charging problem

[wishful_laser]

i am having this charging problem with my car and i cant figure out what it is doing. i have my pocket logger set up to show battery volts and before it would read about 13-14 and now it has dropped to like 10 or even 9 volts. so, i replaced the alternator and the bought a new battery and still hasnt fixed the problem. it worked for like a week or so and then the same thing happened. i did the electrical drain test found in the haynes manual where you hook up a test light to the negative post and then attach the other end to the connector itself. the light should not come on. mine does, which means that there is a constant drain somewhere. should i just buy an optima battery or should i buy a new alternator. the one i got was from the junk yard. thanx for your time.

 

[Ryan2ill]

Well, if you bought a new battery and alt theres no need to buy any other. Just do the electrical drain test and pull out fuses one by one until the light dims. Whatever fuse you pull that dims the light points to the device or devices that are draining your battery

 

[turbolover2]

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54846

 

[Defiant]

i did the electrical drain test found in the haynes manual where you hook up a test light to the negative post and then attach the other end to the connector itself. the light should not come on. mine does, which means that there is a constant drain somewhere. should i just buy an optima battery or should i buy a new alternator.

You should fix the drain, first.

the one i got was from the junk yard.

Sounds like you got genuine junk. Did you have it tested before you installed it?

 

[tom04841]

Is your belt squealing at all while running?

If you didn't tighten the belt enough, it could be slipping a little and not giving you a proper charge.

The only reason i say this is because it happened to me when i bought my talon. I was driving home at night, and the lights started dimming, engine lacked power, and it finally died. I thought my alternator was done. The next morning i looked to see what the issue was. Come to find out the belt was stretched and was just slipping on the pulley, not charging the system. Put a new belt on, jumped it, and it was good to go.

Just another option to check out.