not charging after new alt.

[lexplorer]

I had just changed a bad alternator and all seemed fine until this morning going to work, when battery light came on and the charge gauge needle went down to low. I seemed to have lots of power for lights and etc. I took back way not the highway in case i broke down so the light was on most of way but intermittant. When I got in parking lot I was revving engine as the revs got higher the bat. lite went off and the gauge showed charge, did this a couple of times and every time revs went up it was fine. Q. Is this my battery now that won't take a charge? and I am just running on alt.?Connections for bat. are good as just replaced and cleaned them this morning also. When my alt. went it was making an awful noise and just quit big time.Thanks for the help in advance , But I will put a battery in tonight when I get home as I have a spare for winter from boat.

 

[X~FACTOR]

Did you get the right amperage alternator? I believe Autozone sells 130 amp ones. Also, how old is your battery? 4-5 years is about what you could expect from your average battery. If yours is about this much it won't hurt to change it now as you will need it soon anyway.

 

[Opera House]

First problem sounds mechanical

But one problem others have had is bad connections on the 15A fuse clips. This fuse provides voltage to the regulator in the alternator.

 

[lexplorer]

Tried tightning belt and trouble shooted.

I did replace a fuse in power dist. box on pass. side fender it was a 15 amp fuse , I just looked at it again it seems fine. Now when I went out it was not charging when high revs.. Disconnected bat term. and it went dead right away. I think I need to get a power meter to see if it isn't a bad alt. or some other connection somewhere. Maybe a bad ground to eng. ?Is there another in line fuse by the alt. I should maybe look for.. ?

 

[Opera House]

The alternator is turned on

by the idiot light. Since you said that that light turned on, you can assume that connection is good. A bad connection from the engine to the car frame can cause flickering and overcharging of the battery. Try checking voltages at the plug in connector at the alternator.

 

[lexplorer]

checked voltage.

I checked voltage at alt. on the hex nut . it read the same as battery when not turned on . bat. read below volts when running.I have checked grounds , maybe when they did my seal on transmission they wrecked my ground... or it is shorting down there somewhere. they took off exhaust to do seal. It is very hard to trace the ground wire but i ;am trying to check it ., is the ground just connected to frame and eng. if so I will redo these connections , I still think it is a faulty alt. or wrong amp. I did get another flicker bat. lite turning off but it was only once this time and could not duplicate with revving of eng.,

 

[lexplorer]

Gave me a bad alt.

I took it to the shop and they did a charge system check ,but wanted to charge me 45.00 ,I told them fine if it is something else I will gladly pay the money. As it turned out it was another bad alt. They didn't charge me the 45 dollars and replaced there new bad alt. with one that seems to work so far.. Thanks again for the replys , This site really is a great place to go..