Alternator/voltage problems

[justin0469]

Ever since I have had the car, I have never ever seen voltage above 13.8V. Over time it kept gettin worse, to the point where sometimes the car would nearly die a few times (and be close to 11V). So I decided to get a new alternator from AlterStart. Installed it. Now the voltages are a little more steady but still drop below 12V sometimes and still never see more then 13.8V. I'm wondering if there can be any other explaination for these issues, ie bad wires that need to be replaced etc.

With the old and new alternator, it would usually drop below 12V if I were to be revving somewhat high (2-3K) and then push in the clutch, or even at low rpms when I am pushing my brakes. I usually only see 13.8V right at start up but then never see it again. On the old alternator, I would routinely get right around 12.5V during highway driving, but at least with the new one it stays above 13V usually.

 

[MikeCordell]

Do you have a power steering leak? If so you could already be killing your new alternator. I put 100 miles on my alternator before my power steering leak killed it. Its a shame $8 worth of copper washers and o-rings could have saved me from buying ANOTHER alternator. You should also trace the wires on the alternator plug back to the harness at the least to ensure they are not broken. I had one break off and the car ran fine but had similar voltage problems.

Mike

 

[luv2rallye]

Test for a short or battery drain: http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1496998#post1496998

 

[bluetlr2001]

Are you reading your battery voltage from your afc or turbo timer. If so your not getting actual voltage, your just reading the voltage that is coming from your power wires inside. To find your actual voltage put a volt meter on your battery then test your alternator to see how many volts its putting out. If your not familiar with testing your alternator just take a volt meter and hook the groung to your battery and out the positive(red wire) test the heavy gauge wire on the bak side of your alternator while the mototr is running. At mitsubishi the techs say aslong as your volts stay between 12-14 volts your ok. But with your lights and other accessorys running it will probally drop lower. Mine drops to around 10 volts with other stuff running and my alternator is fine.