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Re: Dead in Water - Need help with Voltage Reg/Alternator
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Posted by Ari [Email] (#2847) [Profile/Gallery] (more from Ari) on Wed, 30 Jul 2003 11:21:39 Share Post by Email
In Reply to: Dead in Water - Need help with Voltage Reg/Alternator, gorper, Wed, 30 Jul 2003 11:08:38
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When you turn the key to ON, but don't start the car, do you get a BAT or ALT light? (I can never remember which shows up - a battery symbol). If you don't get that battery light symbol, then either the bulb is burned out, or the wire from the bulb to alt is bad, or a bad connection at the alternator. Now, that light isn't just there to tell you that there's a problem - it's a necessary part of making the alternator work. The current through the battery light bulb when you start the car is critical to establishing the magnetic field the alternator needs to create current.

Turn the key to ON, and don't start the car. If the light doesn't come on, find out why. On the back of the alternator there are two wires - a big fat one to the battery, and a thin, usually green or yellow one. Ground that thin wire (grounding the fat one results in a wonderful, albeit expensive and painful, fireworks display). With the thin wire grounded and the ignition ON, the BAT light should come on. If it doesn't, trace the wire, and you may possibly have to replace the bulb. Get the bulb from a dealer - this is a special size in order to provide the correct alternator current.

If the BAT light comes on when you turn the key to ON, get yourself a good voltmeter and measure the battery voltage with the car off, and running. The voltage should be around 12.5 or so car off (charged battery). It should jump up to over 13.0 with the engine running. If it doesn't, you may have a problem in the alternator. Very likely one of the diodes has died. You can replace them, but just swapping out the alternator at this point is best. This is unlikely, because a bad diode tends to light up the BAT light.

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