1G 94 Laser RS turbo FWD....battery not charging

[4gfun]

I bought the car with a no charge condition. The previous owner advises that the no charge situation is due to ground cables not being reconnected when the transmission was replaced. He said that there were some aftermarket grounds to the transmission. I checked around and don't see any grounds out of place.

The alternator fuse is good.

The alternator is a reman and looks like it has just been replaced.

It is a Prostart 15634. He said it was doing the same thing prior to the alternator replacement, so he knows it is isn't the alternator.

I have another known good alternator laying around, but I don't want to go through the hassle of replacing it if there are other additional troubleshooting steps that I can take.

I connected the positive VOM lead to the lug on the alternator (guessing that the lug should be around 14.2 VDC but wasn't sure). It was only at battery voltage.

I used to be really good with electrical systems, but not so much any more.

Any suggestions?

Thank you!

 

[dsmBear]

I had this issue a while back, alternator was brand new. Ultimately, there was a short in the wiring and also an incomplete ground from the frame to the top of the battery, which killed the alternator. also an aftermarket ground just sounds like a f*** boy trying to make a sale, There should be a ground connected on top of tranny right under upper intercooler pipe. I forget it there's an alternator relay, if so check that too.

 

[4gfun]

Thanks for the thoughts. There are all kinds of RED ground wires on this thing without spades at the end.

I'll check around for an alternator relay.

 

[dsmBear]

Got any pics?

 

[4gfun]

I have some pics, but probably not of the grounding mess. I took a bunch of pics of different parts of the engine bay today in an attempt to see what was done and what parts were used so I can better allocate my resources amongst the other 2 cars.

Feel free to follow some of my posts if you are bored. You might see some weird grounding along the way.

I'll come back and post pictures of the grounds when I can for sure.

Thanks.

 

[4gfun]

Pics posted....one of them goes to the tranny bolt you mentioned. Very difficult to take pics of it

 

[4gfun]

All, I need more help!

I am terrified of buying an expensive alternator only to blow it out. I don't trust my local parts stores for testing things because they have an incentive to lie.

I also don't trust their remanufacturers.

The only thing that has ever worked for me was an expensive remanned Denso.

Please help!

 

[92AWDHX40]

I never had a issue with having stores test them, I also had altenators go bad after years of service, I would check the wiring again rule the battery out and the altenator. There isn't much to it only a few wires to check.

 

[o0GuitarKid0o]

might sound stupid but theres two things the alt uses to discharge energy so when you turn the car off it turns off and doesnt keep running (if im not mistaken please correct me ) it affects chargeing to, had this issue once it was an easy fix read on! dam bulb

***< check your bulbs ,battery, coolent light and brake light on the dash called three lights of death***

id also check the relay and they are expensive new if its bad

just something for you to look into becuase the relays the back up in the circuit because there all tied together id have to get my book but im tired and its for a 91 so might be a lil differnt

All, I need more help!

I am terrified of buying an expensive alternator only to blow it out. I don't trust my local parts stores for testing things because they have an incentive to lie.

I also don't trust their remanufacturers.

The only thing that has ever worked for me was an expensive remanned Denso.

Please help!

 

[4gfun]

@iugrad92turbo I can pull the alternator off my GVR4 if I have to. I just don't want to blow it up! I mean, you are right there really isn't much to it. Just the concept of improper grounding and not knowing where every ground on the car should be kind of scares me! I also have a spare sitting on my 93 TSI AWD that is becoming a parts car.

 

[4gfun]

might sound stupid but theres two things the alt uses to discharge energy so when you turn thhe car off it turns off and doesnt keep running it affects chargeing to

***< check your bulbs ,battery, coolent light and brake light on the dash called three lights of death***

id also check the relay and they are expensive new if its bad

just something for you to look into becuase the relays the back up in the circuit because there all tied together id have to get my book but im tired and its for a 91 so might be a lil differnt

Where is this relay you speak of?

