=4020033)
(http://img1.putfile.com/thumb/11/32114175245.jpg) (http://www.putfile.com/pic.php?img=4020034)
The big wire will only fit one one stud, the other two will interchange but if you have them backwards the amp light will come on and it wont charge.
Scott
That would be the battery light in my car right?
Did you test the old alt?
Did you do the voltage test?
The bulb for the battery light could be burnt out as well....
The battery light works and I took it to napa to test it. They said it failed every test.