Ok here we go...I have a 97 Z24 and just recently I had a problem with it not wanting to keep a charge so I went and had my battery tested and it had a dead cell so I bought a brand new one well that still didn't help, so then we had the alternator checked and they said it was fine. Well we went ahead and replaced it anyways along with a new belt and I am still having problems with it not keeping a charge for some reason. I have tried everything I can think of, I have checked all my wires and what not and still nothing. If anyone is got and advice on what it could possibly be help me out. Thanks alot

Take the battery cable off (either), put a meter between the battery and the cable and see if you have any power draw. A small amount is normal (clock and stuff) but if the is any substantial power draw, you have a short somewhere.

I shoulda asked first, Is it charging but not holding a charge or is it not charging at all. If its charging but going dead overnight or something, look for the obvious, trunk, hood or glove box light staying on. If its not charging at all even with the new stuff installed then you will have to go a different direction..

Yea its just not charging at all. I can have my battery fully charged and put it in and it just slowly loses charge. So I am thinking its in between the alternator and the battery and the only thing between the two is the starter silonoid. But if it was that then it wouldnt start at all.

Brad = Adam???

There's a fusible link between the alternator and the starter... then the power wire from the starter to the fuse panel. Check for continuity on the fusible link.

Have you modified the wiring at all?

Brad wrote:Yea its just not charging at all. I can have my battery fully charged and put it in and it just slowly loses charge. So I am thinking its in between the alternator and the battery and the only thing between the two is the starter silonoid. But if it was that then it wouldnt start at all.

If the fuseable links are ok, and it's just not charging look into replacing the battery cables.

I will do that and let you know if that helps..but I dont know if this tells much but like when it just sits and idels the battery light will come on but then if you rev it up it turns off then about 30 seconds later it will come back on till you rev the car back up agian.

Been jump-starting people? That sounds like a bad rectifier in the alternator... I used to jump-start people with my car running - guaranteed death for the rectifier...

Cost me $150 to rebuild the alternator.

probley your battery haves a bad cell or dropping a cell go get your battery checked at advance auto parts.

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John Lenko said:-

[Been jump-starting people? That sounds like a bad rectifier in the alternator... I used to jump-start people with my car running - guaranteed death for the rectifier...]

I like John's answer. You have to rev it because it seems as though 1 or 2 sets of your Alternator diodes are out---whether you have been jump starting other cars, or not. The alternator will still give an output but only 2/3rds or 1/3rd of max.

I would remove the ground wire to the chassis/block, clean that up and it's connection points first.

Can you check the charging voltage (carefully) with a digital meter set to volts across the battery connections whilst the engine is running?


Alont.

Thanks for the help from everyone. I got it running. I ended up being a plug that ran from the alternator. When my dad first replaced it he broke it and when he went to put it back on he reversed the wires so I went in and switched them up and it works now.