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Re: 2 year old Alternator not charging well, what can I do Posted by Ari [Email] ![]() ![]() In Reply to: 2 year old Alternator not charging well, what can I do, Jason, Thu, 12 Jul 2001 12:29:17 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
I would suspect the battery and associated cables. Cranking voltage would probably be in the 10 volt range if you use a voltmeter right on the battery. But that current has to get to the starter, and that's the cables and clamps.
I assume the battery hasn't been completely discharged in the year you've had it. Running a car battery completely down takes a lot of life out of it. Do that a couple of times, and it can kill its ability to hold a charge.
Pull the clamps off and clean the contact surfaces - the insides of the clamps, the outsides of the battery posts. Look into the insulation of the battery cables - if you see a bunch of white or greenish powder, replace the cables. Make sure the ground connection to the chassis is good - pull it off, clean the contact surfaces (some Scotchbrite or fine sandpaper) and sock it back down.
The battery starts the car - the alternator provides power to the car when the engine is running, and it recharges the battery to replace the charge it lost starting the car up. If your alternator was bad, you'd run out of juice driving the car.
A simple trick. Hold the throttle most of the way open when you start the car - just back off the second the engine catches. Yes, I know the manual for every Fuel Injected car says to start the car with your foot off the gas. But an engine is a pump, and it's trying to pump air against a closed throttle plate. That takes a surprising amount of power. If a starting system is marginal (like a tired battery), holding the throttle open can allow the engine to spin faster with less power, and that can make the difference between 'vroom'and 'click'.
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