alternator/battery issues?

[lostmenoggin]

So now I'm having problems with my charging system. My battery was going dead today so I checked it with the voltmeter while the car was running and it only read 6.something and the car barely ran. I took it out, put the charger on it and put a KA alternator on the motor. I put in another battery that i know is good. Anyways, the alternator isnt charging the battery. When I put the voltmeter on when it is idling it reads low, about 11.8. I've tried using 4 (FOUR) different KA alternators that I've kept off of different cars/motors I've owned because I knew they worked. It's safe to say I'm pretty good at changing alternators now

I was wondering if these are symptoms of a bad alternator, battery, or both.. I just can't believe none of the 4 alternators fixed my problem. I've checked my grounds and they appear to be ok. Any ideas?

[anumeric]

I ran into this problem on a couple of my friends cars as well. One was on a battery relocation job and they did a bad job splicing the B+ cable. And the other one turned out to be excessive resistance in the B+ between alternator terminal and battery post. We replaced the wire and it worked like charm. I would ohm out that wire I just mentioned and see if your having the same problem. Especially if you are using a known good batteries and alternators. If everything works out you should be getting around 14.4 volts at the battery and between the battery negative terminal and B+ terminal at the alternator. Good luck with it and let us know how it goes.

Wei

[lostmenoggin]

Thanks man. The B+ is the big wire on the back of the alternator held on with a nut right? it was only reading .72v. Can I just run a new wire straight to the battery?

[anumeric]

Thanks man. The B+ is the big wire on the back of the alternator held on with a nut right? it was only reading .72v. Can I just run a new wire straight to the battery?

Yup thats the wire. Thats what I ended up doing for my friend, I just ran a new wire straight from alternator to the battery. And once I knew that had fixed the problem I just heatshrinked and taped up the end of the old one and it worked out great.

Wei

[syphrus]

Is the alternator off my motor ok? If not ill talk to Advanced, i just got it not that long ago, maybe i can get it replaced, or get some of my...actaully your money back. Ill check in, im pretty sure most of the alt.'s get warranties.

[lostmenoggin]

LOL. i dont think YOU even needed to replace the alternator. I just checked and the black plug on the fuse box wasnt even plugged in. DOH!! I just went outside and started checking volts and i noticed it. alternator is charging at 14.45 volts YESSSSS!!!!!

[syphrus]

****! nicely done... simple=good. Ill still check and see about advanced. That alt. was expensive, i can try to get you some cash for all the trouble.

[lostmenoggin]

hells yea man, that would be cool as ****. let me know about that asap.

the black plug down by the fuse box had so much corrosion in it. i sprayed a bunch of brake cleaner in it to clean it out and it works now. took her to get inspected and she PASSED!! not that i had any doubts hehe. the head guy at the place i went to told one of the other guys to check out the exhaust and i almost pooped. stock sr20 o2 housing followed by that 3 inch welded ex. with no cat lol. the dude that checked it said "yea, it's all there" lol. whew. its a loud little ****er though. boosted up to 5 psi. need to put one of the fmics i have on it. i'm rambling. /done

[syphrus]

F-N awesome man!!! Glad all is well. Like i said, sorry it caused problems, but glad all seemed easily resolved. Ill stop by advanced today and ill let you know. money's money. Let me know when you get a chance to ride down, id like to see it the way it should be.

[anumeric]

Awesome glad it turned out to be as simple as that. Grats on getting it on the road and passing inspection.

Wei

[lostmenoggin]

Thanks! I'm glad mostly everything is resolved. Tomorrow I have to figure out why my gauges quit on me. No tach, speedo or temp. The speedo didnt work when i got it. The fuel gauge still works though. I just finished hooking up my fmic. I have it mounted on the other side of the radiator support so it shortens the IC piping and moves my new mishimoto 2 row aluminum radiator closer to the engine. I also hooked up my FAL 210 elec. fans. All I need to do now is buy a smaller battery or do a relocation. There is maybe an inch and a half between the fans and the motor.

F-N awesome man!!! Glad all is well. Like i said, sorry it caused problems, but glad all seemed easily resolved. Ill stop by advanced today and ill let you know. money's money. Let me know when you get a chance to ride down, id like to see it the way it should be.

Yea man, if they can't do a refund I'd just exchange it for a new one. This one has something rattling around the inside. Cash is always good though hehe. When I get everything finished I'll definately drive out there so you can check it out.

[syphrus]

For the guages, check the fuse box. The fuse will not be blown, but if you lift up on the dash fuse, the gauges will work. Short in a wire maybe? i just wedged something between those fuses, so it stayed lifted up. Dont know if that made sense, but if you mess with it youll see what im talking about.