ill start fresh.....one day i went out to start the car, all i got was a bzzz and ticking noise from the cluster....so i jumped it and started A1. So i bought a new battery and put it in...worked good fro about 1 month. Now tonight it did it again.....the am thinger is reading when the car is off 11.5. When we puched started the car it read 14.9....i donno if its the battery or alt......how would i check the battery and alt without bringing it to a shop....THAT is my last result....i will be exchanging this battery for a new one on monday but i want to test the alt and bat b 4 i get a new one.
ALSO: When we start the car(i dont knwo if this is normal for cavs) when we turn the key it goes vrooooot then starts......this normal noise to be made?
95 Neon MTX 2dr- 2.4 engine, more to come...
01 Cavalier 2dr- 2.2, GF's car, full pioneer system......still needs mods.
well here is a update....the battery and alt r good.......why is this happening? I shut the car off and it wont start again...its like the battery is dead and i need to jump start it.....
95 Neon MTX 2dr- 2.4 engine, more to come...
01 Cavalier 2dr- 2.2, GF's car, full pioneer system......still needs mods.
the am thinger is reading when the car is off 11.5.-----voltmeter is reading 11.5 volts---should be about 12.5 volts---indicates the battery is not receiving a charge
When we puched started the car it read 14.9.-----The alternator is working
This is the (very basic) wiring dia of the charging system.
Alternator--+ve--------------Battery +ve----Battery -ve----------Chassis ground/Engine block ground------Alternator case ground (-ve)
I guess you just need to disconnect the battery,remove Chassis ground/Engine block ground. I think you have a bad connection here, which just needs cleaning. This high resistance will prevent the battery from charging correctly
Clean the terminals and the connecting points on the block and chassis.
You will have to remove and clean these "shiny clean", don't just look at them.
Connect it all back up, test and please post back the results.
Alont
I agree with Alont - if a new bat goes dead, and the alt is giving 14.9 (you also need to make sure it stay up there when you load up the alt. Turn on headlights, radio, wipers, rear defog, blower fan, etc. make sure at idle that you still have 13.5 or more) - that you must have a high resistance somewhere. Either a wire starting to fray, or more likely a dirty or corroded connection in the system.
Especially check the block end of the negative. Normally under one of the tranny to block bolts. As Alont says - shiny clean. Both sides of the eyelet and also where it touches the block. Also make sure the battery terminals and the battery end wire connections are clean and corrosion free. Just because you read 14.9 from the alt, does not mean the battery is actually getting that voltage - with good current flow.
