Alternator problem?

[AnDYy187]

Hello...okay listen..
I have a 91 talon tsi awd dont mind my info....i hooked up a system into my car, then my windows went out, so then...my car kept dieing and coolant battery and brake light kept comin on and the thing kept dieing....first barely started, then drove it down the street and died, jumped it and died and happened again....so after towing it home I replaced the alternator thinking that was the problem...just now...driving home, all of a sudden my cd player goes out...my lights in my interrior dim slightly, so i say okay, time to pull over somethings up, turn the car off because it sounds like its about to die anyways, go to start it, its a no go...i need help with this problem because its very frustrating and i have where near any idea what the problem could be...someone please help me out

thanks

andy

 

[DGajre777]

The same thing that you are talking about happened to a friend of mine who has a 300ZX and he replaced his alternator and battery, but it ended up being a voltage regulator or voltage stablizer or something like that.

Disconnect your system and check if you are still losing juice. If that doesn't help, have your electrical system checked out. I hope this helps!

 

[steve]

Check the 80A alternator fuse.

Steve

 

[AnDYy187]

Okay....im not retarted right? Just like regular fuses, for fusible links you look at them and if there is a break in them then they're bad and if there is no break they are good, correct? Well anyways, I looked at the 80W and it looked okay...then saw the ALT relay and pulled that baby out. the bottom of it looked sorta wet or something like sticky, and one of the things were stuck inside and not poping out like the rest...(sorry for being so vauge ) well anyways, I'm just trying to find out if this is bad so I can hopefully fix this damn problem. Also, wondering how often do relays usaully blow and if they do why? because thease are not some cheap 2 dollar for 10 fuses, its gonna cost me 22 bucks. :-(
Well thanks alot for your help.

Andy

 

[steve]

Since looking at them isn't very accurate I always measure the resistance between the two terminals. If it's 0 ohms it's good.

Steve

 

[AnDYy187]

Is there any way of doing it without some type of meter because I do not have thease.

 

[Slother]

my buddy has his relay go out on his 92 eclipse, so i don't think it is that uncommon

 

[AnDYy187]

I'm guessing its the relay because one of the prongs are stuck inside and it looks all sticky/wet by the area....so...I guess im gonna go pick one of those up and hope for the best.

 

[steve]

It's worth the $20 to pick up a multimeter. If you watch the sales at Sears and such you can find them cheaper. If you own your DSM of any length of time you'll need one.

Steve

 

[AnDYy187]

Okay, I got one but how do I use it?

 

[steve]

Set the dial to one of the ohms scales, if the meter has more than one use the smallest resistance one. Note the reading with the probes not touching and again with them touching.
Touching it should read 0, and what a good fuse should read when you touch the probes to the two terminals of the fuse when it's removed from the car.

The voltage scales are you to measure between ground and some point on the car to see if you have 12v (or some other voltage) at that point. Connecto the black lead to the chassis and touch the red to the fuse terminals with it in the car. If it's good you'll see 12v on both sides. If it's blown you'll see 12v on the battery side and nothing on the other.

The manual should help tell you if the meter has special continuity settings with beepers and such.

Steve