Not more alternator problems....
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Not more alternator problems....
About 6 months ago I tried starting my '75 Vette and the battery had drained down. After a few tries (mostly recharging the battery) I replaced the alternator with a reconditioned unit from autozone. The car ran well for about a week, then the same thing happned - battery drained down to dead. Last week I recharged the battery, tightened the belt to the engine, and the same thing happened again 
...I'm now starting to pull my hair out!
A friend suggested that I may have incorrectly installed the alternator, with the two push in plugs on the wrong way round. Should I try switching them over, or will (as I have done before) destroy the electrics?
Any advice or feedback please!
...I'm now starting to pull my hair out!A friend suggested that I may have incorrectly installed the alternator, with the two push in plugs on the wrong way round. Should I try switching them over, or will (as I have done before) destroy the electrics?
Any advice or feedback please!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,655
Likes: 19
Not sue what would happen if the excitation circuit was always on. It might hurt the alternator.
But try this. With the key off, see if 1 of the 2 plug wires reads 12V on a voltmeter.
Then turn the key on. See if the other plug terminal now reads 12V.
If that's OK, I doubt someone snuck in one night and rewired your Vette.
I think more likely, you've got a current drain somewhere.
Shut everything off. Close the doors (interior light out). Disconnect the battery from the + terminal.
Get an ammeter and put the probes between the + terminal of the battery and the red cable.
If there's any amperage flowing, you've got a drain.
Then pull fuses until you find which circuit it is.
Then you have to track down the problem.
But try this. With the key off, see if 1 of the 2 plug wires reads 12V on a voltmeter.
Then turn the key on. See if the other plug terminal now reads 12V.
If that's OK, I doubt someone snuck in one night and rewired your Vette.
I think more likely, you've got a current drain somewhere.
Shut everything off. Close the doors (interior light out). Disconnect the battery from the + terminal.
Get an ammeter and put the probes between the + terminal of the battery and the red cable.
If there's any amperage flowing, you've got a drain.
Then pull fuses until you find which circuit it is.
Then you have to track down the problem.
