I am fairly confident my alternator is going to hell but I just want to make sure it couldnt be something else.......my battery is not getting charged while driving but will take a charge off a charger....when running my windows go up super slow and I have occasional problems with not enough juice to engage the starter...so I tested the voltage at 3000 rpm I was only running 12.6 volts with everything off, so with just headlights on drops to 12.1 to 12.3 and then below 12. volts with lights and blower on....In my mind that is saying me alternator is weak, I am just wondering is it odd that the alt. is putting out enough juice for the car to keep running but not enough to charge let alone run accessories without draining the batt.
Its all about the pain...The Jewelry and Ink are just souvinirs
I just replaced my alternator about 2 weeks ago....
Mine was making a howling noise under 2k rpms... My windows were going up pretty damn slow- I had to rev the motor to keep them going up faster... My battery was tested at 11.9v while running... I drove around for like 2 weeks with this thing.. I knew the alternator was on its way out, so I bought a new HO alternator off ebay for like 170.
One night, after I came home- i put the car in park, and it just shut off.... It would not crank the next day. I had to use a battery charger to get the car started to drive it down to my shop.... My alternator came that same day, so I installed it- and all was well..
So, in conclusion- yes, an alternator can die slowly.. Still allowing your car to run- but eventually, its going to crap out all together.
Order a new one.
<img src=http://registry.gmenthusiast.com/images/reddevil/Devil.jpg>
Yep. Some things will loose power slowly and then... nothing!
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I DO NOT REGRET THE THINGS I HAVE DONE BUT THOSE I DID NOT DO
12 volts alone will run the car but not all the electrical accessories as u stated.Buy a new alternator.Ur voltage is consistent with normal checks even tho it should b higher but.bc the alternator is not charging properly ur voltage numbers are a little lower.U can buy a high output battery but normally u ONLY buy those if u are running large amps or something that draws more current than what the car came with as orign equip.Buy a alternator that will run all the standard stuff,unless u have alot of extras u have added that need more power,that would b the only way to justify the cost increase of a higher output alternator.Ok
Many alternators shut down and dont charge the battery anymore when the voltage drops bellow 12v in an effort to prevent their own demise by the large current draw that happens at lower voltages. Often a weak battery can kill an alt and visa versa. I just did the alt on my sisters saturn and the cavy should be a million times easier. It does sound like an alt problem though. Typically you should be atleast at 13 or 14 volts when runing with a healthy charging system, but to really test it you'd need to meassure the current output of the alt. Just keep in mind that dieing battery can kill the alt and dieing alt can kill the battery. On the bright side the alternator is right there in front on the 2200 the saturn had it next to firewall under the power steering pump so it should be a breeze compared to that.
Good luck.
UPDATE.......
New battery, New alternator same BS but slightly better voltage but still suffering a voltage drop when I shouldnt and not seeing a increase in voltage with increased RPM. I guess I am thinking the only thing that makes sense is a wire problem somehwere. I put a new/used starter in like two months ago...around the same time I had recall work done for I forget...some ignition module that was added and wired to I think the cellunoid. gonna tear out the starter and test some wires cuz something just dont look right with all the wires coming off of it since that module was installed
Its all about the pain...The Jewelry and Ink are just souvinirs
This is what I would do if I had that problem:-
1. Check the battery voltage with the engine stopped, go from Battery Positive to Chassis ground, this should also check the Negative Battery cable--you say you had 12.6 -to me that is reading battery voltage only (good battery)( I realize you actually had the engine running)
2. Check across the main Batt (Big terminal) on the alternator and Earth.
You should see the same voltage here as in 1. because the main terminal on the alternator is (should be) connected to battery +ve.
If this voltage is low you have a high resistance /bad connection in the Batt to Battery +ve wire.
I have had this not connected, broken at the ring crimp after a garage replaced a head gasket.
In this case the Charge light circuit was intact and the first indication of trouble was the ABS light coming on.
3. If 1. and 2. are good check the battery voltage with the engine running. You should see at least 13 volts and it should be increasing to 14.5 as you read it or your alternator is not charging.
4. If it is not the drive belt and the alternator is turning normally it could still be the wiring from the ignition to No 1 terminal blade type in the older alternators and plug connector in the later ones. The power from the ignition switch "turns on " the regulator--or does not if you have a fault here.
My tractor has a '93Cavy alternator had this fault last month-it was just a connection fault and started charging as soon as I connected it properly.
If you still are not up and running post what type of alternator you have
hope this helps ya
Alont
have you checked to see if maybe the wires for your starter were not switched around?
that could cause your car to run, but drain your battery and everything else as well.
just a suggestion.
I am getting Fed the F up pulled the alt, checked the wires they are all connected well, then the the wire from the alt to the starter and checked the connections, I also checked and cleaned up the grounds and there all good, the voltage at the alternator is the same as at the batt.....I am just freaking baffled....maybe is it a bad alt. its a brand new autolite pro-tech alt......OSO I guess its possible I may have messed up on a wire with the starter before......I got the alt to the starter wire, the starter to the battery wire and then another wire coming from a wire loom connected...that by the way is for that relay that was added because of some recall about the ignition.....I am just pissed off...I wanted to get my new sub box done and redo all my systems wiring...but its pointless If I dont have enough voltage to even use the damn radio...I probably missed something but all I now the voltage isnt better and I am getting very angry
Its all about the pain...The Jewelry and Ink are just souvinirs
HELL YEAH!!!!!
TWO WORDS BAD GROUNDWIRE
Voltage about 14.5 and dont drop with all my accessories on!!! damn straight only bad thing is I assumed bigger problem and paid out the nose for something I had all the stuff for just laying around
Its all about the pain...The Jewelry and Ink are just souvinirs
Good news
Nice to hear you are at 14.5 with everything on.
Out of interest how did you find it? Did someone come up with an idea or did you find it yourself/
Thanks for posting the answer to the fault as it will surely help others on the forum.
Alont
