Help!!! Is It My Alternator????
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Instructor
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 187
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Help!!! Is It My Alternator????
Quick summary. Had my Alternator rebuilt. Found out it is an 85 amp. Also found out that I should have a 120 amp Alt. - Factory spec. Installed 2 - 10 inch subs with a Pyramid 1000 watt amp. Battery is less than 6 months old. Every 2 days I have to jump start it our put the charger on it. Alternator was rechecked and working fine. Question: Is the alternator to small? Possible drain somewhere? I believe the system is all hooked up properly. Thanks in advance for the input. :crazy:
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,537
Likes: 84
From: St. Joseph MO
Cruise-In III Veteran
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Re: Help!!! Is It My Alternator???? (Monkey Business)
Pop your hood and connect a voltmeter to the battery. With the car in park/nuetral rev the motor to about 1500 rpm's. Then crank the stereo, if theres more than 1.5 volt drop when the bass hits, you've got a charging or supply problem.
Also, with motor off, if you have a charge/test light indicator or a digital multimeter with current attachments, diconnect the - batery cable. Then place the light or meter in series with the cable and battery to see if there is a large current draw on your electrical system. Just use meter + lead to battery - cable, and meter - lead to battery - post. Same for the test light.
Are you not able to get the correct alternator for your car? Also remember the alternators on the C4's were notorious for going into heatsoak and not lasting.
[Modified by JoeyG, 12:46 PM 7/7/2002]
Also, with motor off, if you have a charge/test light indicator or a digital multimeter with current attachments, diconnect the - batery cable. Then place the light or meter in series with the cable and battery to see if there is a large current draw on your electrical system. Just use meter + lead to battery - cable, and meter - lead to battery - post. Same for the test light.
Are you not able to get the correct alternator for your car? Also remember the alternators on the C4's were notorious for going into heatsoak and not lasting.
[Modified by JoeyG, 12:46 PM 7/7/2002]
Pro
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 650
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From: Flushing NY
Re: Help!!! Is It My Alternator???? (Monkey Business)
if you have a drain it could be a # of things for me it was one of the relays so to play it safe I changed them all out due to age/heat etc
maf,fan,abs,etc relays go bad and tend to drain out your electrical sys happened to my buddies 87 coupe as well, was having that similiar prob and was the same deal w him as well
maf,fan,abs,etc relays go bad and tend to drain out your electrical sys happened to my buddies 87 coupe as well, was having that similiar prob and was the same deal w him as well
