battery volts too low

[Cirus_93TSI]

i was leaving the mall earlier, and for some reason my battery volts were slightly below 12, about 11.8 on my digital guage connected to the battery. the battery light came on, and for some reason the radiator light did also. all my lights were dim, so i turned the stero off, and clicked off my parking and fog lights, and it came up to around 12.4V.

iv disconnected the battery, and started it 3 times since iv gotten home. still stays at 12.3 volts with the parking lights on and everything else turned off. and every time i turn it off, it still has enough juice to start up again, even an hour later. and i checked over the entire radiator system, and it all the fluids are full.
i dont understand why the radiator light is also on, is there something im missing here?

i figure either my battery is bad, or my alternator is. if i get a new battery, is there anything else i can check before replacong the alternator?

 

[dbritt]

... is there anything else i can check before replacong the alternator?

Make sure your battery connections are solid and that you don't have anything grounded incorrectly. Then go to the alternator.

 

[Defiant]

i was leaving the mall earlier, and for some reason my battery volts were slightly below 12, about 11.8 on my digital guage connected to the battery. the battery light came on, and for some reason the radiator light did also.

Did you lose you belt? Otherwise, sounds like the alternator's tits-up.

 

[GSGoinFast]

you can also check the "eye" that alot of batteries come with. mine was green.. or suppose to be but was night black... shortly after it died... if you have one check it.

 

[Coldandafraid]

all those lights coming on means "charging system problem". Listen to defiant... alternator is probly dying.

 

[Cirus_93TSI]

yea, i know the battery light means charging system problems. and the best is in good shape, i checked that before anything else.
i dont think the battery has a colored "eye", but im gonna replace it today just to be sure. it could be the battery, because no matter how many times i start my car, and turn everything on to see how low the volts drop, they always raise back up to around 12. i would think my ignition and fuel pump would drain the battery pretty quickly if the alternaor wasnt working at all, but it could always be going bad and just not completly dead yet i guess.

ill make sure to check all the grounds when i replace the battery, if not i guess im stuck ripping everything apart to replace my alternator this weekend. i hate how my car is so fast, but such a pos, someting always wrong with it.
thanks for the help guys.

 

[Towlieee]

Batterys only are supposed to make 12v... And they drop voltage when you start your car....

At 12v your battery is not bad.. Its your alternator.. When your car is off you should have 12v, with your car running you should have around 14v-14.4v

If not somthing is wrong with the alternator.. bad alt, bad belt, bad somthing

 

[BUCK]

I had my Bumper to Bumper guy look up the Highest Amp Mitsu Alternator that would fit a 1G:

- Max amperage 121 amps

- 100 amps at 3000rpm

- Max 1548 watts

- Manufacturer Ampere - Ampere P/N 21491

- Cost was about $150.00

- I run a 1 Farad Cap too with an El-Cheapo Battery that pushes a 500 Watt Sony Amp & head Unit no problems - no dimming, etc.

I put it on Car Ramps & come from underneath so no need to remove Fan - It's still a PITA...

Make sure you have NO Power Steering Fluid leaks dripping on your Alt - that will kill the Voltage Regulator in a Heartbeat & can toast your ECU...

 

[cranky]

I've owned a few differet mitsubishi products and I know that a fairly common problem for mitsubishi alternators is that they can still charge at a higher rpm but not have any charging at lower rpms. I have changed several of them to fix similar problems

 

[Cirus_93TSI]

well, even at high rpm is wasnt charging, when it started doing it i was at the mall 2 miles from my house. i took the highwayhome, and noticed it was low at about 4k goin around a highway onramp, sincemy guages dimmed down to the point that i could see white more then orange.

if fluid dripping on the alternator can easily ruin it, thn i can see why it would have gone bad, the alternator has been pretty much soaked with oil before. when i had the last engine in the car, oil pretty much blew all over everything when my oil filter seal became mis-seated.
i bought a new alternarot today, my mechanic is prob gonna put it in while im at work. hopefully it fixes the problem

and id like to know where you got a 121 amp alternarot for 150 at. a 95 amp one was 255 at autozone. but i dont have the slightest but of stereo equipment, so i bought the 65 amp thy had in stock, which was 100.

 

[BUCK]

Bought my Alt at Bumper to Bumper just like my post says.

You bought some N/T 65 Amp POS.

"oil pretty much blew all over everything when my oil filter seal became mis-seated"

That is your Water to Oil Cooler crushing & letting the Oil Filter Gasket Spit out - it will happen again & kill the new Alt - get an Air to Oil Cooler - $100.00 from BUMPER TO FREAKING BUMPER!