Electrical problems

[jwahl16]

Something very strange happened to me today.

I was driving and all of a sudden 3 or dash lights came on and my radio shut off. I think the lights were: Brake, battery, a/t temp, and maybe abs. The thing is, when i slow down everything goes back to normal, and the radio comes back on. The rpm line that dertimines this issue is around 950-1100 rpms. As i rev it in neutral with the lights on, the headlights as well as the dash lights get brighter the higher i go. This makes me believe it has something to do with the alternator. I know my battery terminal connections aren't perfect, could they be causing this? I also recently put in a coolant temp gauge and rewired my fuel pump, and this just occurred today. The car still seems to drive ok, but I definitely won't feel comfortable with it until this is resolved. Any ideas?

 

[patton98]

i would go thru and check my connections where u rewired everything...could very well be a loose terminal on the battery

 

[4g63jojo]

WIth your car running at idle. Take a volt meter or DMM and place it on 12vdc. Then put red positive to your battery red positive then the black lead on the battery negative. It should read 12.5v-13.5v ?!?!?! somehwere around there. Now for this part you may need a partner unless you got alligator clip test leads.....with your car running place the DMM leads back on the battery and at the same time rev the engine to around 3000 or 3500rpm.. if the voltage reading climbs past 13.5v your voltage regulator is bad inside the alternator.. If the reading dosent change much try revving engine a little higher and see if it climbs past 13.5v... oh yea and if u dont have DMM u can take your alternator out take it to autozone or sumthin and they will test the regulator for you.....lemmme know what happens

 

[Stone'S GSX96]

Or if your not to far from one you could drive it to autozone and they can check it on the car!

 

[4g63jojo]

i would not drive the car anywhere! if it is voltage reg which it sounds like it is, your risking melting wires and frying things...Which might have already happend since you have multiple things turning off and on.

 

[jwahl16]

thannks for the responses. what is a dmm? also, can autozone test the alternator in the car or do i have to take it out? I have one extremely close to me so i think i would be able to make it

 

[DGajre777]

The infamous lights - http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/art...55-alternator-issues-brake-battery-light.html.

 

[4g63jojo]

hannks for the responses. what is a dmm? also, can autozone test the alternator in the car or do i have to take it out? I have one extremely close to me so i think i would be able to make it

## welcome.....a DMM is a digital multi meter, gives you a digital ready when u measure DC and AC voltage and amperage and resistance on electrical circuits. Yes they test the alternator in the car...its up to u if u wanna drive the car there or not.....like i said its possible it can melt wires and fry things. Its up to you. if u feel like its safe go ahead. Just make sure you tell the guy who is testing your alternator that you wanna know if the voltage reg is bad ### he might just hook up the probe and just check and see if its charging.......u wanna have him check for OVER charging at higher rpm's.

 

[Silent3]

Definitely an alternator. That gives such funky problems

 

[navyvr4]

alternator

 

[nuclearr]

to answer your question yes it can be tested on the car. But the test is not as accurate as off the car.

 

[VisegripMech]

Beware of the exploding battery. Also the swollen battery or a leaky battery. Can cause a real mess.

 

[luv2rallye]

How to quick test your own alt: http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/new...reeway-electrical-problems.html#post151165661

 

[jwahl16]

One more question. would the recent fuel pump rewire and/or water temp gauge installl cause this somehow? I don't want to replace it just to have it break again. o and is pepboys a good place to buy an alternator if it has a warranty? or should i buy a used one off ebay?

thanks

EDIT: I have read that the stock alt. is 75 amps. Is there a stock upgrade i can put in without ANY changes, mechanical or electrical? Saturn alt. is out, as is the 97 galant because it has a different terminal (i think). I have also read a little about putting in a 2g n/a spyder alternator in. I know they are 90 amps, but will the bolt up and hook up electronically? This'll be my first alternator swap and I wan't it to go as smooth as possible in this cold weather.

 

[jwahl16]

can anyone answer my last questions?

 

[miguelmcv]

You can used a 96 Galant, which has a 90 Amp Alternator and it bolts on, it has the same connector so no mods need to be done, I am using a 96 galant and have no issue so far, But before I got this one I Change mine 4 times in a month, our 75 Amp alternator are not so good, I bout them from Autozone, Lucky mi that it is a life time warranty.

 

[jwahl16]

ok great, did u get tthe 96 galant alternator from autozone or a stock one? just wondering if the galant one from autozone held out better than the eclipse one from autozone. thannks

 

[miguelmcv]

I got it on Autozon, But I don't know for sure, people says is not good but for my DD, is way better, I used to have my Denso Fuel pump making too much noise and once I install my 90 Amp Alternator, BOOOM, No more noise,
Make sure that you get a 90 AMP, Because there are two available a 75 AMP and a 90 AMP, so don't forget to ask for the 90 AMP, other wise they will give you the 75 AMP.
Good Luck and let us know who it end up.

 

[jwahl16]

ok thanks a lot, ill verify iits the alternator, and wether ending (supposed to get a foot of snow) ill have the nnew oe in by monday!

 

[jwahl16]

so i just used a dmm set at 200 V and the battery read 18.5 v at idle and 20.5 at 3000 rpm. there was no 12v dc option and the 20v dc was tooo sporattic for an accurate reading. so this definitely means the alternator is shot right?

 

[luv2rallye]

Yes. The alt typically should put out 14.4V with engine running and should never be more than 16V. Your alt's internal regulator is shot.

 

[jwahl16]

Thanks i wanted to verify the reading was still good even though i used a 200V scale. Thanks a lot. Now this snow needs to melt so i can get this thing out!

 

[jwahl16]

I would just like to give an update. I replaced my alternator today with one for a 96 galant from Pep Boys. It is 90 amps and has fixed all my problems! I think i also got lucky because the alternator i got from pep boys is a bosch and not a prostart. I hope this one will last unlike some pepboys products.

So thanks everyone for the help!

 

[luv2rallye]

Yes for others wondering, Bosch, Nippondenso (Denso), Mitsubishi, and Delco are all top quality brand alternators and starters. Others are off brand and even though autostores may give free lifetime replacement (as well as cheaper) they usually are not worth it when you have to keep replacing them over and over.

 

[miguelmcv]

I would just like to give an update. I replaced my alternator today with one for a 96 galant from Pep Boys. It is 90 amps and has fixed all my problems! I think i also got lucky because the alternator i got from pep boys is a bosch and not a prostart. I hope this one will last unlike some pepboys products.

So thanks everyone for the help!

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE NO LEAK AT THE PS PUMP.
PS fluid will kill your alternator in seconds, so now that you are lucky with that bosh in your hands, you should take care well of it, and always check that PS Pump. If I would be you I would change those O rings at the PS Pump unless you have replaced it.
(Good Luck).