Alternator Bad? Tips before removing it?

[emiliog2276]

I haven't been driving my Z just turning it on once a week. This week it wouldn't turn on seemed like the battery so took it to Autozone the battery was bad so got a new one(under warranty). Today the battery was discharged again an once i got it started if i disconnected the battery and the car dies. Seems to me like the alternator checked fuses already. Can it be anything else? What else should i check?

[bmxer300zx]

if ur not driving it just remove the alt and have it tested .its a pain in the balls but should only take an half hour if u havnt done before.also do u have any kind of wiring that wasnt stock from the car that could be a drain as well.but sounds like the alt

[aidssasin]

i just had the same problem, it wasn't to bad of a job. just remove the radiator fan housing, the fan itself and then its two bolts you hv to remove. the adjusting bolt is a 12mm if i remember correctly and the holding pin [not sure on the proper name] is a 14 mm.. or 16mm its facing the radiator. after taking those two bolts off it falls right off, there is one connector and two wires attached to the back of the alt. the ground on mine was stuck on and the other wire was a 8mm.

[Jeff B]

voltage with the car running should be about 14.4v if the alternator is working.

[emiliog2276]

Thanks ill check the voltage today.

[jaredta1a]

Taking it to a shop or autoparts store will help before going any further, They cant look at the phase and diode pulse on the car with a fancy expensive scan tool, it can also leak ac current into the system. but I would say that the alternator needs replaced. When you get it figured out make sure you don't have a parasitic load, as this will kill your battery again and make your alternator work in high output every time you start your car back up.

[mikey300nc]

I had the same prob. on my n/a about 2 years ago. The car would hold up until i turn my lights on then comepletly die, come to find out that it was the alternater. It isnt that bad of a job taking it out but putting it back in is kind of a pain...