Alternator issues

[gsxeclipse97]

Well my battery light is coming on and then goes off. I checked the voltage and it's putting out over 14 volts. So I thought it was the battery but it was tested and is good also. So any ideas what could be causing the problem. It's a gallant alternator and it's been workin fine untill the last couple of days. Also the car was having a very difficult time starting the last couple days and is not quite doing it now but still is having some issues.

 

[jdunbar10]

bad ground to the starter? kinda what it sounds like since its having a hard time to start, but it could be just a dying alt. i went through 4 in ten days shop i bought them from had just all shitty rebuilt ones i guess

 

[gsxeclipse97]

Click click click like it would of the car had a dead battery but whenever I test the battery it's 12.56 volts then drips to 11 something whenever I try to start it

 

[jdunbar10]

its sounds like a drain i would check all the wires or even the plug in on the alt was ####ed on one of my dsm's everytime i put in a new alt it killed it

 

[gsxeclipse97]

But there is no signs of a drain whenever u test the battery it's fully charged and now the car starts with no hesitation but the lights are comming on and going off

 

[jdunbar10]

and its just the batt light? not the check engine also ?

 

[donswan]

I would check all your grounds first and have you had your alt tested and how long have you had it.

 

[vanilla gorilla]

+1 check your grounds, especially the one going from the battery to the bellhousing.

Also, keep in mind, just because an alternator puts out fine on a bench test, doesnt mean it is going to work correctly on the car.

 

[Grimis]

+1 check your grounds, especially the one going from the battery to the bellhousing.

Also, keep in mind, just because an alternator puts out fine on a bench test, doesnt mean it is going to work correctly on the car.

ditto, i just found that out, had advance test it, said it was good, put it on my new motor etc, and though things where ok, till one day was working under the hood, with the hatch up, and went to start the car, and it was dead, thought it was the battery nope, took the alt to a shop and they found the voltage regulator was toasted. Now i have a new alt and things are working much better then before. Id have your alt checked, it could be your dead short like it was for me.

 

[gsxeclipse97]

Ok I'll check that and see what it could be i have only had it about a year maybe. But I'll take it off and have it looked at. And I'll check that ground to see what the deal is

 

[wicketywacker96]

Easy way to check your alt is to start the car, remove the negative on your battery. If the car dies, bad alt.

 

[donswan]

Easy way to check your alt is to start the car, remove the negative on your battery. If the car dies, bad alt.

very good point i forgot about that, that is the tell tail way to test it in your car.

 

[audiomaster]

Sounds like corroded or bad wires to me. Especially where it is intermittent.

 

[93ETGOCART]

make sure the car is grounded properly to both the starter and car. ive had to run extra grounds the the bell housing on my starter just to get it to crank.