1991 240sx : bad alternator maybe???/New cat smell?

[Zyphar]

Well when i was driving from California back to Tempe, i felt that the engine needed to get away from the constant 3.4 RPM so i WOTed and i noticed that my dash went dim and my lights too. i decided to not do anything else (went back to constant RPM) until I got closer to my apartment (which was about 45 mins). But eventually i had to stop due to traffic and my RPMs went to idle and my dash and lights both got brighter once agian.

now, about a week later, i noticed that my battery light is dimly lit during idle but not anywhere else. I checked the battery to see the voltage and it reads about 25 volts (i think i had the wrong settings, i used the V with the ~ on top which is DC isn't it ?)

EDIT:oh the car had trouble to start as well but the second time it started fine.

also, i just installed a new high-flow cat and i wanted to know how long does it take until the smell goes away ?
Modified by Zyphar at 12:31 PM 11/6/2005

[NISTECH]

That ~ is AC voltage You wanted the one with ...---

That is dc which is what your car is.So you were at about 12.5 volts. Thats kinda low. It does sound like the alt is on its way out.

The cat should break in within 100miles. After that the smell should be completely gone. If not you may have a leak on your exhuast.