Not getting charge???

[lino420a]

hey guys? last week or so while i was driving my battery light came on and my car lights started getting dimmer, also my car felt very weak when i accelerated.. the day after i replaced the battery and the alernator was still good. so i do not know what to do next?? should i replace the battery ground cable or what?? any suggestions??

Thanks

 

[southrneclipser]

Replace your battery terminals if they are old. Check your alternator fuse.

How do you know if your alternator is good? If you just got a new battery and then you checked it, it would look like your alternator is good becuase the new battery would be at 13 or so volts. You need to crank up your car and let it run. get a voltemeter so you can see what your battery is putting out. Turn off all stuff like lights and radio and a/c. At idle it should be putting out around 13v. If your connections are good and the alternator fuse is good, but its still not puting out the correct voltage, then take your alternator off and get a parts store to check it. If its bad and you have the money, buy the best alternator you can. You should look into high output ones online. Just try to stay away from remans. I had one catch on fire on lock up after three days. So good luck to you my friend.

 

[tec_41]

Check that darn 120A alternator fuse (unbolt it, don't just try to pull it out ). Check the cable going from the alternator to the fuse block, make sure it didn't melt on the EGR pipe or something.

Did you actually get the alternator tested at a shop or auto zone or something?

 

[lino420a]

yeah i got it checked a two autozones around here. i bought a new battery and am going to replace the positive and ground cables. they are pretty old... the car idles fine, it just starts to lose power when accelerating.

 

[rEclipserGST]

Just an idea, I had went thru 2 alternators before getting a good one. Third time is a charm I guess. Autozone tested each of them and said they were good. I said "I don't care, give me another one and test it before you give it to me"

Been on this for awhile now, but next time... I might pay the extra and just get a mitsu one

 

[LazerDude]

I have had many problems with alternators for a while and they would last less than 6 months. If your dash lights are coming on while the engine is running then you have a bad alternator.
Mike

 

[VelocitàPaola]

the car idles fine, it just starts to lose power when accelerating.

That's unsettling. Do you mean it loses electrical power (i.e. the lights dim) while accelerating? That indicates a failing alternator, to me at least.

I would get a brand new alternator from a place like NAPA. They're expensive (~$250), but they're worth it. Most alternators from AutoZone/Advance are remanufactured. They're sneaky about labeling them as remanufactured, but rest assured that if the alternator costs under $175, it's remanufactured.

 

[lino420a]

the lights do dim but the radio still turns on and works fine. i also checked the alternator fuse and the metal part in it looks brown, does this means its out, or does it break like the smaller fuses???

 

[urmomsaniceguy]

it will break like the smaller fuses. check the tension on your belt. and i wouldnt fully trust autozone. get a second test from a third party.

 

[lino420a]

i got the alternator checked at an alternator specialty shop around here. they rebuild alternators. anyways i havent been able to put the alternator back on because its raining, but im also going to change the positive ang ground terminals.

 

[bullettdsm]

Plus look real close at the wires on the plug etc. Could be a break or fray there.

MB

 

[MJBean420]

Had a similar problem. Alternator was tested okay. Pushing correct voltage and amps. The bearings were going out whiched caused my volt light to come one with some mild light dimming. Put a good one in and it was fine.

 

[rlacasse1]

change the fuse. you said it looked brown, that means its no good. mine looked corroded a little and it was the problem. it wasn't melted apart like normal or anything. i would change it to be safe. they are only a couple bucks.

 

[lino420a]

ok i was putting on the alternator and got confused with the bolts. when it took the alternator off the bottom bolt with the L bracket did not have a nut??? also i have the really long skinny one and the short one with the round top. i dont know if the recent owner did not tighten them and they might of fell off while driving. Does anybody know if i am missing a bolt or nut??

Does the lons skinny bolt goes in throug the top in the front or back?? Im confused and any help would be perfect. Thanks

 

[Locke]

Picasa Web Albums - Locke

You can see the pivot bolt and the nut in that picture.

 

[lino420a]

Ok thanks alot Locke. I need to get a nut for that bolt.Do you have any idea of the top bolts?

Thanks

 

[lino420a]

Ok so i got everything together and when i went to start up the car it sputtered??? i looked at the alternator fuse and it was shot (this is the second one). So i figured it was a wiring problem. i was taking apart the ground terminal when i noticed one of the spark plug cables was discolored. when i removed it from the distrinutor cap, the part where the cable was connected was corroded badly. and also the inside of the cable.
Does anyone have any advice on what the problem is??? Im thinking it might be a wiring problem but i want to know why the cable was corroded.??
Thanks

(by the way the car has OBX ignition cables)

 

[lino420a]

Ok so i talked to a mechanic and he said that the ground cable could not make anything short??? does anyone know what cable can be making short??