[RESOLVED] Battery overcharing

[Whitetal]

Did lots of search but didn't see one like mine. I think the battery is getting overcharged some how. The water in the battery is coming out the top and the battery is bloating. I've checked the alternator and I get 14v which is normal.

 

[luv2rallye]

Take the alt into a shop that all they do is repair alts/starters to have it PROPERLY tested. Auto stores do a near useless test and just measuring DC voltage out is not a complete test - especially when the battery is cooking. Another possiblity is a bad battery but the alt is 1 suspect.

 

[MidShipCivic]

Did lots of search but didn't see one like mine. I think the battery is getting overcharged some how. The water in the battery is coming out the top and the battery is bloating. I've checked the alternator and I get 14v which is normal.

Does the battery over flow a gush water? The plates are swelling and what did you test your
alternator with?

 

[Whitetal]

The battery is new and the alternator is new. First the alt was putting out like 18v frying the battery. Battery was old too so just went and got a new one and a new alt. The new alt is putting out 14v which is normal but now the new battery is still blowing up. I've been checking the voltage with a digital multimeter.

The battery does overflow and gush water.

 

[luv2rallye]

Auto stores are notorious for selling bad NEW alts all the time - just check this forum if you don't believe me. I'm one of the electrical gurus on this site and get endless pm's and posts complaining about this.

Auto store alt quality: http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/newbie-forum/263621-alternator-output-problems.html#post151468330

To properly and completely test an alternator it should be brought in to an alternator/starter specialty shop - not an auto store which only tests go/no go output voltage. The alt shop will test for too high AC voltage, max current draw, bad diodes/regulator, thermal, short protection, low & hi speed operation, current drain while spinning and not, bad bearings/brushes, and a dozen other things which no auto store can/will do. And all this is usually for free. Also they are the experts since that is their specialty.

Alt removal proceedure: http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/newbie-forum/220125-alternator-removal-help.html

Also your battery isn't overfilled is it? Should be 1/2-1" above the plates but not higher than the plastic cylinder that extends down each hole (just touching it is perfect). Use only distilled water for best results.

 

[Whitetal]

Yeah i know what you mean. It could be anybrand. My cousin used to work for Mitsubishi factory that rebuilds Mits alternators, starters, and stuff. So this brand would actually be Mitsubishi remanufactored. Not like Autozone brand but still eventhough it's Mitsubishi factory, that doesn't mean it's going to be good. It should be though, most of them but he would tell me that everyday that have to rebuild so many alternators per day and make sure they pass, and sometimes if the alternator doesn't pass, they'll just send it through because they don't have enough time to fix it. They need to hit their daily goals or get in trouble. Funny. That's why sometimes new parts we buy will not work.

So can I cancel out everything else from the car and just narrow it down to the alternator being the cause of overcharging?

 

[luv2rallye]

he would tell me that everyday that have to rebuild so many alternators per day and make sure they pass, and sometimes if the alternator doesn't pass, they'll just send it through because they don't have enough time to fix it. They need to hit their daily goals or get in trouble. Funny. That's why sometimes new parts we buy will not work.

Ah yes, the good old American way! Pretty obvious why German and Japanese goods are sooooo much better isn't it?

So can I cancel out everything else from the car and just narrow it down to the alternator being the cause of overcharging?

Well I certainly would start and concentrate there first since 99% of the time overcharging is the alt.