WTF new batt and alternator now low batt voltage?

[90blacktsiawd]

I just put in a new bettery and alternator yesterday since my alternator decided to take a crap on me. I replaced the battery at the same time just cuz it was old and we all know how long abattery in a dsm will last. Before this my logger was reading around 14v on my battery now when i turn the car on it reads 14 but as soon as i start to drive it drops to just above 12 and works its way down to like 11.5 slowly over like 10 minutes. WTF i get the feeling the battery isnt holding a charge but it shoudl be. I checked the alternator fuse and its fine. Any ideas guys im totally confused here.

 

[Alex_95TSI]

Did you connect the battery to the alternator?


What does the battery voltage read when engine off accessories off?
Was it still the low voltage that you read?

 

[90blacktsiawd]

i havent tried to turn them all on at once but my headlights make it drop about .1-.15 volts. and the radio doesnt change a thing.

 

[tt281gt]

u might want to take your car to like pepboys and have them check the charging system i think they call it. samething (almost) happened to me, the alternator i got was bad.

 

[90blacktsiawd]

i was out drivin tonight and it got all the way down to 10.7. thats way too low. im gonna go to auto zone tomorrow after work and get it tested. damn it its always one thing after another.

 

[90blacktsiawd]

I don't think its the alternator if it sits there for a while the batt will charge very slowly. I had to roll start my b!tch on the way to work cuz it died at a stop sign on me.

 

[n0c7]

My buddy has a 92 integra that does the exact same thing. As soon as you turn the lights on and are driving around it slowly drops down to ~10-11V. I gave him a good condition battery that I had laying around and he got it up to 12V but soon after it was doing the same. He never did figure it out and the car is parked for the winter, so I'm gonna keep my eye on this thread and let him know what you guys figure out. Just posting to let you know that you are not alone!

 

[red91talon]

Check to see if the insulator on the output stud of the alternator is there. There is an insulator that goes between a wire with an eyeloop on it and the alternator itself. Mine was gone, and I lost voltage driving as well.

 

[Gary 420A RS]

a new alternator might not be set up right.. i got a new altenator and then when i swapped it out the altenator was bad and i had to bring it back for another one

 

[90blacktsiawd]

Well i took my car back to strauss where i got the batt and alternator and had them test everything. When they were testin the guy looks at me and say u have a charging problem. Well no sh!t. Then he's like o your alternator isnt puttin anything out. They gave me a new one and now its fine. Holds around 13.9 volts all the time even with all the acc. on. Those sob's sold me a brand new alternator that was bad. How the hell does that work?

 

[n0c7]

Well i took my car back to strauss where i got the batt and alternator and had them test everything. When they were testin the guy looks at me and say u have a charging problem. Well no sh!t. Then he's like o your alternator isnt puttin anything out. They gave me a new one and now its fine. Holds around 13.9 volts all the time even with all the acc. on. Those sob's sold me a brand new alternator that was bad. How the hell does that work?

Probably because most alternators nowadays are remanufactured.

 

[Acezwild88]

just to let you know i did the same thing and my car is the same way and i dont worry about it and nothing bad has happened