Can someone HELP me, Please?

[sheadee240]

I jump started my car and then disconnected the battery to see if the ALT was bad, and the car did die. Is this test 100%, or is it possible that the alternator needs a second to kick on if the battery had plenty of power and the alternator was not needed because the car was only idleing with no accessories on?

Can someone with a healthy S14 possibly disconnect the negative terminal and tell me if the car dies?

Just want to be 100% sure before I shell out for a factory ALT

Thanks in advance...I know I am asking alot, but it only takes 2 minutes with a 10 millimeter

THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shea

[96_S14_SE]

By jump start you mean from using another source of power be it a jump box another car or battery charger no? For somereason push starting came to mind, dunno why hehe

Ok and then the car was running ok, at idle I would assume, and you disconnected the neg battery teminal to have it die correct?

Think of it this way, the alternator is just a belt driven generator. The battery is there to get the car started, and take up excessive electrical loads, or any electrical load when the alternator is not generating power (car is off).

If the car starts off of the battery (or another source hooked up to the battery), which is a source of energy, then the battery is disconnected, where does this energy needed to run the electrical system come from? It comes from the alternator, which is driven by the belts.

If the alternator goes dead, the car is running (say after a jump in your case), then you remove either battery terminal (breaking the circut), the car will stop running, because there is no power from the battery, nor from the alternator (rem its dead in this scenario).

Yes removing the cable from the battery while running is a 100% test (unless you have dual batteries like one in the trunk for car audio) of the alternators ability to generate current. If you remove the cable and it dies there isnt and current comming from the alternator. Like wise if it keeps running the alt is good.

Now another thing to check, whould be the pos cable goin to the alternator. It could have corroded or the nut came off and the terminal may have come loose or off. This would also break the circuit, thus not allow the alternators power output to be passed into the electrical system.

off to dbl check something else.... nm yeah just make sure the pully is moving on the alternator, and the cable going to the alt, at the alt. and at the battery.

Oh and my terminal clamps use hex's btw

Oh yeah and one more thing. You can tell the neg cable removal trick is 100% because if you follow that cable it goes around and to the bottom right of the battery into the frame. Then in the same clamp, it goes to the block. The alt is mounted on the block no? Thus completes the alt circuit, well with the pos side going to the battery terminal (which is in direct contact to all main power wires heading into the main fuse box).

[sheadee240]

It was jump started and I let it charge for like twenty minutes while I made some food. So I guess the Alt is either broken or the alt circuit is open. Thanks.

[Stock-S13]

hwy how much would that dual bettery setup run around for my car died out yesterday and 1# source iam told is battery drainage and all i had was my cd player. so yeah could u give me an estamite and instal guidelines thanx-edgar