 

[o0GuitarKid0o]

Where is this relay you speak of?

engine bay by the battery says right on the cover its black on the top but its also yellow on the bottom you need to lift the clips dont break them

btw for future reference 2gs dont have this the ecu controls everything

 

[4gfun]

Yes, just found it....will pull it from my TSI and see what happens.

http://members.shaw.ca/dsm.1000q/Engineprimer/1G/relaybox.htm

 

[o0GuitarKid0o]

oh something else to consider is the good ol crankpully/harmonic balancer/harmonic dampener. the alt runs off this but usually squeeks and wobbles but deff causes charging issues hopefully youll figure this out

 

[4gfun]

oh something else to consider is the good ol crankpully/harmonic balancer/harmonic dampener. the alt runs off this but usually squeeks and wobbles but deff causes charging issues hopefully youll figure this out

Thanks, there is an underdrive crank pulley in this case. Still, the car dies immediately if the battery is disconnected meaning nothing out of that alternator at all. I believe the alternator has several wires, each for a unique purpose. If I looked at a diagram, I'd bet it's not receiving some signal to charge as a best guess.

 

[o0GuitarKid0o]

Thanks, there is an underdrive crank pulley in this case. Still, the car dies immediately if the battery is disconnected meaning nothing out of that alternator at all. I believe the alternator has several wires, each for a unique purpose. If I looked at a diagram, I'd bet it's not receiving some signal to charge as a best guess.

hmm ,when its idleing does it throw a battery light? or anything out of the ordinary? like if you rev does the alt kick in? it could possible have a dead spot somewhere inside the alt but id do an alt swap last and battery swap if you realy dont no whats wrong last

 

[4gfun]

hmm ,when its idleing does it throw a battery light? or anything out of the ordinary? like if you rev does the alt kick in? it could possible have a dead spot somewhere inside the alt but id do an alt swap last and battery swap if you realy dont no whats wrong last

Well fortunately I have many easy battery swap options . Definitely not the battery. The battery light does come on faintly. The alternator doesn't kick in if I rev it. I am considering a grounding kit as well just to get any theory of a bad ground out of the way. The problem with that, is that no one really seems to have a precise answer as to where the grounds go.

After that, I'll put my money into a nice Denso reman for about $180 bucks. Maybe I can pull the one off my GVR4 and upgrade that one...trickle down sort of thing.

I will get to the bottom of this!

 

[o0GuitarKid0o]

Well fortunately I have many easy battery swap options . Definitely not the battery. The battery light does come on faintly. The alternator doesn't kick in if I rev it. I am considering a grounding kit as well just to get any theory of a bad ground out of the way. The problem with that, is that no one really seems to have a precise answer as to where the grounds go.

After that, I'll put my money into a nice Denso reman for about $180 bucks. Maybe I can pull the one off my GVR4 and upgrade that one...trickle down sort of thing.

I will get to the bottom of this!

i can help you out with the grounds ill take some pics tmmr cause im off work (to dark and its snowing )

again this may sound stupid but replace the bulbs in the gauge cluster for the battery , coolent ,and brake light do these light up when you turn the key to on? are they faint? could be a bad connection (try to lift the little probes on the bulbs up to make a better connection also clean them)
or the bulbs going out there used for feedback in the chargeing ciruit also the relay to but the bulbs are the primary i have the electrical book in my laser ill try and rember to grab it

 

[4gfun]

Don't worry too much. I am wondering if a grounding kit (or homemade grounding kit) will cover my bases or at least more of them.

I have a spare alternator laying around to try as well.

 

[hotrodssnova]

The main grounding locations are:
battery to top starter bolt.
front of transmission to frame rail.
Firewall to back side of intake manifold.

There is a bolt in fuse in the fuse box on the passenger side fender under the hood. Should have 2 white wires from the alternator going to it. Check this fuse.

 

[4gfun]

The main grounding locations are:
battery to top starter bolt.
front of transmission to frame rail.
Firewall to back side of intake manifold.

There is a bolt in fuse in the fuse box on the passenger side fender under the hood. Should have 2 white wires from the alternator going to it. Check this fuse.

That fuse is ok...the 80 A one if that's what were getting at.

I'll check the rest.

Thanks

 

[4gfun]

Thanks! Also, the 80A alternator fuse is good if that is what you were referring to.