alternator problem

[EclipsexGsx]

Hi. I'm running a problem with the alterntor nnot charging the battery at idle. It only charges at about 2600rpm. When it goes below that, it does not charge. And I noticed that when I'm in like 3rd gear and I'm below 2600 rpm but I have my feet off the gas, the charging lights goes on for the alternator. Its like charging under loads. Does this mean I have a defective alternator? It all happened after a head gasket change. N I believe some coolant spiilled over it? Would this defect the altternator? Annd I noticed that there's a wire that is screwed onto the oil filter housing. The end of itt broke but I connected it with another piece of metal. Please help. Thanks.

Stock 98 gsx

 

[TALONTRAX]

Is the check engine light on? I had this problem . . . no charge at idle, but would charge at 15+ volts after the first rev past 2500. Also my cel was on - P1500 Alternator fr terminal circuit malfunction. In my case, it was a poor connection at the field harness plug-in on the alternator. Check it out & make sure the weather pack conector there is all the way in & locked . . .

 

[turboglenn]

Our charging systems suck as well as the alternator..The best thing to do is to do the saturn alt swap it's cheaper and lasts longer and charges better...win-win-win situation..... Here's a thread i made to clarify proper wiring of the satrun alternator sawp... In the text there's a link in blue that just says "HERE" that is the original link for The way to install it, and believe me it's a lot more reliable than any mitsu alt i've ever used... In the original post the wiring will work, but just not like it should, But if you wire the system like i describe for the hookup of everything you won't see a charging system problem for a long time... Also if you can heat shield your alt or header wrap the DP near the alternator to keep heat away from it..heat kills alts fast.

Believe me this may seem "too complicated" for a noob but if you can change the alternator you can do this swap, it's that easy. What's happening on your car is standard mitsubishi alternator behaviour when they start going out and i replace mine every other year because of it, now with the saturn alt i'm hoping for a 5 year run

My write up on wiring
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/cus...tant-improvements-saturn-alternator-swap.html

Original link on how to isntall the alt
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/new...ternator-swap-4-pin-alternator-connector.html

Also one last thing

 

[EclipsexGsx]

Alrite thanks guy. Also I notice when I start up the car in the morning.. the alt actually is charging. I'm guessing the heaat is preventing the alt from workin pproperly? I tookk off the heatshield on the exhaust manifold.

 

[turboglenn]

Yes, alts are effected by heat... In my studies to get the saturn wired for best performance a guy that builds high output alts told me that ALL alternators (modern anyway) have something that makes the voltage output diminish with heat.

 

[EclipsexGsx]

So today I took out the alternator and went to advance to check out if the alternator was still good. They said it was still good and nothing was wrong with it. This problem is frustrating me. I notice sometime it won't start but when I take like a wrench and bang the - terminal on... it has power again and starts. Is anyone having the same problem I am having? Thanks

 

[Rex2342]

Every alternator I've even had advance check was dead but they told me it was good. The voltage may be good when they test but the amperage was always off.The voltage regulators go bad most of the time. I had one that was charging at nearly 18v!!! and Advance told me it was fine. They just didn't want to warranty it for me again. From my experience with these POS alternators I'd say yours is toast. I've had more Alt. problems than I can remember and they almost always start out like this. Once this one dies again I'm swapping to the Saturn one too. I'm tired of changing them out every year or so.

 

[EclipsexGsx]

Wow. Okay thanks for the info. I guess ill have to buy a new alternator to test it out. Let's hope it works. -.-"