1G Alternator not charging

[Vegas Smith]

Hello all, just got the car put back together with a bunch of new mods (didn't touch the electrical system). The car is running extremely poor and it appears to be caused by sub-12 voltages. Battery takes a charge and sits at 12.5-12.6 but drops to about 11.9 when the car starts. I noticed the battery light bulb was not glowing and that's part of the charging system so I replaced it with a known good bulb and this did nothing. The battery light still doesn't light up at all even with a known good bulb.

All wiring to the alternator (Saturn 200a with about 100 miles on it) is in great shape and was working perfectly prior to the car going down for a few months (putting out 14.5 v etc).

I've also replaced the 10a "gauge" fuse that's in the charging circuit. Voltage at the alternator stud is about 11.9 when car is running. Belt tension is adequate. The two alternator wires are showing oscillating voltages when car is running which leads me to believe the alt-relay is good and sensing fuse is good. Replaced alternator 80a fuse as well.

The only think I can think of is right before the car was put down for new parts, my Jay Racing alt-bracket broke and I had to drive home 3 miles with the alternator sitting on the subframe with the belt disconnected. I'm wondering if the alternator burnt out somehow because of this? Maybe because I left it plugged in while I drove home?

 

[boostdawd]

Try applying 12v to the L signal and see if it starts charging. Dont connect anything else. If it doesn't then your alternator is done dude.

 

[Vegas Smith]

I'll give that a try tonight. Thanks.

 

[19gsx91]

Did you try throwing your purse at it?

 

[Vegas Smith]

Did you try throwing your purse at it?

Not yet.

 

[19gsx91]

If it makes you feel any better my holset tried to eat itself yesterday. so I'm without dsm currently.

 

[Vegas Smith]

What happened? (yes, I feel much better now)

 

[brian9397gsx]

One wire Saturn alternator and done. That's what I've ran for 5 years never had an issue. Just swapped out the pulley for a smaller one because the fluiddampner is a little larger and I get a solid 14.3 with all loads on. No messing around with signal wires just works.

 

[boostdawd]

Wats up @Vegas smith . Any update?

 

[jakk220]

When mine did that it ended up being the fact that I drilled through a loom of wires when installing my FMIC and hit the alt signal wire for the light. Doubt that is your case though.

 

[Vegas Smith]

I tried to activate it with 12v and that didn't work, however, I'm confident I was accidentally activating the wrong terminal. I had the alternator tested and it was "good", and I've tried a new relay that made no difference. I'm actually thinking it has a bad ground (Jay racing actually recommends grinding off the black paint in some spots of the alt-bracket due to grounding issues). The only change here was the alternator bracket. I just haven't had time to work on it as my idiot coworker quit on the spot, and I've been working extra.

 

[boostdawd]

I tried to activate it with 12v and that didn't work, however, I'm confident I was accidentally activating the wrong terminal. I had the alternator tested and it was "good", and I've tried a new relay that made no difference. I'm actually thinking it has a bad ground (Jay racing actually recommends grinding off the black paint in some spots of the alt-bracket due to grounding issues). The only change here was the alternator bracket. I just haven't had time to work on it as my idiot coworker quick on the spot and I've been working extra.

Whats the job and how much it pays . Im ready for a change.