seeing 15.5 volts..

[gsx4g64]

how are you guys doing this great afternoon. iI have two problems, but it let me start off with this one first.. I have completed the jay racing alternator relocation kit. Problem is, that at idle i see 14.5 volts. When i turn on the head lights or anything else, i see 15.5 volts. I dont know if this is good or bad... comments, help, etc. they are all welcome..

By the way, I am using the saturn alternator.

 

[95burgundyesi]

Once we had a regulator get stuck and it would do the same, the alternator would smoke. 14 is on the high side but at 15 I would think it would burn the alternator out prematurely.

You won't have to rewire your pump

 

[tallywacker]

Also you battery might decide to melt on you from being overcharged and overheats. Your voltage regulator may be bad.

 

[bih55]

or your battery might be bad

 

[GUTSI]

The above posts regarding the voltage regulator being bad or stuck open, are pointing in the right direction.

However, I'm gonna assume that prior to re-locating your alternator, it was working fine?
If so, keep in mind that any loose electrical connections at the alternator terminals, particularly the "field" terminal, can also cause the alternator to operate at "full-field" (overcharge)

Check your connections at all the terminals (field, sense, battery) and make sure it's grounded properly as well.
If the connections are in fact secure, then suspect regulator.

 

[gsx4g64]

with the alternator being relocated, i hate having to work on an alternator problem.. I took the alternator to advanced, to have it checked... the alternator chked out fine... on the machine, it read 14.5.... But, when i turn on the headlights or the parking lights it reads 15.5. i have the sensing wire connected to a block that has all of the gauge wires hooked to it..

 

[tjbiker031]

U must of rewired it wrong. Triple check the wiring and i would take the battery and the alternator checked just to be sure they are fine.

 

[bih55]

use an voltmeter and check the battery volts when the car is off. should be around 12.60 or less

 

[gsx4g64]

When the car is off.. The battery does show 12.60... When I start the car, it goes to 14.5. when the sensing wire is not hooked up, the battery reads 13.5 volts.... Does this show that a brand new battery is bad, or the alternator is just putting out that many volts? Need help.

 

[5150DSM]

Excessive resistance in the sensing wire will cause an overcharging condition.
Recheck your wiring, make sure there is no corrosion and that everything is tight. Regulator may be on it's way out but if everything was kosher before the relocation then it points to a wiring issue.

 

[bmob01]

+1 on checking resistance from the sensing wire. Remember even .01 ohms can cause a decent voltage drop.

 

[gsx4g64]

I will be chking that tonight. i will Let you guys know.

 

[GUTSI]

Excessive resistance in the sensing wire will cause an overcharging condition.
Recheck your wiring, make sure there is no corrosion and that everything is tight. Regulator may be on it's way out but if everything was kosher before the relocation then it points to a wiring issue.

Agreed. Since the sensing wire reads voltage and adjusts gain accordingly, too little/too much resistance will affect how much voltage the alt should put out.

Found this article that relates to wiring the Saturn alternator. (you may have read it....if not, hope it helps)

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/custom-fabrication/344794-important-improvements-saturn-alternator-swap.html

 

[b00stedeagle]

I had an alternator with the same symptoms. Finally I was driving in extreme heat and 85mph for about 2 hours straight. I ended up frying the voltage regulator and the alternator charging 17+ plus volts. In turn frying my ECU shortly after. I would replace the alternator or at least have it tested.

 

[gsx4g64]

i replace the alternator, I am still seeing higher voltage. I am hoping that there is something that is sending the voltage back to the alternator.

 

[bih55]

when my battery was bad it would show over 15 volts when the car was running. replaced the battery then it was good

 

[Alex Bland]

im pretty sure a new alt should charge at 14-14.5v

 

[tallywacker]

im pretty sure a new alt should charge at 14-14.5v

You are correct. 14-14.5v isn't really any issue. I was worried though when he said 15.5v or higher.

 

[gsx4g64]

You are correct. 14-14.5v isn't really any issue. I was worried though when he said 15.5v or higher.

I am worried also... I think that the batteryis being fried by something... I have not figured it out yet. But, i will!

 

[bih55]

have you tried a different battery

 

[gsx4g64]

have you tried a different battery

The battery was new. I took it back and got another one. I hink i was okay, then it started trippin' again. Maybe it is the battery.